Evidence of gold leaf dates back 8,000 years, but the technique was new to me. I’m always looking to inject something new into my work, so I was eager to try these metal-leafing supplies from Easy Inlay. The brief instructions on the back of the kit did little to alleviate my anxiety over trying a new and unfamiliar technique, but Easy Inlay has a YouTube channel that walks you through the process in depth. And once I got over my trepidation and dove in, I found the process delightfully straightforward and simple. I did have a bit of difficulty at first when applying the leaf to tight curves, but even that challenge got easier after a few tries.
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A bit of sanding creates sharp transitions between exposed wood and metal leaf. This allows you to use the leaf to highlight specific details. And once you coat the applied leaf with your favorite finish, it’s durable enough for drawer pulls and other high-wear components. To challenge my skills, I even applied leaf to the bumpy, live edge of a slab, and it clung beautifully to the undulations. At just $35 for the application kit and a sample pack of three colors, this is an affordable technique to try out. I barely put a dent in one packet of leaf in my tests.
—Austin Heitzman is a professional woodworker in Portland, Ore.
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