[saulgoode]

Hi, new to board have read a lot of articles and this is my first post. I searched knowledge base and other threads for info but have more specific questions.
I'm kickin around the idea of doing a flat black paint no gloss using something like the john deer flat, and doing gold leaf flames on the front with red pinstrip around flames. Do yall think it would look cool or just crappy with that much leaf. I would put like a red or gold base under flames before leaf. Also after clear coating about how much thickness differance would there be between the flat black and leaf, would it be too thick or would the red pin strip smooth most of the transition. I have done metal flake before and love the results, but I'm looking for something different, has anybody seen flames done with leaf? Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Cody

I have seen leaf used on chopper tanks, but not a large area that I'm thinkin about doing.

[gt2betubbed]

I've never seen that much gold leaf before, and to tell the truth, I've only seen it three times. IMHO, gold leafs for flames would be too much gold leaf and look tacky. But that's from picturing it in my head. I like flames on flat black, but only on certain cars as well, and they are mostly old bombs and cruisers. But, that's just my opinion...

[46_stvblt]

Gold leaf is so thin that the pin striping will be higher than the leaf. Take a look at some varigated gold leaf. it may be just the thing to put on. the colors in the leaf will break up the pattern some so it won't look so all gold........GlennK

[saulgoode]

gt2betubbed- Thanks for your honest opinion. I'm going to try it on a 50's fridge door first to see how it comes out, hopefully it won't look too gaudy.

46_stvblt- Thanks for the tip on the verigated leaf that stuff looks real cool may give it a try.

[willys36@aol.com]

I gold leafed the lettering on my Willys and it came out fine. 46 has it right - the striping is thicker than the leaf. About 3 coats of clear and a little color sanding and polishing will level it all out.

[Halloweenking]

I've done gold leaf flames on a organic blue base with yellow striping. If you do the flames thin enough they look awsome. I've also done gold leaf flames over a organic green base with yellow striping, it came out very nice. Both times the base was a primary color or a color made up by the leafing shade (yellow). the only trouble you may runn into is flattening agent over the leaf, you must tape around the leaf, spray the black with flattend clear, then tape off the leaf, spray with non flattened clear, then colorsand to blend. Otherwise your leaf will look milky and cloudy and all together bad. I personally am using copper leaf on my ford with a suede black base, not in flames, but I have had the urge for sometime to do the flames with the leaf over the entire vehicle. We'll see...

HK

[saulgoode]

Hk
Thanks for the input. Question for ya though, what do you mean by organic base? Also what type of design are you planning on doing on your ride with the copper leaf.
Cody

[Stitch]

Do you guys thin the gold leaf size and spray it on when doing big areas like that ? , what do you use to thin it down ?

[saulgoode]

Stitch
Haven't done it yet, but from what people have been telling me is that you can use the adhesive made for the leaf its water based I believe that goes on white but dries clear. Will not cause any problems with a clear coat. As far as thickness, I looked at the stuff in the store yesterday and its supper thin, and a clear should cover it well. If you want you can PM me and I'll send you some more info that was sent to me by other members. Good luck.
Cody

[Halloweenking]

Organic green is just a color name, its an HOK candy color.

Leaf adhesive is very strong ahesive and if used properly will hold very well on a big area. Like I said in my previous post I've done two leaf flamejobs and they had absolutly no problems.

Leaf is very thin, there is absolutly no distortion in the topoat thats noticable by site. A good paint job usually requires a color sanding anyway to finish everything perfectly so there will be absolutly no sighn on a lip.

My plans were just as yours are, flames. I've been toying with the idea for months, still not sure if I'm going to go through with it. If I were to they would be overall flames (hood, roof, doors, trunk) If I do not I will just be adding some leaf accents on the hood and trunk and a few other places. Havn't fully decided yet, but I still have a few months of work to do before I'm ready for paint anyway.

HK

[saulgoode]

HK Darn thought I came up with something original with the leaf flames.... Anyways hope yours turns out well and be sure and post some pics.
Cody

[Halloweenking]

Don't feel to bad, its very difficult to be original and do something thats never been done because theres no way of knowing if it actually was or not. It was done even before I did it on bikes back in the 60'-70's.

If your looking for originality let me know what your looking to do it on and in what style and I'll try and work with you to come up with some cool stuff to tweek your ride.

HK

[Thom Laybourne]

THE RAT FINK Ed was doing gold leaf on Lakewood Blvd in LA, CA back in the 50-60s. My first Harley was done by him. Gold leaf paper / cover with ladies lace hair net and paint black / cover with red candy apple / clear coat / buff. Cost me 1200 bucks back in 64 to do the bike. Don't believe gold has come down in price. I took my 54 chevy to him for a gold leaf top. He put the leaf on and then used clear at high pressure to create a cotton candy web effect over it. Light blue candy top coat and man it shined at night. Leaf flames... hey, why not. Maybe a lace over the flame to soften it. Ed wasn't cheap. He practiced a lot and made up for it in the prices he charged. Love to see what you come up with.

hr41pearl

[willys36@aol.com]

Originally posted by Thom Laybourne
. . . Cost me 1200 bucks back in 64 to do the bike. Don't believe gold has come down in price. . . .
hr41pearl

That is why I used imitation gold leaf. WAY cheaper and I can't tell the difference in how it applies or how the final product looks.

[autocol]

something like this?



the above pic is imitation, i believe...


i'm tempted to try it with aluminium foil!