23.5ct Yellow Gold Foil, For Keum Boo, 89mm X 89mm

Description

The Keum Boo technique is a traditional Korean method for fusing gold to silver, often used in jewellery making. It’s a unique and delicate process that involves applying gold foil to silver through heat and pressure.

This single sheet of 23.5ct gold leaf is to be specifically used for the Keum Boo technique of fusing pure gold onto silver.

Keum Boo foil is sturdier and thicker than standard gold leaf and other foils, making it easier to handle and apply to silver work.

This single sheet of 23.5ct Yellow Gold Keum Boo foil measures 89mm x 89mm (3.5″ x 3.5″) It is 2.5 microns thick, making it approximately 25 times thicker than standard gold leaf.

The gold foil weighs approximately 0.4g.

How to use it step by step:

• Clean the silver piece thoroughly to remove any dirt, oils, or oxidation. You can use a brass wire brush or a fine abrasive pad. The surface must be pristine to ensure the gold foil bonds well.
• Cut small pieces of gold foil. They should be slightly larger than the area where you want the gold to adhere, but not too large. The foil should be thin and delicate, allowing for proper fusing.
• Apply a thin layer of flux (usually a borax solution or a proprietary flux) to the surface of the silver where the gold foil will be placed. Flux helps prevent oxidation and promotes bonding.
• Lay the gold foil pieces gently on the silver where you want to apply the gold. If you’re working on a specific pattern, you can use multiple small pieces of foil to create that design.
• Heat the silver and gold with a torch. Evenly heat the entire surface. The gold foil will start to bond with the silver once the temperature is reached.
• Once the piece is heated, use a hammer or a tool to apply gentle pressure to the gold foil. This ensures the gold is pressed into the silver, enhancing the bond. If you’re using a kiln, you may not need to apply pressure manually.
• After the heating and pressing, let the piece cool down naturally.
• Once cooled and cleaned, burnish the piece gently with a soft cloth or a specialized burnishing tool.
• For a thicker or more pronounced gold layer, you can repeat the process.

Please note : Don’t overheat, the gold foil should melt and fuse to the surface, but it should not burn or oxidize.

Please note: There is a difference between gold foil for Keum-Boo and for enamelling. Keum-Boo foil is thicker and designed to fuse onto silver with heat, while enamelling foil is much thinner and intended to be used beneath transparent enamel.

Catalogue Page Number p797