Welcome to The Hand Lettering Forum!
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 225 matches

by Lee Littlewood
Fri Jun 13, 2014 12:24 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Paint, backing up and brushes...
Replies: 6
Views: 6131

Re: Paint, backing up and brushes...

" I'd read about using 0000 steel wool to knock it down, but every piece I've ever picked up was treated with a light oil." Yup. There is a special 0000 steel wool made with no oil for the use of picture framers - I think I got mine at Sepp Leaf in New York. One package will last a long ti...
by Lee Littlewood
Thu Jun 12, 2014 11:59 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Pulled Ferrule off of handle.
Replies: 6
Views: 5460

Re: Pulled Ferrule off of handle.

Ahhh, putting handles on new quills. LeBlanc talks about it in "Gold Leaf Techniques for the Sign Painter" - he goes back to the time when quills were sold loose, and you had to put your own handles on. As he said, if you take a little time with it you can get a nice feeling tool that will...
by Lee Littlewood
Tue May 13, 2014 5:08 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Paint, backing up and brushes...
Replies: 6
Views: 6131

Re: Paint, backing up and brushes...

STUFF YOU NEED: I dunno - you got brushes, paint, gelatin, leaf, oil size - maybe surgical cotton? clear overcoat? mica powders? shell? shellac? diamonds on the soles of our shoes? There is always more, but my rule is to make an order for what I know I need, and then add one more item I'm curious ab...
by Lee Littlewood
Sun May 11, 2014 10:16 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: question about surface gilding and sealer...
Replies: 5
Views: 4226

Re: question about surface gilding and sealer...

Hey, that's easy - after about 6 months quicksize is pretty much cured (at least you can't scratch it with your fingernail) so I'm pretty sure it is not very reactive to an overcoat. Oh, what, you want it When?? I guess I'd just think the longer the drying time the better, plus a bit for warm (maybe...
by Lee Littlewood
Sun May 11, 2014 3:07 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: still in there trying
Replies: 10
Views: 8930

Re: still in there trying

Hey, hot stuff! I think I see: In the top one - red variegated on the fish, green variegated on the bear and in the newspaper, and the letters still full of silver, everything mirrored #2 has abalone in the fish, same green variegated in the bear, red variegated in the newspaper, and maybe copper in...
by Lee Littlewood
Fri May 02, 2014 1:07 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: OFFICIAL LOCATION OF INTERNATIONAL LETTERHEADS 2015
Replies: 14
Views: 12562

Re: OFFICIAL LOCATION OF INTERNATIONAL LETTERHEADS 2015

WISH LIST continued:

Hand lettering: casual to script
Hand lettering: shocards

Gilding: solution gilding/silvering

Victorian layouts & techniques

Sign restoring techniques

Book area/archives/copy machines

25 hour days
by Lee Littlewood
Fri May 02, 2014 12:52 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Intro and question
Replies: 6
Views: 4932

Re: Intro and question

Welcome to you, Trip. I'm not sure I see the problem here - you don't really use your handwriting when you are lettering. The English call it "Sign Writing", but I've always thought of that as a target to shoot at more than a description. Americans call it "Sign Painting", and mo...
by Lee Littlewood
Mon Apr 28, 2014 3:15 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: OFFICIAL LOCATION OF INTERNATIONAL LETTERHEADS 2015
Replies: 14
Views: 12562

Re: OFFICIAL LOCATION OF INTERNATIONAL LETTERHEADS 2015

It's on my calendar (in pencil).

Is there a volunteer list started???
by Lee Littlewood
Fri Apr 25, 2014 2:13 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: ClearCoat over 23k Goldleaf
Replies: 8
Views: 7528

Re: ClearCoat over 23k Goldleaf

If the boat owner is going to be applying more coats, i will try to use what they use so it will all be compatible. If I am the last coat I'll go with a good marine varnish with UV protection - a 'spar' varnish or 'n's' varnish. The automotive clears may be even better but I don't know enough about ...
by Lee Littlewood
Fri Apr 25, 2014 1:45 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: No news?
Replies: 87
Views: 86591

Re: No news?

So, the silvered glass pieces are reflectors and they are inside, above the bulbs?
What backup did you use to protect the silver? I would bet it gets hot in there. I remember seeing an opaque projector with a cast aluminum reflector...
by Lee Littlewood
Fri Apr 25, 2014 1:33 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: ClearCoat over 23k Goldleaf
Replies: 8
Views: 7528

Re: ClearCoat over 23k Goldleaf

Nice job. And with the shade dry you can clean up the edges with the red on 2nd day. Good to see the boat is indoors. When you were wiping off the extra gold did you do the final wipe in a horizontal direction? It's not really spinning, but even a light wipe with velvet or cotton will leave some mic...
by Lee Littlewood
Fri Apr 25, 2014 1:25 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Wednesday April 16 Changeover
Replies: 12
Views: 9240

Re: Wednesday April 16 Changeover

Mike, thanks for all the work. It's hard for civilians to know how much work goes into these Internet goodies that we take for granted. I know you're explaining not complaining, and it is good to hear something of the hours and dollars that get used up. Blessings on you. I think it would be nice if ...
by Lee Littlewood
Fri Apr 25, 2014 1:13 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: first alphabet
Replies: 17
Views: 13073

Re: first alphabet

Nice lettering - mostly smooth strokes, consistent letterforms, good coverage. But a bit more margin would help - they feel sorta like a guy wearing a tie that is too tight. Let me put in a plug for thumbnail drawings - they can be real loose, but for learning practice I think 'sort of' accurate is ...
by Lee Littlewood
Mon Apr 21, 2014 4:36 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: ClearCoat over 23k Goldleaf
Replies: 8
Views: 7528

Re: ClearCoat over 23k Goldleaf

(sorry to be late, you will have the job done by the time this is posted..) My feeling on gold leaf is that you try to NOT overvarnish it - the color is dulled and the longevity is compromised. But if it will be rubbed (as on a vehicle or boat) then I like to spin the gold first. My imagining is tha...
by Lee Littlewood
Mon Apr 21, 2014 4:19 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Wednesday April 16 Changeover
Replies: 12
Views: 9240

Re: Wednesday April 16 Changeover

yeah, you admin guys & gals do amazing work. Many Thanks.

I just hope thech ange overgoe swellETAIONshrdlu
by Lee Littlewood
Thu Feb 13, 2014 3:19 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Bitumen and Asphalt, dentistry HF and assorted questions.
Replies: 3
Views: 4256

Re: Bitumen and Asphalt, dentistry HF and assorted questions.

Julio, on the LeFranc 3 hour size: It has changed some. I never used the old stuff (yellow label, and I think for awhile a mauve label), but the new version (white label) seems to gild fine. Just one thing - DON'T MIX ANYTHING WITH IT! You can't mix it with the LeFranc slow size, or with Rolco quick...
by Lee Littlewood
Wed Feb 12, 2014 1:50 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: first alphabet
Replies: 17
Views: 13073

Re: first alphabet / be mine

Looks good, but a bit crowded on the board. Shocard writers were always taught to give wide margins; signpainters tend to use up the space more. Some times just changing the surrounding 'white space' can make the same layout go from 'elegant' to 'industrial'. The nice thing about hand lettering is t...
by Lee Littlewood
Tue Feb 04, 2014 2:46 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: still in there trying
Replies: 10
Views: 8930

Re: still in there trying

I would agree with Roderick, but it seems like your art work (the black lines) are important, so they need to be under the silver. So I would change it around a little bit: 1) Register your glass pieces in the silk screen setup. Check every piece, that it is sitting well against the stops. Mark &quo...
by Lee Littlewood
Tue Jan 28, 2014 5:17 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Suddenly we have a gilded glass!
Replies: 6
Views: 5613

Re: Suddenly we have a gilded glass!

Hi Julio, and Happy New Year to you too. I hope your silkscreen project goes well. We use SS printing for many things, especially with gold leaf or spray silver - it allows very accurate work and it is good for multiple copy work. Getting a good work table and clamps is a big help. Of course, gettin...
by Lee Littlewood
Tue Jan 28, 2014 5:02 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Dublin signwriters short film
Replies: 16
Views: 13043

Re: Dublin signwriters short film

Pat Mackle said, "Here in the states I seem to find that very old window signs were painted on the outside of the stores, while most of the newer ones are painted on the inside (maybe to insure a longer life due to the shorter durability of today's low VOC and lead free paints). I'm sure it is ...
by Lee Littlewood
Fri Jan 17, 2014 2:43 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Newbie; need help with practice materials.
Replies: 4
Views: 4068

Re: Newbie; need help with practice materials.

The fingerpainting paper is a good idea - I got some for a calligraphy class and never thought about it with 1Shot. It feels like it will work... Otherwise, the old staple was a piece of glass. Either wipe it off with mineral spirits when you're done practicing, or scrape it off with a razor scraper...
by Lee Littlewood
Thu Jan 09, 2014 9:59 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Suddenly we have a gilded glass!
Replies: 6
Views: 5613

Re: Suddenly we have a gilded glass!

Julio, Are you sure the art stores don't have silk-screen ink? I don't know if textile ink (for tee shirts) would work, but a standard solvent based ink would probably work better than a varnish mix. When they make SS ink they make it fairly stiff, so it stays where you put it on the surface (no ble...
by Lee Littlewood
Tue Jan 07, 2014 2:59 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Suddenly we have a gilded glass!
Replies: 6
Views: 5613

Re: Suddenly we have a gilded glass!

Julio, If you have done much silk screening on hard surfaces (not tee-shirts), then printing on glass isn't too big a change. You need to have reliable rests for the screen, proper off-contact, and thick enough ink. Stops on glass: We have a set of glass worker's small suction cups (expensive) and h...
by Lee Littlewood
Thu Jan 02, 2014 5:08 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Alf Becker alphabets
Replies: 10
Views: 10324

Re: Alf Becker alphabets

Terry - the book has nothing called "Modern Bold". Can you make out if it is a Roman or sans-serif? He has some "Moderns" and some "bolds" in both sections. Here is "Modern Script" - see if it looks right. I couldn't stop and also include "Modified Modern...
by Lee Littlewood
Wed Jan 01, 2014 4:40 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Camoflauge Letters
Replies: 9
Views: 7841

Re: Camoflauge Letters

So Rob, what is the process of making the transfer print? From what I saw on the web, one makes a print (with special ink?) on a piece of special paper, then floats the paper on top of the water bath. The paper dissolves out, leaving the pigment floating - you dip an object in and the pigment wraps ...
by Lee Littlewood
Wed Jan 01, 2014 4:23 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL
Replies: 3
Views: 2984

Re: HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL

As Tim says: "Thanks Mike, Danny and the Denver crew for making this place available." Might it be possible to slip some coin your way to pay for the upkeep? Is there such a thing as a Treasurer, or (I love the phrase) a Sinking Fund? Happy New Year and Many Gilded Returns (or split-blende...
by Lee Littlewood
Wed Jan 01, 2014 4:08 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Alf Becker alphabets
Replies: 10
Views: 10324

Re: Alf Becker alphabets

Hi Terry,
I have a copy of "100 Alphabets" by Alf R Becker - it might have the ones you are looking for. Do you know the names of the alphabets?
Alf Becker cover.jpeg
Alf Becker cover.jpeg (116.53 KiB) Viewed 11174 times
PS: I didn't know that anyone had compiled the total 320 alphabets. Who? When? Where?
by Lee Littlewood
Sun Dec 22, 2013 11:57 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Decorative Glass Processes...
Replies: 18
Views: 15262

Re: Decorative Glass Processes...

"...clever animatron creation..." Whoo, I'll say. I wonder what they did sell for (the clip has a 2011 date)?
The x-ray view needs to be a poster, to see how things work.
Now if it only had some nice lettering on it, it might be worth something...
by Lee Littlewood
Sat Dec 07, 2013 1:19 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Old Sign Kit For Sale
Replies: 8
Views: 8995

Re: Old Sign Kit For Sale

Way cool, although it is strange that he did not put his name on his kit. The usual folded packets of bronze powders, a few books of Hastings patent leaf, some dutch metal or aluminum. Also some old brushes - in quill, but without handles, like Ray LeBlanc talks about. And a small tin of Murphy's va...
by Lee Littlewood
Sat Dec 07, 2013 12:47 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Magic Eraser for excess gold removal
Replies: 13
Views: 12078

Re: Magic Eraser for excess gold removal

So, Pat, the "float glass" will have one side 'tinned' by being in contact with liquid tin? And one can detect which side is which with a blacklight? ...for all the good it'll do you; if the glass is in place you work on the side you can work on. I have in my imagination a vision of a 'sau...