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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 8 matches

by Chris Doe
Tue Jul 29, 2014 10:04 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Clear Coating Reflective Glass Beads
Replies: 12
Views: 10756

Re: Clear Coating Reflective Glass Beads

Thanks, Lee. The ratio I'll be using is 40 parts clear beads to 1 part aluminum-coated beads (both rated high index, Type 3 -- 1.9 index of refraction; 170-450 mesh), and top coated with two thin applications of sprayed on Frog Juice solvent applied 30 minutes apart and torched immediately for sever...
by Chris Doe
Thu Jul 24, 2014 2:55 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Clear Coating Reflective Glass Beads
Replies: 12
Views: 10756

Re: Clear Coating Reflective Glass Beads

Created new control samples using the 1.9 aluminum-coated beads: (1) All aluminum powder (2) 32:1 mixture of clear to aluminum powder (3) 40:1 mixture of clear to aluminum powder As expected, using all aluminum beads completely masked the white base coat. When shined with light, it is very reflectiv...
by Chris Doe
Wed Jul 16, 2014 8:25 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Clear Coating Reflective Glass Beads
Replies: 12
Views: 10756

Re: Clear Coating Reflective Glass Beads

You're welcome, Erik.

I ordered a small quantity of the aluminized bead powder and will test it out sometime next week.
by Chris Doe
Mon Jul 14, 2014 3:16 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Clear Coating Reflective Glass Beads
Replies: 12
Views: 10756

Re: Clear Coating Reflective Glass Beads

Finally had a chance over the weekend to get back to this project. Here are the results. Control 1 : white paint only - no reflectivity Control 2 : 1.9 beads only - best reflectivity, but blackout in wet conditions (loss of reflectivity) Sample 1 : Thinned Frog Juice brush on (3:1 ratio to mineral s...
by Chris Doe
Tue Jul 08, 2014 4:53 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Clear Coating Reflective Glass Beads
Replies: 12
Views: 10756

Re: Clear Coating Reflective Glass Beads

Thanks for the suggestion, Tyler. Didn't mention it before, but one of my test samples had a base coat of paint only. I wanted to see if the beads would adhere better to wet paint or to wet clear coat. Unfortunately with the brush on version of Frog Juice, even after thinning 10% with mineral spirit...
by Chris Doe
Tue Jul 08, 2014 9:54 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Clear Coating Reflective Glass Beads
Replies: 12
Views: 10756

Re: Clear Coating Reflective Glass Beads

Thanks, Erik, for the instructional video. Regarding my last sample using thinned Frog Juice, it definitely turned out better than using the product right out of the can, but it is still not as retro reflective as my uncoated sample. Side by side, the coated and uncoated samples shimmer equally as w...
by Chris Doe
Mon Jul 07, 2014 9:40 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Clear Coating Reflective Glass Beads
Replies: 12
Views: 10756

Re: Clear Coating Reflective Glass Beads

Thanks for the info, Erik. Unfortunately, I don't have a HVLP spray gun. I tried the aerosol version of the SuperFrog product last year, and it seemed to introduce more air bubbles than the paint on version. Last night, I experimented thinning the Frog Juice with 10% mineral spirits for greater flow...
by Chris Doe
Wed Jul 02, 2014 4:47 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Clear Coating Reflective Glass Beads
Replies: 12
Views: 10756

Clear Coating Reflective Glass Beads

Hi, Need some advise from the painting experts. I'm making some items around my home reflective for better night time visibility -- mailbox, driveway stakes, etc. I want the items to match my house color, so I've opted not to use pre-made reflective decals. So far, I've primed and painted the items,...