Pricing gilding

[Big-Tex]

I do not want to start another steaming thread. I just want to find out what work price wise for you guys. Please specify if it retail or wholesale.

[joe]

Thomas,

I'm glad you've made the decision to take up gilding. Thanks to Raymond Chapman for getting you started.

When new customers visit my shop and are ready to place an order, they often request "some of that gold paint", thinking it comes out of a can. Sometimes I just reply, sure. If you want to quickly scare off a new customer, just mention 23K. I often lay down a border 1/4" of gold around the interior of a sign. I don't mention it's gold till the work is done. Their eyes sparkel. The cost of the gold would only be a few dollars.

I have two signs in progress now that will have the Mica as a gold substitute and the customers are set on having this gold effect. Once you have samples to show, customers will be asking for gold.

How do I price gold? Some of it goes very fast and doesn't cost very much. For example, a 1/4" border around a sign will go fast while gilding a a set of 4" V carved letter will take quiet a bit of time, skill and gold. You can get started pricing with the Sign Writers Pricing Guide which prices gilding by the letter height.

I'm sure you've priced out the materials but a 3.25"X3.25" leaf costs between $3.00 and $4.00.

Good luck with the process.

www.letterheadsignsupply.com (http://www.letterheadsignsupply.com)

Joe