Re: Gold leaf brands & prices

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Terry Hart cpf

Terry Hart cpf

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
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Sep 23, 2003
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Chanhassen, MN
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Just wondering if those of you who use leaf have brand loyalty or do you just shop for price? Weight of leaf? Does country of origin matter or are they pretty similar? Or does it depend on the job for you? I've found I really like Manetti but there is usually a" bargain" brand if you ask your supplier. I've tried a few but I don't go through a lot, I think it's been a couple years since I bought a box. Am I going to be in for a price shock?
 
Manetti is a very good brand with excellent quality control..

Leaf is sold and graded by weight and lack of pin holes, grams per 1,000 sheets.

REMEMBER the price of 24k gold bullion has almost doubled in the last couple of years.
 
Yeah, you'll probably be in for a price shock. In addition to the gold price, the exchange rate against Euro will have an effect, if the leaf is from Europe.

I usually get Ruhl (although I understand that it is no longer actually made by them, and that the name was bought by another company). Other than some very old Swift I had, the quality among the name brands seems fine and consistent - I presume because of technological advances in manufacturing. I don't even bother ordering glass gold for my eglomise, as I don't find pinholds common in the regular leaf.

Joseph
 
During the WCAF guilding classes, they said almost all, if not all, leaf is now coming from China, even if it is called German, or Italian, etc., and that from China seems to be a little thinner than the old that was really from Germany or Italy.

They also mentioned that every now and then you will get a quote for leaf that sounds much better than most, and that is because the "leaf-books" are a different size.

I have been getting mine from Easy Leaf in California (800-569-5323), and I have been using 22 k.
 
I buy very little, and so get it locally. It says Producto d' Roma, and that is the only marking..... so it's generic 23.75Kt (edible)

Last week it was $47/book 3.5x3.5 25/

spendy..... but it makes the "W" on the blueberry cobbler look spectacular.

The China stuff is a little thinner, but the lead content makes it a lot heavier, and the melamine keeps it from falling apart. :kaffeetrinker_2:
 
Grey Owl said:
During the WCAF guilding classes, they said almost all, if not all, leaf is now coming from China, even if it is called German, or Italian, etc., and that from China seems to be a little thinner than the old that was really from Germany or Italy.
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Click to expand...

I checked some of my boxes, and they are marked as Madin in Italy, Made in Germany, etc., and my packages come directly from Germany (also, I can't get the Ruhl in late summer, when they all go on vacation in Europe).

I have no doubt, that as with everything else, Chinese manufacturing will play a part, but since they have no issue with putting "Made in China" on everything else they make, it should be on the leaf packaging. Now, it may be possible that they manufacture the leaf for these other companies, and it gets repackaged, but the European rules about what operations (and percentage of those) come into play when labeling "made in...". So while I am aware of Chinese leaf, I am not aware of it being sold as product of another country. What may also be confusing is that they may be using "French", "German", "Italian" etc. as descriptive names on the product as a marketing trick.

That being said, I haven't gotten price quotes for this year (too scared), but I buy in multiple box quantities, so my price per book is usually much better; if you don't use a lot of leaf, maybe find a gilder close by and split a box order to get the better pricing.
 
Wehrung and Billmeier, 919 Playbird Rd.,Sheboygan WI 53083
920-459-8206. Urban Billmeier, Jr.

Supposedly the last gold beaters in the states. The Smithsonian sent a video crew when Urban senior was still around. When the company started in the early 20th. c. they were one of the smaller shops in Chicago, where there were around 30 shops. I think they had about 15 gold beaters, when Urban Sr. was learning the trade. Like a lot of things, better in person than on a video; you need the dusty, dark and smelly to appreciate it.
 
josephforthill said:
Other than some very old Swift I had, the quality among the name brands seems fine and consistent - I presume because of technological advances in manufacturing. I don't even bother ordering glass gold for my eglomise, as I don't find pinholds common in the regular leaf.

Joseph
Click to expand...

Are you saying you didn't like the Swift or did? I just laid some Swift 16 kt. I got it from a couple of sisters that brought in a shoe box of supplies one day that had belonged to their father. I presumed it was no longer available but I think it's nice to work with & looks beautiful. In fact that's kind of why I posted this. It's just a little personal panel project so I'm useing up some odds & ends & laid some Ruhl next to the Swift & can see a definate difference. Although in the end it'll all look just fine right now the Ruhl looks a bit mottled with a glossier surface. The Swift is a beautiful consistant matte. I thought it reminded me of working with Manetti although it's been a while. Several times when last minute I balked at the price of Manetti or other "name" I've asked what the best price is & have gotten leaf that was 25-30% less. It's been acceptable leaf, not a different size & no pinholes but really not the same to work with. @ Baer, $47 for a book of edible sounds good. My 2008 Easy Leaf price list shows $1140 for 500 leaves, $63 book price. I think you must be getting a bargain......or how does your tummy feel? @ Bron, hand beaten must be a super premium no? Much heavier though? Do you know the gram weight of that stuff?
 
& that's hand beaten? That doesn't sound too bad. Do you know the weight? I'd assume it would be heavier but I din't know. I got a quote of $610 for 23kt Manetti from Easy Leaf. That should be 16gm I think.
 
I assumed Swift was no longer in business As I don't ever remember any of the suppliers I use offering that brand. The leaf I got in the "shoebox" seemed to be really old. There was some silver, white gold & pale that all had oxidation around the edges. I just googled Swift though & as far as I can tell they're still in businees. Haven't tried to contact them though.
 
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