Thanks for that link.
I’m not familiar with the HTV process, so I’ve avoided it so far. I need to do some research !
John
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You could make the fan from matte gold acrylic?
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You could spray your finished pieces with oracal352 with a clear matte finish?
Something like:
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SWMBO is allergic to the smell of cutting acrylic ( even with my good extraction fans).
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The spray paint might be the way to go. It would give me the possibility of adjusting the gold color as well.
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Well “spray paint” is overselling what they have there. it’s a clear matte finish, so you can spray it on your existing gold stuff and it just gives it a matte surface. It might still be too glossy.
Then there’s this:
https://www.amazon.com/Specialty-Frosted-Glass-Aerosol-Alkyd/dp/B081TL8B75/
Which is like a frosted glass spray. Might give you more of what you’re looking for? Hard to say without trying it, and I’ve only ever used the clear stuff to seal paper on my mandalas, like this one:
I made the layers, glued them up, then sprayed with the clear sealant to protect the paper. It didn’t change the look of it at all, but then paper is already matte.
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That looks good, but at ~ $28 for the roll, + $16 for delivery, it works out at $3.50 a square foot. Ouch!
But I might have to bite the bullet, and go with it, even though it’s only planned to be a single fan.
Thanks again.
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I might give this a try, but I’m wary of spraying onto the thin basswood (1mm) as it has a tendency to curl.
# Krylon High-Gloss Metallic Gold Leaf Metallic Spray Paint
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Generally you can counter this by finishing both sides at the same time. Curling tends to happen when you treat two sides of wood differently… if you hit both sides at the same time it should (in theory) equilibrize the effects.
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I have used this and it looks good. Sometimes peels if it’s ‘really’ intricate.
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I have used it and experimented with it. I have had great results even when adhering it to an irregular surface such as cork fabric.
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Most Oracal films are vinyl (PVC containing). You may try their polyester films, the 351 line, there’s a gold but I don’t remember how satin it is.
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Er, not sure about the word ‘Most’ in your post.
Please check my original post.
Regards
John
PS the word vinyl, often carelessly used, does not mean it’s polyvinylchloride, ie a molecule that contains chlorine.
Vinyl is an organic structure −CH=CH 2 that doesn’t contain it .
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I know, I didn’t think it was worth repeating here 
I work extensively with large format graphics, Oracal and 3M are the two most common suppliers of single color adhesive films for graphics - we call it “sign vinyl” and more often just vinyl. I’m well acquainted with the Oracal catalog.
I read your original post, which is the only reason I replied - to attempt to offer a helpful answer. You noted you have tried 352 and 651. I suggested you look at 351.
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I guess you are consuming enough to buy in quantity directly from Orafol website.
Even there, there only seems to be one finish for the gold color, and they don’t describe it.
They do describe the chrome as either chrome or matte chrome, so I assume the gold to be mirror.
They also state that it is coated both sides, not what I’m looking for.
I use Amazon as my supplier, and it’s surprising how many of the 351 ads describe it as 'mirror’finish.
I hope this gives you some idea of how I have proceeded in my search.
Regards
John
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I only occasionally buy direct from Orafol, it’s rare that I need an entire roll - tho their local distributor is quite pleasant.
Mostly we buy via our sign shops or a sign supply company. McLogan for example will, sell you as little as one yard of any roll they have in stock and they generally stock nearly everything or could be sweet talked into ordering it for you. Sign supply employees tend to be either funky artists, crochety old farts or both and in my experience are always very helpful with questions and helping you track down the right material for your job.
Most any sign shop (they’re all over, sometimes in the form of a mall cart that cuts stickers on the spot) will be happy to sell or give you small amounts of vinyl if they have the color you’re interested in. We’ve found buying from Amazon very iffy in the past - often the material is mislabeled or old stock with bad adhesive.
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You’ve got me to a ‘T’
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If you’re doing a one-off or a small run, you might also consider Rub’n’Buff - it’s a coloured “wax” that becomes pretty darn permanent after you rub it in. I haven’t actually tried it on acrylic, but it’s worked perfectly on wood, and leather - and is matte.
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i was just coming here to post about rub’n’buff. definitely worth a test to see what you think.
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