Welcome to The Hand Lettering Forum!
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 21 matches

by John Arnott
Tue Oct 14, 2014 12:58 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Vault Door Restoration Needed
Replies: 3
Views: 3779

Re: Vault Door Restoration Needed

I've done these before. It was about 100 miles from my shop. I have actually restored over 35 antique safes so far. The 2 doors that I restored were in much worse shape than these 2. My first concern would be the spray painting in a working environment. There are companys now days that seal off the ...
by John Arnott
Sun Jul 11, 2010 12:29 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Fast Guilding
Replies: 0
Views: 2529

Fast Guilding

I saw this video on you tube. So I've been trying this method lately.
I works way faster! Notice his right pinky finger tool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67LM4Iovll4
by John Arnott
Mon May 17, 2010 5:22 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Surface Guilding Question? ( Pricing)
Replies: 1
Views: 1645

Surface Guilding Question? ( Pricing)

This is a normal surface guild question.......A regular wholesale manufacture customer wants a quote to guild some back light channel letters. They supply the set of letters (18" upper case Helvetica light) painted a goldish color to guild. The returns a 2-1/4" deep. Now what I've been doi...
by John Arnott
Wed Oct 14, 2009 10:24 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Gold pinstriping paint?
Replies: 12
Views: 9502

Re: Gold pinstriping paint?

Hmmmm..........brushing lacquer......I'll just run over to Home Depot and pick up some!
Thanks Kent, I'll try adding turps, altho I do dip into it when palleting the brush for striping.
by John Arnott
Tue Oct 13, 2009 6:58 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Gold pinstriping paint?
Replies: 12
Views: 9502

Re: Gold pinstriping paint?

Thanks everyone.....I normaly take fine powder, mix tiny amount of size to make a paste. Then add enough clear size to make it liquid. No turps. I study the old brush strokes on antiques. They sure look to be smooth covering in 1 stroke. Even on much wider stripes (3/4") and flourshes. Maybe it...
by John Arnott
Fri Oct 09, 2009 2:38 pm
Forum: Hand Lettering Gallery
Topic: Photos from Readers
Replies: 8
Views: 10846

Re: NEW!: POSTING PHOTOS on this new Forum

test
by John Arnott
Fri Oct 09, 2009 2:38 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Photos from Readers
Replies: 8
Views: 14928

Re: NEW!: POSTING PHOTOS on this new Forum

test
by John Arnott
Fri Oct 09, 2009 12:59 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Gold pinstriping paint?
Replies: 12
Views: 9502

Gold pinstriping paint?

I've restored a lot of antique safes (about 34 so far). I pinstripe the fine lines of gold color using size with bronzing powder mixed into it. I've tried the 1 shot straight but didn't like the coverage or the color. I've mixed some bronzing powder into it but it doesn't seem to flow as good as siz...
by John Arnott
Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:18 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Goldleaf 23
Replies: 19
Views: 12197

Re: Goldleaf 23

Wow Dave, That is just beautiful !!!!
What are punties? How does it work? Is it some kind of tool?
by John Arnott
Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:18 pm
Forum: Hand Lettering Gallery
Topic: Goldleaf 23
Replies: 19
Views: 13931

Re: Goldleaf 23

Wow Dave, That is just beautiful !!!!
What are punties? How does it work? Is it some kind of tool?
by John Arnott
Mon Mar 02, 2009 6:35 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: 2009 Memorial Conclave
Replies: 11
Views: 6607

Re: 2009 Memorial Conclave

Great to meet up with you guys again. Some of you guys ARE crazy! Rod's got a nice shop for all to work in. Thanks Rod! This is one meet that I don't have to fly half the way around the planet. Only 40 minutes away from me! John Arnott
by John Arnott
Sat Mar 17, 2007 3:35 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Question about 12 hr. Lafranc size?
Replies: 6
Views: 4821

Question about 12 hr. Lafranc size?

Since they changed the formula on the 12 hour, what do we do now? The 3 hour Lafranc seems to go off real quick. Is there anything out there better?
by John Arnott
Mon Jun 26, 2006 10:10 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Painting with Acrylic Latex
Replies: 5
Views: 4705

Wow Mark, Very nice repro type sign. Very nice effect with the crackle stuff. Was this simply latex painted first, then spotted with crackle in certain spots, then rubbed with oil paint into the cracks. Ive done a few of these, and they are fun. John
by John Arnott
Fri Jun 23, 2006 12:05 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Touch up surface gild?
Replies: 3
Views: 2913

Touch up surface gild?

About 6 months ago I guilded a 22" ball with a 4' tall point and base. This was a fininal for roof top of a bank. Well the grunts from the sheet metal shop came and picked it up and I could just tell this was going to get screwed up! 6 months later, sitting around the sheet metal shop, getting ...
by John Arnott
Fri Jun 23, 2006 11:39 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Tinted colors on Gold
Replies: 7
Views: 5281

Thanks everyone- After close inspection, it does appear to be simply oil colors in clear. Very small areas, but big effects. John Arnott
by John Arnott
Mon Jun 12, 2006 4:42 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Tinted colors on Gold
Replies: 7
Views: 5281

Tinted colors on Gold

I have a "Crab Catcher" resturant that needs some sandblasted HDU - gold signs redone. The gold has tinted multi-colors over the gold. I'm guessing that it is tinted with clear and transparent glazes or transparent enamels in clear. I saw some "powders" that are different colors....
by John Arnott
Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:23 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Using Arterial red question
Replies: 6
Views: 4976

I forgot about back up with silver. :shock: I'll double coat due to streaks in the first coat then back with bright red. Thanks everyone John
by John Arnott
Sat Jan 08, 2005 5:29 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Using Arterial red question
Replies: 6
Views: 4976

Using Arterial red question

I've done a piece of chipped glass with bright gold outline and then a black outline. The panel it is in has been painted with 1 coat of arterial red. This stuff is very transparent. I plan on 1 more coat, but should I just back up with a regular coat of red that is not transparent? No light will be...
by John Arnott
Wed Dec 08, 2004 12:34 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Will paint mask stick to a gilded surface?
Replies: 4
Views: 3861

Joe, Don't do it! Never even put tape on a gilded gold area, if anything lifts. . .you've got a real mess to fix. It will show where you repaired. It may be more difficult to guild after you carve, but it much safer if its the last thing you do. Have fun John Arnott
by John Arnott
Wed Nov 10, 2004 4:20 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Signmaking 101: Repeating a sandblasted symetrical design
Replies: 7
Views: 6939

Now days we have to show the customer completed full color drawings to start. It's easy to simply print the paper pattern from the plotter and pin it on the wood sign blank. I use a pounce wheel for the outside shape of the sign. Use a pounce bag of charcoal every few feet that you pounce. It wants ...
by John Arnott
Tue Oct 19, 2004 12:03 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Redwood peel up problems
Replies: 9
Views: 6819

John, I make a lot of sandblasted signs. That method of finishing before your finished making the sign has never worked. It fails where the edge of the prefinished edge and the background meet. If it did, it took way too long for everything to dry. I also belive that if you remove the sandblast tape...