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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 99 matches

by David Slade
Wed Nov 25, 2015 2:58 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Lettering on cloth
Replies: 5
Views: 6269

Lettering on cloth

I tried to letter a T-shirt with One Shot today. At first the paint was to thick and kind of skimmed over the surface. Thinning seemed to work at first. I went over the top of the "B" several times and it seemed ok. But soon the paint started bleeding. The shirt was 100% cotton but not new...
by David Slade
Mon Nov 03, 2014 6:58 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Sign book for sale
Replies: 0
Views: 3861

Sign book for sale

I don't know if this is still available. If you don't have one, call them.

http://jinxedstore.tumblr.com/page/14
by David Slade
Thu Dec 19, 2013 6:39 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Dublin signwriters short film
Replies: 16
Views: 12998

Re: Dublin signwriters short film

Wonderful!!! Thank you Terry!

Mr. Freeney's family has a lot of his photos on the Gentleman of Letters photostream:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gentlemanofletters/
by David Slade
Thu Jun 07, 2012 8:50 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: un-oiling oiled water brushes
Replies: 2
Views: 2371

Re: un-oiling oiled water brushes

I appreciate the help, Doug!
by David Slade
Wed Jun 06, 2012 6:43 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: un-oiling oiled water brushes
Replies: 2
Views: 2371

un-oiling oiled water brushes

I accidentally oiled two sables that were supposed to be water based brushes. I tried several things but they won't hold a load of water color right.
Are they gone forever?
by David Slade
Sat Mar 03, 2012 7:08 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: cut out dimensional lettering.
Replies: 19
Views: 12295

Re: cut out dimensional lettering.

This is off target, I know. I thought it might be interesting or helpful... I see folk here in Japan using polyester resin mixed with what they call talc. I think the talc is really pulverized glass. It makes something like Bondo filler. You can adjust the thickness with how much talc you add. Dry t...
by David Slade
Sun Jan 15, 2012 6:35 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Graphite Mirror
Replies: 15
Views: 11199

Re: Graphite Mirror

This is more down to my level! This whole series of silvering/chroming posts has been fascinating. Tho mostly over my noggin'. Thank you for sharing and for all your hard work. Can I ask a few questions? Are the black and white applied one-after-the-other or mixed? Two part urethane? Is there a fina...
by David Slade
Tue Jan 03, 2012 6:38 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Hot Rod graphics
Replies: 2
Views: 2587

Re: Hot Rod graphics

Very clean! Reminds me of the Lil John cars of the 80's!!
Is this all by brush?
The speckling on the stripe graphics really makes it work!
Could you tell us how to?
by David Slade
Fri Dec 30, 2011 7:24 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Lonnie Tettaton
Replies: 0
Views: 2524

Lonnie Tettaton

I called Mr.Tettaton December 30, 2011 and at that time he still had a good supply of most of his pamphlets on the list here: http://signmuseum.org/bio/matthews6.asp He is still sharp as a tack, still painting, and happy to chat with me. Not as happy as I was to talk to a real old timey sign man! Of...
by David Slade
Thu Dec 22, 2011 6:18 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: New web site pages
Replies: 3
Views: 3169

Re: New web site pages

Oh Ruby!!! I love you! :oops:

Thanks Rodrick! Too many inspirations on your site to even start!

Looking forward to seeing the Hino Trucks. Lots of them over here, of course...
by David Slade
Wed Dec 21, 2011 8:52 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Brush oil
Replies: 22
Views: 18172

Re: Brush oil

I always buy Neatsfoot oil in the leather section of the craft shop. I bought some last weekend. Saw it in a sport goods shop too. For the baseball gloves and stuff. Feibing's brand.

Recon if your brushes got time enough to harden, you ain't painting enough anyway, huh?! :P
by David Slade
Tue Dec 06, 2011 7:44 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Ben Sherman. Glass Gilding NYC
Replies: 6
Views: 4578

Re: Ben Sherman. Glass Gilding NYC

Great work Mr. Gamache!! Thank you, Dave!
Zero-tolerance computer policy!
You go Bob!!!
by David Slade
Tue Nov 22, 2011 8:00 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: How to make Asphaltum Varnish...
Replies: 12
Views: 12826

Re: How to make Asphaltum Varnish...

I got some powdered asphalt from the dry pigment section of an art supply shop. You might check there... I mixed the powder with turpentine in a glass jar. Mix it little by little until it is like thick mud. Pour a little turpentine on top of the asphalt mud and let it sit for a couple days. Aaah......
by David Slade
Thu Aug 18, 2011 8:35 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: How and where to sell gold leaf skewings?
Replies: 4
Views: 4149

Re: How and where to sell gold leaf skewings?

Hello Mr. Riedel, Golly! How much gilding would you have to do to make a pound of skewings??? Wrights of Lymm(UK) reclaims waste gold. I have always wondered if they would do it for international customers... I do not know if it is by the ounce. It says they send a free waste bucket to gold reclaime...
by David Slade
Sun Mar 13, 2011 8:17 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Christmas Gift Sign
Replies: 2
Views: 2751

Re: Christmas Gift Sign

I should have told you to make practice signs for me! :D

Great idea for the changeable logo color. It adds some dimension too.
by David Slade
Thu Dec 30, 2010 10:39 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Keeping your water size warm
Replies: 12
Views: 7664

Re: Keeping your water size warm

Mark,
Could you describe exactly what the cloud looks like? Is it dull and hazy? Or tiny lines through the gild?

I get the lines like spider-webbing in mine. Is this the same problem?
by David Slade
Wed Dec 08, 2010 9:06 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Is there an alternative for goldleaf?
Replies: 17
Views: 11569

Re: Is there an alternative for goldleaf?

Remember this topic? https://handletteringforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2806 What if you do this process in reverse? - mask the glass - spray on the clear (with color/tent) - silver - remove mask Would the clear be too brittle and crack when mask is removed? Bruce, Thanks for posting the p...
by David Slade
Tue Dec 07, 2010 8:56 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Linseed paint
Replies: 1
Views: 1824

Re: Linseed paint

I have seen artists paints mentioned a lot in the old sign painting books. For blended shades and pictorial work mostly. They called them "color ground in oil". As I understand it, they mixed these oil pastes with Japan or oil based varnish to make them durable. I think this is what Larry ...
by David Slade
Tue Dec 07, 2010 8:38 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Is there an alternative for goldleaf?
Replies: 17
Views: 11569

Re: Is there an alternative for goldleaf?

Bruce,
Thanks! That saves me from another failed experiment.

I wonder if colorizing the gelatin or water would work. There probably isn't enough size thickness to colorize the leaf...

Could you alter the appearance of brass in this way??
by David Slade
Sun Dec 05, 2010 1:17 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Is there an alternative for goldleaf?
Replies: 17
Views: 11569

Re: Is there an alternative for goldleaf?

Nothing will ever replace gold, of course, but... Water gilded silver lasts a while if you protect it. I don't really know how long. Some of my reverse silver is still okay after almost two years... KNOCK... KNOCK We have some colored silver over here. I have not tried this particular kind yet so I ...
by David Slade
Tue Nov 30, 2010 8:46 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: L'art pour L'art
Replies: 44
Views: 24626

Re: L'art pour L'art

Words cannot describe art or our feelings about them! silence.............. Congratulations on your stunning success, Eric ! ! ! On the philosophical: I reckon everybody looks at signs... Art is sought out by art lovers... Blending the two gives art to the masses... Are you going to teach us that ne...
by David Slade
Tue Nov 23, 2010 11:28 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: First Attempt
Replies: 13
Views: 7902

Re: First Attempt

Looks good enough to read!

My suggestion is try making some signs that will be actually used at your business or as gifts for your family. The added pressure helps.

Good luck Paul the Brave!
by David Slade
Mon Nov 22, 2010 7:45 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: The Problem with Paint
Replies: 11
Views: 8463

Re: The Problem with Paint

Eric, Thank you! I have been asking this same question and am not satisfied yet. So, what is Japan exactly? Somebody? Paul, Bear in mind I am not a professional.... They very kindly put up with me here, anyhow... You are basically on target, but be careful not to confuse the urushi and cashew with w...
by David Slade
Sat Nov 20, 2010 8:21 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: The Problem with Paint
Replies: 11
Views: 8463

Re: The Problem with Paint

As I have mentioned before, we have some natural tree resin based paints in Japan. Cashew brand is very old and respected. I have had some up on windows for about two years with no problems so far. BUT the black is not very opaque and fades in the sun. Other colors are good. It works well with turps...
by David Slade
Sat Nov 06, 2010 6:27 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Ruby Flash Glass
Replies: 6
Views: 4864

Re: Ruby Flash Glass

The ruby red posts have been blowing me away!! Thanks!! Can't imagine myself getting to that level. Just soaking it all in right now. Eric, If you chipped the red side, you would get red glass with silver chipped design. Chip the clear side, you see the chipped design through the red. Right?? It wou...
by David Slade
Tue Nov 02, 2010 10:03 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: One-Shot Hear=ye, hear-ye!!
Replies: 10
Views: 7426

Re: One-Shot Hear=ye, hear-ye!!

They sell lead powdered pigment and paints in Japan. Holbein makes both labeled as Silver White in English but 白鉛(white lead) in Japanese. I can send some but no guarantees whether it would get through to you... I am not rich yet so I would need the shipping cost and cost of the stuff. Happy to do i...
by David Slade
Tue Nov 02, 2010 10:58 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Lacquer method of sign painting
Replies: 8
Views: 5849

Re: Lacquer method of sign painting

I tried the lacquer method masking on the aluminum sign I mentioned. The sign is plastic primed with spray can plastic primer. The lettering is Vilpond size with blue aluminum powder. mud1.JPG Mask ingredients: lithopone, white glue, PVA glue and glycerine. mud2.JPG I applied the mask mud with a wat...
by David Slade
Tue Oct 26, 2010 11:02 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: new guy. have a few questions
Replies: 3
Views: 2423

Re: new guy. have a few questions

Welcome Chad! Lettering quills is these folks word for brushes. Look for them on sites like Letterhead Sign Supply and Mack Brush. The descriptions will give you a feel for whats what. Also, One Shot needs thinning to look good. You would think that thick paint would cover better but it is not alway...
by David Slade
Tue Oct 26, 2010 10:08 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Lacquer method of sign painting
Replies: 8
Views: 5849

Re: Lacquer method of sign painting

Thank you for the information! I searched several times but that thread did not come up. I have an academic interest in this method mostly, but... To tell the truth I do have a piece with aluminum bronze lettering I need to put a ground on... Very similar to Joe Ceislowski's situation... the bass ac...
by David Slade
Tue Oct 19, 2010 9:39 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Lacquer method of sign painting
Replies: 8
Views: 5849

Re: Lacquer method of sign painting

curiosity, fun, knowledge expansion...

I don't have a vinyl cutter machiney thing. Did you mean a liquid vinyl mask?