Gold & Silver Powder

Gold powder - Important questions and answers

What is gold powder?

Powdered gold or gold powder is a fine powder made from fine gold. The gold powder offered is distinguished by the number of carats. Besides gold leaf, gold powder is also suitable for gilding objects. However, gilding with gold powder differs significantly from gilding with gold leaf. With the aid of a complex production process, the platelets in the gold powder achieve a thickness of only 45μ (micrometers), which is equivalent to 0.045 mm. The term shell gold is also frequently mentioned in connection with powder gold. But what exactly is meant by this?

What is shell gold?

Shell gold is gold powder that has been rubbed with gum (gum arabic) and is water-soluble. In the past, this was actually put into a shell, which is where the name shell gold came from. Today, however, the shell gold comes in a plastic package. The shell gold can be dissolved much like watercolor and then applied with a brush.

Application of gold powder

When is gilding with gold powder recommended?

Gilding with gold powder is particularly suitable when very small objects or objects are to be gilded or the surface is uneven. Powder gold is also recommended for undercuts compared to gilding with loose gold leaf or transfer gold.

Surfaces that are gilded with gold powder are more scratch resistant compared to gold leaf gilding. Powdered gold of 23 carats or more also has the advantage of being more weather-resistant, making it suitable for surfaces that are to be gilded in a weather-resistant manner.

How is gold plating done with gold powder?

When gilding with powder gold, there is a procedure that has proven itself in practice. In this process, Kölner Permacoll P is applied to the surface to be gilded. A synthetic hair brush is suitable for the application of the Permacoll P. It should be noted that only a small part of the surface is coated and that the gold powder is applied immediately afterwards: Already 15-60 minutes after the adhesive has been applied, gilding with the powder gold can begin.

The gold powder itself can be applied to the surface in two different ways: Either with a dry atomizer or a brush. When using a dry atomizer, it should be set to an economical level. If a brush is used for powder gilding, it should only be dusted finely with the gold powder.

After the surface has dried, even the finest engravings and structures of the substrate become visible again. Before the surface is processed further, it should be allowed to dry for at least 24 hours. After that, the gloss level can be further adjusted. An agate polishing stone is best suited for this purpose, with which the gilding can be polished to a matt-gloss finish.

Cost & purchase of gold powder

Where can I buy gold powder?

Powder gold, powder silver, shell gold and shell silver "Made in Germany" you can buy directly in the online store of Gerstendörfer Blattgold.

What must be considered when buying gold leaf?

A variety of different gold powders are offered on the Internet. However, it is not always clear whether the powdered gold offered is really real gold or just an imitation. For this reason, when buying gold powder, you should always make sure that you are buying it from a certified dealer. In the certified online store of Gerstendörfer gold leaf you can be sure that the powder and shell gold is made of real gold.

What does gold leaf cost?

The price of powder gold depends on various factors. For example, the current price of gold, the quantity as well as the karat number influence the price of powder gold. You can find out the current prices directly in the product overview.