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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.

Search found 55 matches

by Steven Vigeant
Sun Mar 27, 2011 12:47 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Artistic License
Replies: 1
Views: 1874

Artistic License

As some of you may know I have been a candidate for full membership to Artistic License.org which is made up of primarily high-end architectural restoration craftspeople, with Victorian and Arts & Crafts period leanings. They are very much like architectural letterheads sharing tips and keeping ...
by Steven Vigeant
Thu Apr 30, 2009 12:34 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: chipping question
Replies: 22
Views: 11466

Re: chipping question

Does someone know what are the specs for a chipping booth? Temp & air flow should be what? to optimally chip in about how long, 2 days? Can you live without it? My aforementioned pieces are still doing nada during our recent cool days.
Thanks, Steve
by Steven Vigeant
Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:49 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Painting acrylic plastic
Replies: 12
Views: 7736

Re: Painting acrylic plastic

Rod, If you scuff it a bit then Ronan Aqua-Coat ought to stick. McClogan & Blick have it. It's basically like 1Shot in terms of thickness and coverage. Also Benjamin-Moore is making a waterbourne which is great paint similar to the Ronan.
Steve
by Steven Vigeant
Mon Apr 27, 2009 12:15 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Glue-Chipping Machine
Replies: 2
Views: 1825

Glue-Chipping Machine

Well I was there in Machine doing some glue-chipping, on a Mental Health Day last month, and the pieces are just now finishing to chip. Now I realize that most of the mental health I acquired wore off a while back. I used Blake's glue and pot, an honor to be sure, but I did put on the glue very quic...
by Steven Vigeant
Sun Nov 09, 2008 11:39 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Titanic Letterheads 2012
Replies: 27
Views: 19897

UK meets 2010

It looks like I know what I'll be doing in 2012. What does the rest of the UK scene look like before that? Is there anything in the works for 2010 that anyone has heard of? It sounds so futuristic we'll probably have cell phone attachment that willl beam us there by then, which would be handy.
by Steven Vigeant
Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:30 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Patent silver leaf
Replies: 2
Views: 2049

Patent silver leaf

Is there anything wrong with using patent silver leaf on a storefront window? I'm working behind some thick tinted glass. How different would water-gilded white-gold look if it was right next to patent silver? It's a large silver chandelier graphic so I figure that more or less anything would look a...
by Steven Vigeant
Tue Sep 02, 2008 12:02 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Endeavour to Persevere...(it's done)
Replies: 37
Views: 32923

mica backup?

Mr. Black I'm afraid this post is dated months ago! When you put on the mica blend in stages, are you adding to the previous layer in any way to double up the coat of powder or is it a single layer each time? Can you explain using white as the back-up? What is the rule of thumb for backing up the mi...
by Steven Vigeant
Mon Jun 16, 2008 1:21 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Bob Harper
Replies: 5
Views: 4132

I've read many of his stories. He often seemed to judge a shop by the amount of open paint cans with skins and stir sticks sticking out. Was that a Harper peeve or was that a standard way to judge a reliable shop in his day? Was he somebody who wore spotless clothes and so on? What else might charac...
by Steven Vigeant
Sun Jun 15, 2008 3:51 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Bob Harper
Replies: 5
Views: 4132

Bob Harper

I just received a call from Keith Knecht that Bob Harper died yesterday. The legendary showcard writer and Sign Museum ribbon cutter was 88.
by Steven Vigeant
Sat Jun 14, 2008 2:06 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Surface gilding "the new way"
Replies: 2
Views: 2517

Surface gilding "the new way"

In the past I've tried to surface gild over fresh enamel while leaving the paint mask on for quick size and gilding. It works OK, leaves the background really clean but doesn't live up to close scrutiny. The gild is uneven up close. Then I tried the real way of putting down whiting and hand letterin...
by Steven Vigeant
Fri Jun 13, 2008 11:15 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: New fellow with very old copy of Atkinson's sign painting
Replies: 17
Views: 9224

Mike, I'm a wanna be librarian but I've always been a poor shelf stacker. Does the museum have all of those books or plan to have them in a permanent library? I'm ready to assume you have them since they are your favorites. Is it safe to say your top 25 list has more of an emphasis on design than ho...
by Steven Vigeant
Fri Jun 13, 2008 1:21 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: New fellow with very old copy of Atkinson's sign painting
Replies: 17
Views: 9224

Gratitude

Mike, Thank you for the bibliography. And also for the glass gilding materials list. These are two lists to refer to forever. Much appreciated. Are all of those pictures from your collection? And where is the list on the website? I got the linkup but I couldn't see how you locate it on the website a...
by Steven Vigeant
Sat Jun 07, 2008 12:16 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Original Dead Men
Replies: 686
Views: 2084015

Blake attains mental health.

Dang it Blake that's further than the the end of the line. That's half way to Altaville, truth be told. I love all the little flourishes. The blues are sweet, and how did you do that bottle neck? It pops very nicely. You must feel restored to complete mental health by now!

Mr. Schofield
by Steven Vigeant
Thu May 29, 2008 12:56 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: shellac back-up
Replies: 4
Views: 3160

shellac back-up

Is it acceptable to brush on shellac on to the back of a fresh matte reverse gild as a backup? For example. 1)painting a box on the inside of a window with enamel and hardener over masked off letters. 2)pull out the letters right away. wait briefly or as long as feasible, then quick size. 3) patent ...
by Steven Vigeant
Wed May 28, 2008 12:44 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Sign Painting the New Way
Replies: 8
Views: 6165

Sign Painting the New Way

If you immediately thought: "Thats a book by Steve Prohaska! you're who I'm looking to ask a question or two. It's a very sharp book on how to paint signs in 1964 published by ST that describes many solid production style hand lettering tips. The big one is that he makes a case to do away with ...
by Steven Vigeant
Fri May 16, 2008 2:02 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: The nature of paint
Replies: 5
Views: 3365

Some questions Doug What do you do with japans with or without Smith's? I'm having trouble finding out specifics about the traditional uses of japan color. Your success with linseed oil is with blending I assume? What are the paint layers and additives you put on one of your exterior painted wood si...
by Steven Vigeant
Thu May 15, 2008 12:31 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: The nature of paint
Replies: 5
Views: 3365

Riddle this

Mr Jenko, Does that mean your still looking for a home for all of that oil enamel and hardener left over from that meet way back when? I think it was in the town where the Golden Bear has a sweater of fiberglass hair. At a time when the poet Blake helped with the Butler's work. When we discovered th...
by Steven Vigeant
Sat May 10, 2008 1:37 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: The nature of paint
Replies: 5
Views: 3365

The nature of paint

I've been kicking around several paint questions for a few years. Perhaps there are several answers and you know I'm going to broadcast them once I hear them (and I like to credit any and all sources), but I'd love to get some feedback on a handful of paint mysteries from those who know. 1 Does wate...
by Steven Vigeant
Thu May 08, 2008 12:36 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: 1st meeting of the International Society of Glass Gilders!
Replies: 22
Views: 16916

reverse glass Noel Weber

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn257/nj2oakland/DSCN0502-1.jpg Can you figure out how this photo was taken? Hint: the foreground imagery was part of a series that was in Sign Business several years ago. http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn257/nj2oakland/DSCN0545.jpg Blake and Jenko lit up in g...
by Steven Vigeant
Tue Apr 08, 2008 12:48 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: 1st meeting of the International Society of Glass Gilders!
Replies: 22
Views: 16916

Go on then!

Luckily Larry tuned up my gilding a while back because I am going and I am just amped and revving up more by the day. I've got a room reserved at the historic Idaho Heritage Inn, and it's real deluxe. Would anyone want to share it with me, gourmet breakfast included? Couple blocks away from Noel's, ...
by Steven Vigeant
Fri Feb 22, 2008 3:15 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Letterhead's History - Ken Burns style
Replies: 13
Views: 7362

In it for the long haul

I'll never catch up to the Cal Ripkens of the sign world I've read on this post, but I'm excited to hear about the project Ray. I go through long droughts on the boards sometimes, but thankfully Larry clued me into the buzz. I have 20 hours of tapes or so and it's just a beginning. I'm planning on a...
by Steven Vigeant
Mon Aug 27, 2007 1:03 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: vinyl backup for window band?
Replies: 5
Views: 3457

Thanks Kent, would a last top coat of window spar be redundant or would it help add some strength?
by Steven Vigeant
Sat Aug 25, 2007 11:42 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: vinyl backup for window band?
Replies: 5
Views: 3457

Yes Mike it's just a standard painted window band on the inside of the window. Could it hurt to put vinyl on top of the paint? There's gold lettering under the paint. Thanks, Steve
by Steven Vigeant
Mon Aug 20, 2007 12:49 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: vinyl backup for window band?
Replies: 5
Views: 3457

vinyl backup for window band?

I have a low window band which has matte gold lettering with black enamel over it. It's right where people sit and eat ice cream or whatever. It has some scratches and holidays after a few months. Could it hurt to put a vinyl band on top? Maybe right over the small holidays? Or better to touch it up...
by Steven Vigeant
Sat May 19, 2007 12:51 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: LIP & Keith Knect 2
Replies: 4
Views: 3057

You got any Moore?

Mike, Thanks for the ideas. I'll study all of the comments before I speak with Keith, or rather listen to Keith. What a blast and half! The project will be focusing on Moore at some point. I'd like to do site visits someday and go over pictures and what not with you and others, but that seems far of...
by Steven Vigeant
Tue May 15, 2007 12:40 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: LIP & Keith Knect 2
Replies: 4
Views: 3057

LIP & Keith Knect 2

The follow-up interview with Keith is set up for Sunday. I'm trying to prepare. We're open to topic starters. I just found two holes in my SignCraft collection, which fall right on the two most important articles about Keith. #10 (1982 collection) & #63. Is there any chance someone can .pdf me t...
by Steven Vigeant
Sun May 06, 2007 12:31 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Keith Knecht & LIP
Replies: 7
Views: 5489

Absolutely Sarah, I'm hoping that the interviews will yield information about our larger shared experience as sign people, but even further, as it reveals a sense of the place of sign makers in American graphic history. This process tends to generate it's own buzz as the stories unfold. The more inf...
by Steven Vigeant
Sat May 05, 2007 1:06 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Keith Knecht & LIP
Replies: 7
Views: 5489

Keith Knecht & LIP

I've been working on the Letterhead Interview Project a little bit. Transcribing takes a lot of time. I finished up the Keith Knecht material I have from Cincinnati. I can't resist sending out the first rough sample, which appears to be classic. Please let me know if you have any feedback or facts t...
by Steven Vigeant
Fri Apr 27, 2007 11:37 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Silver strip not stripping
Replies: 8
Views: 5715

This post come back to life.

James,
Larry White silvered the piece on his tailgate with I think Angel Gild Silver. And he makes it look so easy, but I left it on for 6 months. It's still on there, but now there's the magic solution that I gotta try. There's tons of info about it on Angelgilding.com