How to Gild a Chair Leg

Sand the wood surfaces of the chair to remove the existing finish and smooth out the surface. Wipe the chair down with a tack cloth to remove all sawdust and grit. Place plastic sheeting on the floor of a clean room with no dust. Position the clean chair in the middle of the sheeting.

Tape around the legs of the chair where the wood meets the fabric using painter's tape. This will protect the fabric from the gilding process.

Paint two coats of oil-based gloss red for gold gilding. Use black paint for silver and either color for other metals. Allow each coat to dry for 12 hours.

Paint the chair leg with size using a medium paintbrush. Size is the adhesive that sticks the gilding to the leg surface. Follow the size manufacturer's recommendations for the drying time. In general, size should be dry but slightly sticky to the touch.

Put on cotton gloves to protect the metal while you work with it. Gold and silver (along with other fine metals) are sold in very thin sheets separated by paper sheets. Lift each leaf slowly. Don't breathe on the sheet. Move the sheet to the chair leg and press the leaf onto the leg. Overlap the leaf. It will look like cheap wrapping paper at first. Continue covering the leg.

Press the leaf into the nooks and crevices of the leg using a soft, round artist brush. Take floating bits on the brush and cover small openings. Try not to waste your leaf. Continue until the leg is covered. Smooth the leg with the cotton gloves on your hands and the paintbrush. The leaf will adhere to the size and cover the chair leg. Areas where there is no size or where the leaf is missing will show your undercoat paint color.

Paint the gilded leg with clear shellac, using a paintbrush.