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does size matter ?

Hand Lettering topics: Sign Making, Design, Fabrication, Letterheads, Sign Books.

Moderators: Ron Percell, Mike Jackson, Danny Baronian

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Craig Leslie
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2017 7:00 pm

does size matter ?

Post by Craig Leslie »

hello to everyone.....I have recently started glue chipping and reverse gilding and thanks to the advice given to me from the kind members of this forum I have started to achieve some very satisfying results on larger areas of glass but I have tried three times to chip some letters that have a stroke half an inch in width and a height of four inches...on each occasion the result has been a very weak chip that is practically non existent...the last time I tried I left the glue to cure naturally for two a half days before putting the glass in the chipping box but the glue delaminated leaving the sandblasted letters virtually unchipped.....is there a size that is too small to chip effectively or am I messing up somewhere ? I would be very grateful for any insights.....regards ....craig leslie
Mike Jackson
Site Admin
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Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2004 11:02 pm
Location: Jackson Hole, WY
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Re: does size matter ?

Post by Mike Jackson »

Craig,
You should be able to chip small areas with no problems...easily down to area as small as your fingernails.

This page might help:
http://theletterheads.com/2014/04/18/gl ... formation/
Mike Jackson / co-administrator
Golden Era Studios
Vintage Ornamental Clip art
Jackson Hole, WY

Photography site:
Teton Images
Jackson Hole photography blog:
Best of the Tetons
Craig Leslie
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2017 7:00 pm

Re: does size matter ?

Post by Craig Leslie »

thank you mike...I appreciate any and all advice or information that is given....I know that if I persevere then one day I will gain some understanding ... if it will help I will try and post some pictures....regards... craig
pat mackle
Posts: 162
Joined: Sun Feb 05, 2012 5:35 pm

Re: does size matter ?

Post by pat mackle »

When chipping fine/small areas, it is best to put the glue down thinly, otherwise it is too thick to fracture into nice segments. Instead the glue layer has too much strength due to its excess thickness and will pop off like a larger unitized "potato chip" of glue. In fine areas you want the glue to first "segment" with drying lines forming, then tinier individual chips will pop off. Individual chips are more eye catching and bright, than one continuous band of glue curling off, which tends to leave more frosted/unchipped glass as well.
Craig Leslie
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2017 7:00 pm

Re: does size matter ?

Post by Craig Leslie »

thank you pat....I regard your opinions on glue chipping very highly and value your advice very much...after reading this I think I might be guilty of applying the glue too thickly....I will give your suggestions a go and see what happens....regards....ctaig leslie
pat mackle
Posts: 162
Joined: Sun Feb 05, 2012 5:35 pm

Re: does size matter ?

Post by pat mackle »

Here is a good thing to try. Sand blast some glass, and experiment with depositing measured thicknesses of wet glue. See how thin you can get it, and still have it chip the glass. You will find that the dried glue layer can be so thin that you can see the sand blasted glass finish actually appear in the surface of the dried glue AND THAT the thin glue will STILL have the power to chip up the glass. And it is with these tests that you will learn how the glue must chip to result in those nice bright segmented chips that really "POP" when they are mirrored or gilded. Hide glue can either "tear off the glass" leaving a grainy semi dull chip, or it "really pop and fly" leaving the more desirable deeper swirl polished chips we all strive for. Applying glue too thickly is a waste and impedes the glue ability to initially dry into fissured "gator skin" segments which help create tightly nested brighter chips.
Craig Leslie
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2017 7:00 pm

Re: does size matter ?

Post by Craig Leslie »

thank you once again pat....I will follow up on your suggestions and try to post some pictures of the " new and improved " chip pattern :D
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