How to get Gold Flakes from a bar?

[Unhindered]

Hi guys, bit of a strange one! I just can't think how to get gold flakes or shavings from a bar of gold? Bit of a strange request from a customer at work and the master goldsmith is ill, just can't think off the top of my head how to do it! Any tools you recommend?

[ps_bond]

Scraper? Graver?
What size?

[medusa]

you can buy gold flakes on ebay.

[Dennis]

Use a grater.

[Goldsmith]

Might be a silly question but what do you need gold flakes for? I have been a master goldsmith for 46 years and have never used gold flakes on a job. When I Googled the uses of gold flakes, most were for cooking, perhaps whatever job you need to complete could be achieved with these from Amazon; http://www.amazon.co.uk/Edible-Genuine-Gold-Flakes-100mg/dp/B004CJSD54.


James

[ps_bond]

All I could think of was assay.

[Unhindered]

Thanks for the replies guys, a customer has requested them as far as I am aware they are to go into a small glass vial? so I don't think filings would get the required affect and just couldn't think, I was thinking some sort of graver if anyone has any ideas of specific tools let me know!

[Goldsmith]

A half round scorper could be used to cut off gold curls, as I assume that the customer wants something visible.

If you have a grinder in your workshop you could make a draw scraper from an old file tang. If you are interested in making one of these, I would suggest making one like this one I made for box corners, but instead of a cutting point make the cutting point half round.

8012

James

[Dennis]

First of all I apologise for my facetious remark above, born of frustration. Now I know it is for display in a bottle, I can think of two ways to get value for money :

1. If you have a mill, roll down 1mm round wire as thinly as possible. Then snip off short lengths and turn them into small rolls with tweezers. a collection of these will give plenty of volume.

2. Failing that get some gold foil and cut it into 2.5mm strips with scissors. Then proceed as above. The gold will crinkle a bit and be quite reflective. Dennis.

[Unhindered]

Perfect! Some great ideas thanks so much! Will let you know how I get on!

[Aurarius]

Perfect! Some great ideas thanks so much! Will let you know how I get on!
I get all my gold leaf (for hand tooling of antiquarian books) here (http://www.stonehouses.co.uk/).
They also sell gold flakes:http://www.ediblegold.co.uk/gold-flakes/23ct-gold-leaf-flakes.html

[Unhindered]

I get all my gold leaf (for hand tooling of antiquarian books) here (http://www.stonehouses.co.uk/).
They also sell gold flakes:http://www.ediblegold.co.uk/gold-flakes/23ct-gold-leaf-flakes.html


Thanks but I need to make it rather than buy it :)

[ajda]

Unhindered, I'm wondering how you got on with this. I now want to try something myself with little bits of 24k gold - not powder or flakes of gold leaf, but slightly more substantial random parings/shavings like finely grated chocolate...
Alan

[metalsmith]

Have you considered cutting a small sheet into pieces (as small as you can) then dropping into a tumbler with some marbles / large ball bearings and leave for while inspecting every day until you arrive at the required granularity?

[Unhindered]

What I did in the end was rolled it as thin as I could, then cut it up with snips and hammered slightly! It wasn't as good as I hoped it would look but the customer must have been happy as I didn't get it back!


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