k burk, I knew beadmaker Kristen Frantzen Orr could help you and
referred your request to her. Her very thorough reply may interest
several Orchidians who have recently inquired about fine silver wire
and metal foils and leaf.
The gold foil may be heavy enough for Keum Boo; I have emailed Arrow
Springs regarding sheet thickness and will post the from
their reply.
Pam Chott www.songofthephoenix.com
Arrow Springs and Frantz Bead both carry silver and gold leaf and
foil that are suitable for use in glass beadmaking.
Arrow Springs http://www.arrowsprings.com/
LEAF and FOIL Used to make classic gold and silver leaf and foil beads
as well as other decorations. Palladium is a warm silver in color that
when heated in a gentle flame will begin to change to metallic
iridescent peacock blues, purples and greens. Increase the heat and
palladium will return to a warm silver color. Platinum is the most
durable leaf. It is slightly stronger than the other leafs and can
take the most heat. It is brighter than silver and stays that way. GOLD
LEAF: 11.3 g /1000 sheets - 22kt $27.00 / 25 sheets 3-3/8" X 3-3/8"
EXTRA HEAVY GOLD LEAF: 19 g /1000 Sheets - 22kt $32.00 / 25 sheets
3-3/8" X 3-3/8" SUPER HEAVY GOLD LEAF: 27 g /1000 Sheets - 24kt $42.00
/ 25 sheets 3-3/8" X 3-3/8" GOLD FOIL: $70.00 / 5 sheets 3-3/4" X
3-3/4" $15.00 / 1 sheet SILVER LEAF: $7.75 / 25 sheets 3-3/4" X 3-3/4"
SILVER FOIL: $25.00 / 25 sheets 3-3/4" X 3-3/4" $13.00 / 12 sheets LIGHT
SILVER FOIL: $20.00 / 25 sheets 3-3/8" X 3-3/8" PALLADIUM LEAF: $40.00 /
25 sheets 3-5/16" X 3-5/16" PLATINUM LEAF: $15.00 / 5 sheets 3-5/16" X
3-5/16" Leaf is very thin and delicate, therefore, it is only sold by
the book. Foil is substantially thicker and a lot easier to handle. If
not dealt with properly, gold and silver leaf will burn off in the
flame, whereas foil will tolerate being left in the flame longer.
Palladium and platinum, even though a leaf, are nearly impossible to
burn off. Both leaf and foil require careful handling. Hint: Put
transparent Very Pale Amber (T-008) over silver leaf or foil to give
it the appearance of gold. Other transparents will give equally
interesting effects. Also try placing transparent dots over silver
leaf and then burn off the surrounding leaf. The dots will look as
though they are mirror backed. FINE SILVER WIRE AND STRIPS All sizes of
wire are 6 feet long. All sizes of strips are 2 feet long.20 Wire -
round: 18GA … $10.00; 20GA … $6.75; 22GA … $4.25 ; 24GA
… $3.00; 26GA … $1.75 ; 28GA … $1.50 ; 30GA …
$1.25 Strips - 30GA thickness: 3/32" … $2.75 ; 1/8" … $3.50 ;
3/16" … $5.00 Mini variety pack - one each of 20GA and 26GA wire and
1/8" strip: $10.75 Full variety pack - one of all 10 sizes: $35.00 Use
fine (.9999 pure) silver wire and strips to draw dots, stripes and
countless other silver designs on glass while working it in the torch.
Also used in fuming. Only fume with adequate ventilation and proper
instruction.
Frantz Bead http://www.frantzbead.com/
1835Silver Foil - 25 sheets, 3-5/16" x 3-5/16"$20.00 1012Silver Foil -
25 sheets, 3-3/4" x 3-3/4"$25.00 1016Silver Foil - 12 sheets, 3-3/4" x
3-3/4"$15.00 1649Silver Leaf - 25 sheets, 3-3/4" x 3-3/4"$12.00
1013Gold Leaf - 25 sheets, 3-3/8" x 3-3/8"$27.00 1014Gold Foil - 1
sheet, 3-5/8" x 3-5/8"$15.00 1015Gold Foil - 5 sheets, 3-5/8" x
3-5/8"$70.00 1862Paladium Leaf - 25 sheets, 3-5/16" x 3-5/16"$50.00
Copper leaf/foil is a bit harder to find. Here are three sources:
-
Thompson’s Enamel Thompson Enamel 606-291-3800 650 Colfax Ave
Bellvue, KY 41073 Call for their catalogue! -
Pearl Paint For Domestic Mail Order: 1-800-221-6845 x2297 Pearl
Paint, 308 Canal Street, New York City 10013 USA
http://www.pearlnyc.com/ Copper Leaf - each pack #276752 -
Schlaifer’s Enameling Supplies: Silver, Gold, Copper Foil M-2
Silver foil (fine silver) 3-3/4" x 3-3/4" sheets. Book contains 25
sheets. $1.25/sheet $25.00/book SF-1 Fine Silver Foil (thinner than
M-2) 3-1/4" x 3-1/4" sheets. $1.00/Sheet $21.75/Book (25 sheets) SF-2
Fine Silver Foil (thicker than M-2) 5" x 5" sheets $2.25/Sheet
$51.00/Book (25 sheets) M-3 Gold Foil 24K 3-3/4" x 3-3/4 sheets…
$17.50/sheet $72.50/book (5 sheets) M-1 Copper Tooling Foil 0.0054"
(36 ga.) 12" wide (4ft/lb.). Sold by the ft. $4.00/ft M-7 Malleable
Copper 0.010" soft malleable copper. Sold by the square ft. $8.50/sq.
ft. M-6 Silver Tooling Foil 0.005" fine http://www.enameling.com/ 1441
HUNTINGTON DRIVE #170 SOUTH PASADENA, CA 91030 USA (626) 441-1127 (800)
525-5959
Do you know about the beadmakers’ forum sponsored by the Society of
Glass Beadmakers? sgb.org? Lots of info
there!
–Kristen Frantzen Orr kfoartglass@home.com
http://members.home.net/kfoartglass/