Ah. What a shame. It doesn't sound easy at all. Even for an experienced hand, i'll wager. I am wondering; does this Chirico not have a source of someone who is experienced in this process? Or is he only the newest owner of a bicycle marque with no experience in this old technique? A professional sign maker may be a good option, if you can find one with this sort of experience. How about a gold leaf artisan or custom picture frame maker? This sounds like a daunting task, and I wish you the best of luck with the next try.