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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 251 matches

by BruceJackson
Tue Feb 28, 2017 7:26 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Gilded glass wall- HELPPPPP!
Replies: 6
Views: 5711

Re: Gilded glass wall- HELPPPPP!

You can water gild those heavier cheap metals. You can get a decent bright finish, but the patina is not as fine looking as gold and it shows more obvious folds, faults and laylines. You generally mix the watersize with more gelatin than you'd use for gold. if using sheet gelatin, say 15-20 diamonds...
by BruceJackson
Fri Nov 25, 2016 1:28 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: The Forum vs Facebook
Replies: 13
Views: 12463

Re: The Forum vs Facebook

Yes, i agree. Same with me too. As the momentum shifted to Facebook, I also have only visited this forum occasionally during the last couple of years. Lurking in the background. Yet, it is a much better vehicle as a reference site. It's easily searchable and the archive of knowledge here is astoundi...
by BruceJackson
Thu Jun 30, 2016 7:50 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Glass gilding easel and shop setup
Replies: 4
Views: 6075

Re: Glass gilding easel and shop setup

Here's my easel...Double-sided of course because you need to see both sides...The top and bottom bars are fully adjustable for height, so it can take a panel up to around 1.8 metres...they are open channelled, so the width is unlimited...the limit is on how heavy or awkward you want a long sheet of ...
by BruceJackson
Thu Jun 30, 2016 7:25 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: article on reverse glass and Rawsons and Evans
Replies: 1
Views: 2796

article on reverse glass and Rawsons and Evans

Chad Haas posted this article on Leinenkugel beer reverse glass advertising.

Includes lots of info on Rawsons and Evans and the reverse glass signs back in their day.

https://leinenkugelcollector.tumblr.com ... lassmirror
by BruceJackson
Wed Oct 21, 2015 11:38 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: My First Reverse Glass Gild Sweetleaf Coffee
Replies: 13
Views: 14625

Re: My First Reverse Glass Gild Sweetleaf Coffee

You don't really need a coat of backing paint as well as varnish. Especially because oil-gilding is pretty robust anyway. The main advantage is simply that you'll then have a consistent backing colour (typically black) that will look properly finished from the inside too. I have had some jobs where ...
by BruceJackson
Tue Oct 20, 2015 7:55 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: My First Reverse Glass Gild Sweetleaf Coffee
Replies: 13
Views: 14625

Re: My First Reverse Glass Gild Sweetleaf Coffee

Hi Jen, Congratulations on your first gilded window sign. It's a very pretty sign. You did say critique was welcome, so I'll offer you some tips to help improve your work. First, one thing that i notice with any and all glass signs, is if there's any residual gold around the outside of the black out...
by BruceJackson
Tue Oct 21, 2014 7:07 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Spinning goldleaf
Replies: 6
Views: 10616

Re: Spinning goldleaf

I agree with both earlier posts. My guess would also be that the tack window has gone too far, possibly combined with using a very soft cloth. You are trying to achieve contrast within the spin, so it's better to gild slightly early or at the right "whistling tack" time, but not late. I kn...
by BruceJackson
Fri Oct 17, 2014 2:03 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: What to do first? Gilding or silvering?
Replies: 7
Views: 6888

Re: What to do first? Gilding or silvering?

If the design dictates doing gilding with leaf or painting first, then you can but you need to protect it from the chemical silvering. You do this use by painting an isolating coat over the back of your decorative work. Something that can stand up against the alkaline solution. Traditionally, they u...
by BruceJackson
Sun Oct 12, 2014 9:56 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Vault Door Restoration Needed
Replies: 3
Views: 3766

Re: Vault Door Restoration Needed

Unusual project...Whoever does it will have some investigative work to do stripping back the top layer to reveal the original design. You'd expect it to have a centrally located name/logo as seen on the other door. Makes me wonder what approach should be taken with regard to the level of conservatio...
by BruceJackson
Sat Oct 11, 2014 7:49 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Rawson & Evans store sign
Replies: 10
Views: 9669

Re: Rawson & Evans store sign

I'm surprised by that price estimate...I would have thought at least double those figures, and maybe triple. I would have thought a couple of thousand would be considered a good find for the buyer. It's always hard to appraise values on old signs. Sometimes they seem to go incredibly cheaply, other ...
by BruceJackson
Sat Oct 11, 2014 7:35 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: OFFICIAL LOCATION OF INTERNATIONAL LETTERHEADS 2015
Replies: 14
Views: 12522

Re: OFFICIAL LOCATION OF INTERNATIONAL LETTERHEADS 2015

Seeing this post come back on top reminds me that I could use this event to show my collection of photos of Australian signs. It's primarily focused on gold leaf glass work, but it's a database I've been compiling for a long time and covers an extensive range and a history of gold leaf window signs ...
by BruceJackson
Thu Jun 19, 2014 3:05 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Just wantesd to introduce myself
Replies: 2
Views: 3030

Re: Just wantesd to introduce myself

Hi Johnny, welcome. There certainly is a lot of info tucked away in the older posts on this forum. You'll notice there has been a fairly strong focus, not just on hand lettering, but on the use of gold leaf and glass. It's because traditionally, this type of signwork was always considered at the hig...
by BruceJackson
Tue Jun 10, 2014 7:13 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: after some advice/ideas on my design
Replies: 4
Views: 5435

Re: after some advice/ideas on my design

Great design...really love it. It seems to echo cast iron lacework. Was that in your mind when you designed it? Really good points by both Rod and Mike. Personally, I think I'd be inclined to do the black areas in....plain old black...I know it may sound too obvious, but in fact, it will give you th...
by BruceJackson
Sun Jun 01, 2014 7:59 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Gold leaf glass mirror
Replies: 4
Views: 5361

Re: Gold leaf glass mirror

Another fine looking piece...You've really got that antiquing process well sorted.

Is that a real name???...I'm still trying to work out how to pronounce it! If feel sure there may be some weird or cryptic meaning going on there, but I'm missing it...hahaha
by BruceJackson
Thu May 29, 2014 3:01 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Tinting between glass and leaf
Replies: 14
Views: 12353

Re: Tinting between glass and leaf

HOLBEIN Artists Oil Colors will work well as will Windsor and Newton or other similar brands.

You just need to add some medium as a binder, because on their own, these oil colors are almost pure pigment with just enough oil to make a paste.
by BruceJackson
Mon May 26, 2014 10:45 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Tinting between glass and leaf
Replies: 14
Views: 12353

Re: Tinting between glass and leaf

I like mixing glazes using gold size as the medium. Transparent printing inks give a very clean color but you need to be aware of lightfastness. I have one product that is a favorite. Not sure if it's still available or where you'd buy it now, because I bought a whole range of colors in bottles many...
by BruceJackson
Wed May 14, 2014 10:24 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: mdo and paint questions
Replies: 5
Views: 5329

Re: mdo and paint questions

the question of when you should apply a clear over gold is an age-old one of course. You need to make a judgement about just how much handling and or abrasion is will be subject to. My feeling is if in doubt, leave it raw. If it's just the odd person who wants a feel, I wouldn't worry about it. Nake...
by BruceJackson
Wed May 14, 2014 10:15 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: question about surface gilding and sealer...
Replies: 5
Views: 4209

Re: question about surface gilding and sealer...

Hi Vance, Yes, I always use quick size. I use a locally made one by Viponds, which is ready to gild after around 45 mintues and may last up to about 2 hours if on the cool side. I gather it's pretty similar to One-shot's quick gold size, but I haven't actually tried that brand. I suppose quick sizes...
by BruceJackson
Tue May 13, 2014 9:18 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: still in there trying
Replies: 10
Views: 8901

Re: still in there trying

Hi Megan, congratulations. From your last comment, it appears you have completed your journey to addiction...hahaha Looks like you are throwing a lot of different techniques into it. I note the mirror finish seems to have some interesting patina in it. I wondered if you gave it a bit of a spritz wit...
by BruceJackson
Tue May 13, 2014 8:55 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Paint, backing up and brushes...
Replies: 6
Views: 6118

Re: Paint, backing up and brushes...

You can use the same brushes for gold size, back-up paint and one-shot. It's all oil-based paint and chemically compatible The reason you'd use a special back-up paint (in Australia, it is "drop black") instead of one-shot is mainly that it dries to a tougher finish more quickly. If you di...
by BruceJackson
Tue May 13, 2014 8:08 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: question about surface gilding and sealer...
Replies: 5
Views: 4209

Re: question about surface gilding and sealer...

Lee's advice sounds good to me. Personally, I've never found clear coating to be an issue, because the layer of metal is a pretty good barrier in itself. The one thing that can happen if the size is still too soft and there are any breaks in the gilding, these cracks may swell into fine hair-like li...
by BruceJackson
Wed Apr 30, 2014 3:03 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: No news?
Replies: 87
Views: 86313

Re: No news?

wow, that is one wild looking light!.
Looks like it came out of a science fiction movie. Gotta love anything art nouveau. It was such a flight of fancy.
by BruceJackson
Wed Apr 30, 2014 2:41 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: OFFICIAL LOCATION OF INTERNATIONAL LETTERHEADS 2015
Replies: 14
Views: 12522

Re: OFFICIAL LOCATION OF INTERNATIONAL LETTERHEADS 2015

It would be a pretty exciting event at this place, especially being an international and anniversary "big one", coupled with the type of enthusiasm and generosity of spirit that you Americans do so well.
by BruceJackson
Wed Apr 23, 2014 1:51 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: unusual way to use gold leaf
Replies: 4
Views: 4590

unusual way to use gold leaf

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by BruceJackson
Sat Apr 19, 2014 5:32 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Odd Find
Replies: 4
Views: 4057

Re: Odd Find

Great collection of photos Erik. Thanks.
by BruceJackson
Thu Apr 17, 2014 10:23 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Pulled Ferrule off of handle.
Replies: 6
Views: 5449

Re: Pulled Ferrule off of handle.

yes, just glue it back on.

A lot of old brushes used to come simply as the hairs in the ferrule (or quill) and you would put them on the handle yourself.
by BruceJackson
Thu Apr 17, 2014 10:17 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: back to the future
Replies: 4
Views: 4273

Re: back to the future

Yes, I signed it too. Of course you have to keep up the tradition! As for Mr. Holland's claim... I used 12 books of gold in total. But then, after having many thousands of sheets over the last 30 years, I'm pretty efficient, That's not to brag, it's just a fact. I don't waste much. Plus I was in my ...
by BruceJackson
Tue Apr 15, 2014 9:57 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: back to the future
Replies: 4
Views: 4273

back to the future

Remember the movie?. The doc and Marty pose for a photo with the new clock tower? My son Damian and I got to do that recently during this project to restore a clock tower at Kew cemetary in Melbourne. The clock tower dates from 1899. Three of the four faces of the clock were smashed or badly cracked...
by BruceJackson
Sat Apr 05, 2014 3:49 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Reverse job on double-glazed windows
Replies: 5
Views: 5192

Re: Reverse job on double-glazed windows

only one way to know...put a smear of paint on the back and go outside and take a look...only way to assess if you need to adjust the color. I sometimes do this with pale colors, especially white, and will sometimes adding a little extra red to counter the green cast of standard float glass. You can...
by BruceJackson
Sat Feb 15, 2014 9:51 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Double Dip Gallery
Replies: 8
Views: 7931

Re: Double Dip Gallery

Wow, that's a brilliant idea...Ice-cream and art!. who'd a thunck it?

I love the logo and the shape of the lettering "double dip"

Where's the shop?