Gold leaf is made by repeatedly rolling a bar of gold until it's extremely thin, then cutting it into small squares. Here’s a breakdown of the process:
The Gold Leaf Creation Process
The process of making gold leaf involves a few key steps using specialized equipment:
Step 1: Rolling the Gold
- A bar of gold is initially prepared for processing.
- This bar is then passed through a rolling mill multiple times.
- The rollers of the mill are adjusted closer together with each pass.
- This action gradually flattens and thins the gold bar.
- The rolling process continues until the gold reaches a thickness of 25 micrometres (1⁄1000 in), creating a thin ribbon of gold.
Step 2: Cutting the Gold
- After the rolling process, the thin gold ribbon is cut into smaller pieces.
- These pieces are typically one-inch squares.
Step 3: Further Processing and Use
- The one-inch squares are then ready for further processing to make the final gold leaf product.
- These are often placed between sheets of paper or parchment for further processing such as beating.
- The gold leaf can be used in a range of applications, such as art, decoration, and in some food products.
Summary Table: Making Gold Leaf
| Step | Description | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gold bar passed through rolling mill repeatedly. | Gold thinned to 25 micrometres or 1⁄1000 in. |
| 2 | Thin gold ribbon cut into squares. | One-inch gold squares ready for further processing. |
| 3 | Further processing and applications | The final gold leaf product is used for various purposes. |
Therefore, making gold leaf essentially involves progressively thinning a gold bar and then cutting it into usable squares. The rolling mill and precision are key to creating the desired thinness of the gold.
