Question 1

What  adheresl the gold leaf to a table that I'm going to be doing and that the only thing I need besides the leaf the go leaf

Accepted Answer

Any number of historical adhesives should work but the easiest to get will be the one from Speedball Mona Lisa. Unless you use REAL GOLD you will need to apply a sealant to keep the imitation gold (i.e., the stuff from Speedball Mona Lisa) from tarnishing. Again the easiest way to go is to get the Speedball sealant although white shellack or acrylic varniish will do the trick. On reflection and given something as large as a table, a couple of coats of the acrylic varnish might be your best way to go for a sealent.  Also considering the table's size, a more economical glue might be WeldWood Contact Cement (or other bands too). Its fussy to use but it should do the job and be a lot cheaper. Just rememberber to apply THINLY to small areas at a time, wait until it turns tacky, and apply the foil. I'd experiment with thin aluminum foil on an old shoe box to get the hang of it. The gold foil will be much thinner and more difficult to apply, but the aluminum foil will get you started and will help you learn when the glue has the right tacky consistancy. When right it will look almost dry, but try a little wetter and a little dryer to get the best feel for it. And rememberber once the foil has made contact its down, there will be no reposotioning it.A final comment on the Mona Lisa gold foil: It is very fragile, very fussy to work with, and when down, you have what you have because it wont move. ALSO DO NOT try to burnish or smooth it over much or you will get a tarnished mess that you can only fix by gluing more on top. Good luck.

Question 2

Wil this give the item a glossy metal look?

Accepted Answer

It seals the leaf, protects it and is glossy. You can spray an acrylic over it without darkening the leaf. Does this help?

Question 3

Can this be covered over with a water-based polyurethane? Will it react with it?

Accepted Answer

We have not tested the application of polyurethane over the sealer.  If both are water-based, there potentially could not be any problems.  However, we recommend testing this application before using it on a final piece.

Question 4

Is this sealer waterproof? For example, can I use it on glassware to be hand washed with soap and water?

Accepted Answer

The description says this is a water-based formula that will clean up with soap and water. In my experience, sealers and other products that are water based become sticky when they get wet and are not dried immediately. You should do a search at Speedball's website to find out details about the product and whether it is waterproof after curing.

ASIN	B001TSHOPG
Best Sellers Rank	#20,938 in Arts, Crafts & Sewing ( See Top 100 in Arts, Crafts & Sewing ) #14 in Paint Primers & Sealers
Brand Name	Speedball
Color	Brush-On
Compatible Material	Metal
Customer Reviews	4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,443)
Global Trade Identification Number	00081093002188
Item Dimensions	1.75 x 1.75 x 3 inches
Item Form	Liquid
Item Weight	2.24 ounces
Manufacturer	Speedball
Material Type	Metal
Model	10218
Number of Items	1
Part Number	10218
Style Name	Compact
Surface Recommendation	Metal
UPC	081093002188
Unit Count	2 Fluid Ounces
Warranty Description	N.
Water Resistance Level	Waterproof

Speedball 10218 Mona Lisa Water-Based Sealer For Metal Leafing Projects – Clear, Fast Drying, Sealant - 2 Ounces

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