Steps for the production of gold leaf

1. Weighing the alloy constituents (gold, silver, copper, platinum)

2. Melting and casting the molten alloy into ingots

3. Rolling the ingots down to a ribbon ‘thinness’ of 0.015 mm

Rolling the ingots down to a ribbon ‘thinness’ of 0.015 mm   -   Click to view a larger resolution image

Rolling the ingots

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4. Cutting the rolled ribbon into 32 x 32 mm squares

5. Interleaving the squares in the first beating mould (known in German as "Lot"= cutch)

6. Beating the "Lot" mould with an automatic machine down to a leaf thinness of 0.002 mm

7. Quartering the gold sheets and interleaving them in the second mould known in German as a "Form" = mould

8. Beating the "Form" with an automatic machine to produce a super-fine gold leaf no more than 0.00015 mm thin!

9. Trimming the fine gold leaves and interleaving them with tissue paper in books for sale

Trimming the fine gold leaves    -   Click to view a larger resolution image Trimming the fine gold leaves

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Melting and casting the molten alloy into ingots   -   Click to view a larger resolution image Melting

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Beating the "Lot" mould with an automatic machine down to a leaf thinness of 0.002 mm   -   Click to view a larger resolution image Automatic machine

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Interleaving the gold leaves with tissue paper in books for sale   -   Click to view a larger resolution image Interleaving the gold leaves with tissue paper in books for sale

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In the light of this brief description, the production of gold leaf appears to be quite simple.  In reality, however, a great deal of experience and skill are required to produce gold leaves of almost translucent thinness that are free of all flaws.
Tools for the production of gold leaf   -   Click to view a larger resolution image Tools for the production of gold leaf

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Tools for the production of gold leaf   -   Click to view a larger resolution image Tools for the production of gold leaf

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