Making a gold rubber

A gold rubber is used by bookbinders to remove excess gold leaf from a binding after tooling a design or title. Being slightly sticky, it lifts the excess gold without lifting the tooled gold and prevents loose flakes of gold leaf from contaminating other work in the bindery. Gold rubbers are hard to come by commercially so this video shows how I make one beginning with a crepe rubber which is readily available from bookbinding and art suppliers. Note: it is worth just testing your new gold rubber before using it on important work to ensure it does not mark your leather, for example if the paraffin has not yet been fully absorbed.

[@susanmaasch6555]

sent this on to my son who is studying to be a bookbinder at North Bennet Street School in Boston. Hey, he is looking for an internship this summer if you or any of your friends that work with books will be needing an intern or help.!!!!!He is very focused and wow the books!!!!!

[@catarinarosenfeld7664]

Thank you, for another wonderful, and most useful video. Just last year I looked for instructions to make one and couldn't find it. Thanks

[@sahafiandisheh1746]

thanks

[@vousatyr]

Wll the kneadable art eraser also work? I dont know where to find crepe rubber in my country local markets. Also I can only find granulateed parafine for candle making. Thank you.

[@bookbindingtips]

No, I don't think that will work I'm afraid. A gold rubber is not essential but it is useful - you could just use a soft cloth and a little lighter fluid (butane).

[@vousatyr]

@ I see, thank you. Well fortunately I have found something called “Crepe Rubber Cement Pick up” meanwhile in some German online shop for just 6 euros so I will go for it.

[@joseemcdonald4085]

Thank you for this little gem …so you store it in a closed jar or just out in the air ?

[@bookbindingtips]

I keep it in an airtight jar to stop it drying out too much.