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This is an interactive Bulletin Board on the topics of Sign making, design, fabrication, History, old Books and of coarse Letterheads, Keepers of the craft. The Hand Lettering Forum features links to resources, sign art history, techniques, and artists profiles. Learn more about Letterheads at https://theletterheads.com. Below you'll see Mchat has been added as a live communication portal for trial, and the Main forum Links are listed below.

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by John Studden
Fri Apr 03, 2015 12:26 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: GOLD LEAF Workshop Bakersfield
Replies: 0
Views: 8991

GOLD LEAF Workshop Bakersfield

John Studden & Dean Ross are holding another Gold Leaf Workshop in Bakersfield CA, at the Esoteric Gold Company, the dates are April 24-26, the last one was a great success, this would be a good class to learn a lot of techniques, aimed at the person who wants to get as much knowledge as possibl...
by John Studden
Wed Oct 22, 2014 7:13 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: GOLD LEAF Workshop Bakersfield
Replies: 0
Views: 3207

GOLD LEAF Workshop Bakersfield

3 DAY ACID ETCHING GOLD LEAF WORKSHOP Dean Ross & myself will be hosting a 3 day Acid Etching & Gold Leaf Workshop on November 14-16 in Bakersfield California for anyone interested. The weekend will cover screen set up, Acid application, Water Gilding, Surface Gilding, MOP application etc. A...
by John Studden
Fri Oct 17, 2014 4:36 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Spinning goldleaf
Replies: 6
Views: 10658

Re: Spinning goldleaf

You will have a much better job with a good 12 hour size, the 3 hour has probably already dried not allowing the gold to move....or add a little 12 to the 3 hour for a longer open time....you can use a decent pressure with a drill without worrying too much.....
by John Studden
Mon Oct 13, 2014 8:18 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: World Wide Gilding Workshop
Replies: 4
Views: 5505

Re: World Wide Gilding Workshop

We have had to postpone this workshop until after the California Conclave.......New dates & details will be published when available....sorry about that....
by John Studden
Wed Jul 09, 2014 6:02 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: World Wide Gilding Workshop
Replies: 4
Views: 5505

World Wide Gilding Workshop

I would like to announce that myself and Dave Smith will be holding Worldwide Gilding Workshops. Many people have traveled to England to participate in one of my traditional Gilding Workshops, but because of space limitations only a couple at a time could be accommodated........ John and I are combi...
by John Studden
Thu Oct 03, 2013 7:35 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Finished piece
Replies: 5
Views: 5216

Re: Finished piece

Nice one Charlie, Your dad is proud of you...............John Dickinson
by John Studden
Mon Sep 30, 2013 8:12 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: reverse gilding inside of an outline, (european method)??
Replies: 8
Views: 8015

Re: reverse gilding inside of an outline, (european method)??

You don't really need Bon Ami for that, 0000 steel wool to knock down the edge, then a glass cleaner is OK, just add a couple drops of Ivory washing up liquid to the water size, this will help pull the Leaf to the line & will not cloud your Gild...there will then be no gap between the gold &...
by John Studden
Sat May 25, 2013 12:39 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Problem With Water Gilding
Replies: 28
Views: 30584

Re: Problem With Water Gilding

If you were to varnish size the acid stipple the texture would simply disappear, you need to get some real Gold & start again. Bon Ami is only good for cleaning glass not removing gold......It creates a sort of grinding paste that will remove everything eventually, get yourself a stiff bristle b...
by John Studden
Tue Apr 09, 2013 1:27 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Basic set of lettering brushes.
Replies: 6
Views: 7647

Re: Basic set of lettering brushes.

Julio, go to the www.wrightsoflymm.co.uk website look under brushes at the series 1315 pure sable chisel writers. they sell a set I think it's 0-6 + 9 for the sizes they come in a nice tin box, these are great for gold work & a good all round brush, you will not be disappointed, hope this helps....
by John Studden
Tue Apr 09, 2013 1:18 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Lefranc original gold size.
Replies: 35
Views: 33350

Re: Lefranc original gold size.

While working with Noel last year on the Disney job in Anaheim we visited the local branch of McLogans for some supplies, this place has been there for years........While looking around we found on a shelf 12 cans of 3 h.r & 12 cans of 12 hr. original green label 500 ml cans. The 3 hr was lumpy ...
by John Studden
Fri Apr 05, 2013 1:32 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Arthur Vanson
Replies: 2
Views: 2883

Re: Arthur Vanson

Very sorry to hear that news, I emailed Arthur only a week or so a go, wishing him well, not knowing he was that ill....A very skilled old school lettering artist, very rare these days & not easily replaced.. I never did meet him, but we had phone conversations.......His name will live on in his...
by John Studden
Tue Feb 19, 2013 7:08 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Cutting glass with scissors ?
Replies: 13
Views: 9466

Re: Cutting glass with scissors ?

I was there, I am sure it was Lee Littlewood, thin glass in a bucket of water!..................
by John Studden
Mon Feb 18, 2013 2:38 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: visiting USA in May
Replies: 18
Views: 15915

Re: visiting USA in May

Bruce, I think you have my email address........Bakersfield is only 75 miles from my shop, straight run 1 hr 5 mns...I am 35 minutes from LAX. Would be fun to show you around.............maybe you could do that on the way to Larry's..................John
by John Studden
Fri Feb 15, 2013 8:30 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: visiting USA in May
Replies: 18
Views: 15915

Re: visiting USA in May

Bruce, If you have time when you are here I can run you up to Dean's in Bakersfield, that is where most of my glass is now. the home of the Conclave these days...I am 30 miles north of LA....Let me know, John
by John Studden
Wed Feb 13, 2013 8:47 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Backing up Silver Gild
Replies: 19
Views: 14886

Re: Backing up Silver Gild

If you could clean the windows before Gilding with Cerium Oxide & a Jitterbug sander & a felt pad it would give a lot better adhesion to the paint. As far as paint goes for this job do not use Dekor or Back up enamel if it is exposed to sunlight, it will eventually turn grey. Nazdar 6100 ser...
by John Studden
Wed Feb 13, 2013 8:24 pm
Forum: Letterhead Events
Topic: Memorial Conclave 28
Replies: 8
Views: 11285

Re: Memorial Conclave 28

That was a great meet, Dean cooks a mean steak!..............Good to get everyone together once a year at least. Projects turned out well, some great techniques & color schemes especially on the cars........Nice to see some new faces as well as old......Patrick gave us some excellent tunes on th...
by John Studden
Wed Feb 13, 2013 8:24 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Memorial Conclave 28
Replies: 8
Views: 7433

Re: Memorial Conclave 28

That was a great meet, Dean cooks a mean steak!..............Good to get everyone together once a year at least. Projects turned out well, some great techniques & color schemes especially on the cars........Nice to see some new faces as well as old......Patrick gave us some excellent tunes on th...
by John Studden
Wed Feb 13, 2013 8:14 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Back Up Black from Gilder´s question
Replies: 7
Views: 5165

Re: Back Up Black from Gilder´s question

You can use it straight for Screen Printing, or add thinners for brushing, In either case add up to 5% 1-shot hardener. The excess gold can be removed after 30 minutes or even less depending on the air temperature. At the Conclave last weekend it was being removed 15 minutes after...........Great pr...
by John Studden
Sat Dec 15, 2012 2:59 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Price of Gold Leaf
Replies: 14
Views: 10941

Re: Price of Gold Leaf

......The quality of Gold Leaf is very suspect these days, along with where a lot of it is claimed to be manufactured, I have used a lot of "repackaged " far eastern type Gold that just does not lay or burnish well....There always seems to be cut lines that cannot be burnished out....ruini...
by John Studden
Fri Dec 14, 2012 2:53 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Fast Gold Size
Replies: 19
Views: 14778

Re: Fast Gold Size

Ron's Fast Size is far superior to One Shot, better open time & flows nicely........If you add a little 12 hour to it you will have a good 2-3 hour size also, breath into the can when replacing the lid, this will slow the skinning...........a little.
by John Studden
Tue Dec 04, 2012 8:25 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Gold Leaf Backing Paint Issue.
Replies: 2
Views: 3146

Re: Gold Leaf Backing Paint Issue.

On a large job we did recently all the glass was cleaned with cerium oxide using a jitterbug sander with a felt pad, this will give a good "tooth" to the glass....One shot these days is no good for that application, Back up black also would not last with the UV eventually turning gray........
by John Studden
Mon Jul 30, 2012 4:01 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: paintn mask & gold size
Replies: 5
Views: 4774

Re: paintn mask & gold size

Yes, Gilders Back Up black with about 5% 1-Shot hardener. This dries hard enough to take off the excess Gold safely in about 30 minutes, we usually use the Gilders removal brush..all these goodies are available from letterhead sign supply.
by John Studden
Fri Jul 20, 2012 3:04 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: paintn mask & gold size
Replies: 5
Views: 4774

Re: paintn mask & gold size

There is no way of applying a mask to water gilded Gold that is already on the glass without pulling the Gold off. You could apply a mask with an offset weed line to put an outline of enamel paint to give you an line to gild to, just add some soap to the size. The same method can be used for oil siz...
by John Studden
Thu Jul 19, 2012 6:36 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: paintn mask & gold size
Replies: 5
Views: 4774

Re: paintn mask & gold size

Aaron, Are you talking about water Gilding or oil size........on glass?............
by John Studden
Mon May 14, 2012 6:49 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: New Video
Replies: 16
Views: 10567

Re: New Video

Rod, The video captures the feeling we all have for the craft of Gilding, It's something we never seem to grow tired of, a definite addiction. Well done, a great job from a great craftsman.

Thanks for the mention, John
by John Studden
Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:27 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Conclave 27
Replies: 7
Views: 6232

Re: Conclave 27

That was fun, apart from all the Screen Cleaning that is............A great gathering of old friends, some very creative techniques, it's always interesting to give a group of people the same original layout then stand back for a couple of days to see what evolves, maybe as more get finished we coul...
by John Studden
Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:27 pm
Forum: Letterhead Events
Topic: Conclave 27
Replies: 7
Views: 10402

Re: Conclave 27

That was fun, apart from all the Screen Cleaning that is............A great gathering of old friends, some very creative techniques, it's always interesting to give a group of people the same original layout then stand back for a couple of days to see what evolves, maybe as more get finished we coul...
by John Studden
Tue Aug 09, 2011 7:57 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Screen fabric
Replies: 4
Views: 4101

Re: Screen fabric

Bob, You do not need multifilament for glass or any other type of fine line work, I buy aluminum frames from McLogan supply already made, they are very light & strong, and a very good price. The lighter the better for window work. Stay away from wooden frames, they tend to warp after a couple of...
by John Studden
Mon Aug 08, 2011 7:54 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Screen fabric
Replies: 4
Views: 4101

Re: Screen fabric

Bob, I usually use 180-200 mesh for glass work, they put down plenty enough ink & are good for fine line work, & can be cleaned easily. The coarser the mesh the more chance of sawtoothing on the finished job, that never looks good. Blasting the screens with a power washer usually takes care ...
by John Studden
Wed Jul 27, 2011 12:11 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Harry Malicoat
Replies: 12
Views: 9988

Re: Harry Malicoat

Harry was a great guy, very skilled with a lot to offer, he left too soon & will be greatly missed by all who knew him...........