In Reply to: Gold Leaf on Aluminum...any concerns...what preparation is needed? posted by Robert beverly on August 15, 19102 at 06:21:49:
Rob, there definatly are issues to be concerned with. The main issue is electrolisis...what happens when water runs across dissimilar metals. The aluminum needs several coats of paint before applying gold size to form an insulating barrier between the metals. I use zinc chromate as a primer often, and assume metal content in it and don't even count it as one of the layers.
I have some places with Gemini cast aluminum letters with gold size airbrushed on and gilded and the aluminum is actually erroding.
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