Here is my latest ornament (with mold and casting) and the knife that I used to make it.......the knife is also the tool that I use to carve all the numbers and letters up to 4" high. You don't need a big investment in tools to get er done! Joe I did pretty good on collecting tools for this ve...

Doug, I think doing small house markers might be a prudent way to start. First, there are a lot more people with houses than with businesses and most are willing to spend good money for a high end sign because it is for THEIR home......they just gotta have something nice! You'll get a chance to pra...

Thanks Joe. I appreciate what you're saying. I've been my own boss since the early 80's, just not in this field. I'm sorry that I'm seemingly going at this gung ho without direction but that's how I do it. If I get interested in something, I want/need to know everything about it or I'll go mad tryin...

Hi again Doug. If you're looking for materials like smaltz and powders and all that cool stuff you can't go wrong with Canadian Signcrafters if you're in Canada, or if you're in the States Ron and Kristi Purcell at Letterheads sign supplies Thx again Doug. I was on their (Canadian Signcrafters) web...

Doug if your going to start buying tools and your looking to save cash on them... find a Harbor Freight near you. For bar clamps and disposable hand tools you can't beat there prices. Tim I was at Home Depot yesterday too. They seem to have pretty good pricing on their Roybi brand. It's definitely ...

Man....you've got it bad. Curious curious curious!! You got that right Doug. All I've done in the last 6 mths is research,research,research! :shock: Need.............more............input........! :D So add bar clamps to your list of must haves... if you plan on building your own. Oh and a jointer ...

As I'm a complete nube at this here sign writing business and eager to learn as much as I can in as short a time as possible, I humbly ask you for guidance once again. I've got my equipment together which includes 2 sandblast cabinets, 3 pressure pots, 2 cutters and a world of possibilities. I also ...

Thanks for the info Dan. I new about the manual way to do it (by hand), but ol' sparky threw me off. I saw a used one on ebay yesterday, but now I can't find it! :( I found it if anyone is interested. ELECTRO POUNCE: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Electro-Pounce-Machine-FMS-/320944556905?pt=LH_DefaultDomai...

Thanks again Mike.

Thanks for the info Mike, Ya.....that was a surprise to hear that! I've been agonizing over how I was going to paint all these fantastic looking backgrounds you fellas create. Thanks again.

Doug

Thanks Eric. Does it pulse on it's own, or does the operator need to do it? Looks like it could be a handy tool to have. Here's one on Youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqG4WtsI ... re=related

What's Ron Percell doing? I know he's making a sign, but at the beginning he is using a hand held device with a electric cord. It sparks as he go's around his tracing. Anyone know what it is? thanks Doug http://letterheadsignsupply.com/how-to-section/how-to-make-signs-videos/cliche-noe-sign-painter-...

Thanks again Larry. This what I've been looking for. It's so hard to find any info. on the subject. I spend about 98% of my time surfing the net for info and usually end up here. The other 2% of the time, I'm sweeping up hair! Here's the thread I saw your other panels in. https://handletteringforum....

Sometimes it's hard to know exactly what you're looking at in a photo. ""Diamond Dust", that I got over at Michael's Craft Store. It's adhered to the face of a masonite panel stood off of the glass by about 3/8's of an inch. The amber fade is varnish that has been tinted with Asphaltu...

Can you all tell me how, or point me in a direction, where I can learn the techniques used in painting or in particular, shading with reverse glass. Here's a panel, I think it's Larry Whites. Thanks
Doug

The gold layer in the Angel Gilding process is 8 times thinner than gold leaf. The silver you pour over the gold makes it thicker but not by much. As you have discovered, some paints work better with Angel Gilding than others. With the help of Robert Frese and Bruce Buckley - Chicago's premier gold...

Well....I painted the clear parts of this panel. I painted the letters white, but it bleeds right through the gilding. I wiped it off and applied a coat of gold. I painted them gain and it bled through again. For a first try, I'm learning a whole bunch. Here's the finished project...... FIRST PANEL....

You mean that sales person fibbed to me, that the brush I bought was magical and it won't be the "only brush I'll ever need!". Dang....... ! Seriously, thanks for the lesson in brushes. I knew this was too easy! :D I was just looking for a lettering brush. That has to be the most specializ...

Thanks Larry. The shape of the brush is round. Is that an issue? The ones you're liking are more flat.

Doogie?..I didn't call you "doogie", Mr. Bernhardt called you "Doogie". I called you "Mr. Christie". Maybe you meant to say: " Let me start by saying that of all the people in the world, you Sir, are the only other person that didn't call me Doogie! " Doogie ...

......I bought a HJ paint brush the other day. Here's a description of it. "Squirrel hairs are highly absorbent, with an excellent point for fine details. The lack of spring is made up for in the absorbance ability and soft fibres making these hairs suitable for wash brushes and mops. Series 90...

If you like that, then you're really going to like it when I start cooking my wife's horses hoof clipping to make hide glue. The farrier is collecting them as we speak. :D I can't say whether the glue was to thick or not, because this was the first time I've tried glue chipping. It did run a bit as ...

The biggest problem I see, is dirty glass / containers, causing possible chemical contamination during mixing. Are you aware of what you're sticking your fingers into? Not all, but many chemicals contain carcinogens. Carcinogen's: think cancer, as well as heavy metals, not of the rock kind. Those t...

Well now Mr. Christie, I agree with what Sarah has to say about the Hydrochloric Acid not being a detergent. My suggestion for you to use it was based on my assumed belief that you had already properly cleaned the glass as per Sarah's Angel Gilding Instructions. Some Solutions Gilders and Silvering...

Also...sorry I didn't see your replies sooner.....has been hectic here and just not able to get to my computer as often as I should. Thanks Doug. No need to apologize. I should be lying prostrate on the floor while in the presents of such a talented group of artisans. I went and had a look at your ...

Hi again Doug....I've had no issues with Sarah's angel gild solutions and have used them a number of times. The key is as she mentioned "clean" and properly tinned glass. Yes. I believe the cleanliness was the culprit. As far as making my own solution. I just like that kinda thing. :D You...

I'm pretty sure you're right about that Sarah. Thanks for the new info.

Doug

Doug, that is a beautiful piece of work. Like everything else worth doing, it takes practice but you seem to have succeeded in a pretty short time. Proper cleaning is extremely important and there are a lot of ways to clean the glass that don't involve muriatic acid (which, after all is not a deter...

Robare, thanks a lot for the info. Sometimes with being on a forum, you post asking questions and nobody answers. I've been scouring the WWW for mths looking for any info. on Angel Gilding. How to make it and what not. I'm not sure if it's less or more expensive, but I'm the kinda' guy that has to k...

Thanks Eric..... now where the heck is Robare Nouveau.