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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 167 matches

by Sarah King
Thu Jul 05, 2012 12:18 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Angel Gilding.
Replies: 28
Views: 22701

Re: Angel Gilding.

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 ...
by Sarah King
Fri Jun 29, 2012 11:12 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Angel Gilding.
Replies: 28
Views: 22701

Re: Angel Gilding.

Understanding how things work certainly helps you to do a better job. I never thought of taking batteries apart but I might try it one day. I even still have my electric train transformer. I'd love to know more about electroplating. Mike and I tried making our own gold chloride but we found out that...
by Sarah King
Thu Jun 28, 2012 5:11 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Angel Gilding.
Replies: 28
Views: 22701

Re: Angel Gilding.

You're welcome.

As I said, its a beautiful piece of work - so much detail in such a small space. I would love to post it in our Customer's Gallery if you would like to send me a jpg.
by Sarah King
Thu Jun 28, 2012 4:27 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Angel Gilding.
Replies: 28
Views: 22701

Re: Angel Gilding.

Hi Doug, I think that your main problem was the cleaning process. Windex doesn't work because it is designed to leave a dirt repelling film on the glass. So are most dish soaps like Dawn. The only grocery store cleaner we like is Sparkle. It's not available everywhere but it does work well. A deterg...
by Sarah King
Thu Jun 28, 2012 11:13 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Angel Gilding.
Replies: 28
Views: 22701

Re: Angel Gilding.

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 deterg...
by Sarah King
Thu Jun 28, 2012 10:58 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Silvering with Hand Held Triger Sprayers
Replies: 67
Views: 48658

Re: Silvering with Hand Held Triger Sprayers

Marvin, you certainly are dedicated to making this work. I'm very impressed. The reason we don't carry the red dual chamber spray bottles any more is because they get clogged very easily. The silver and the reducer tubes mix the chemicals together inside the nozzle which causes silver metal to build...
by Sarah King
Mon Feb 06, 2012 4:15 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Graphite Mirror
Replies: 15
Views: 11214

Re: Graphite Mirror

We've looked into the whole spray chrome thing and we think that the idea of torching the plastic before your silver it is not so much to change the surface energy as to melt the very top layer of plastic to make it shinier. The shinier the substrate the shiner the silver will look when you apply it...
by Sarah King
Wed Jan 05, 2011 12:39 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: the importance Surface tension and Silvering front surfaces
Replies: 12
Views: 8082

Re: the importance Surface tension and Silvering front surfaces

I haven't tried adding methanol to the silver so I don't know how it will react over time. I don't know why it would flow out better although it may be cleaning the surface or reacting with the plastic. It is going to evaporate faster than the water but I would not have thought that that would be an...
by Sarah King
Wed Dec 29, 2010 3:22 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: the importance Surface tension and Silvering front surfaces
Replies: 12
Views: 8082

Re: the importance Surface tension and Silvering front surfaces

Getting plastics to wet is a big issue and many scientists spend their careers on it. I know because we have been doing a lot of research and the same experiments as you, Ismael, and for the same reason - so that our customers can successfully use our silver for front surface or "spray chrome&q...
by Sarah King
Wed Sep 01, 2010 4:42 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Scalloper video on YouTube
Replies: 12
Views: 6796

Re: Scalloper video on YouTube

Thanks for the great comments and reviews! We certainly can ship door to door by to the UK by US Priority Mail and I bet Danny would be glad to too.
by Sarah King
Tue Aug 31, 2010 10:25 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Scalloper video on YouTube
Replies: 12
Views: 6796

Scalloper video on YouTube

In case anyone is interested, I made a video on scalloping glass that you can see at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGKeRdIUg-I Danny suggested that I post the link here. Most folks on this site already know how to do this but I thought you might like to see it anyway. Danny sells scallopers and als...
by Sarah King
Thu Aug 19, 2010 10:24 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Mirroring questions
Replies: 1
Views: 1706

Re: Mirroring questions

Hi Eric, I don't think that there are exact answers to your questions. There are all sorts of ways to create antique mirrors. We have suggestions and supplies on our website and Rod Treece has some lovely samples on his site at http://www.customglasssigns.com/ . A gunmetal mirror is probably a lead ...
by Sarah King
Thu Aug 19, 2010 10:16 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: A Mad scientist should just buy the Angelgilding kit!
Replies: 10
Views: 5618

Re: A Mad scientist should just buy the Angelgilding kit!

Thanks very much for the referral, Erik - I really appreciate it. As I said, making stuff is a lot a fun and especially learning how to make something you haven't done before. So enjoy - but be careful.
by Sarah King
Wed Aug 18, 2010 9:03 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Remove mirroring?
Replies: 5
Views: 3483

Re: Remove mirroring?

You can use any kind of paint stripper to remove the backing paint from a mirror. As Roderick says, it is difficult to remove it to a clean line. The best thing might be to remove all of the paint, clean the silver carefully with acetone and then repaint the silver you want to keep. Once the new pai...
by Sarah King
Wed Aug 18, 2010 8:48 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: A Mad scientist should just buy the Angelgilding kit!
Replies: 10
Views: 5618

Re: A Mad scientist should just buy the Angelgilding kit!

Being a self-taught chemist is a bit like being a self-taught electrician. Sometimes it works and sometimes there are, to be nice about it, "unintended consequences". It depends on whether you want to spend your time making stuff or using it. Making stuff is fun - lots of fun - but using s...
by Sarah King
Mon Feb 22, 2010 2:43 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Home Made Sensitizer
Replies: 9
Views: 6771

Re: Home Made Sensitizer

Thank you friends for your kind words. The only problem we have found with making your own tinning solution with stannous chloride crystals (pre fab) is that the crystals change size and shape with changes in ambient humidity so your tinning solution is a different strength every time. We have found...
by Sarah King
Thu Jan 21, 2010 1:14 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Glass Sign artists throughout history
Replies: 46
Views: 25798

Re: Glass Sign artists throughout history

If you're collecting books and histories look for Chicago Ceramics and Glass by Sharon Darling published in 1979 by the Chicago Historical Society. Includes dates and history for Western Sand Blast Mfg, Rawson and Evans, Seuss Ornamental Glass and others. Mostly about terra cotta and stained glass b...
by Sarah King
Tue Jan 12, 2010 1:36 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Organic vs Inorganic Reducers Tollens reagent
Replies: 10
Views: 13106

Re: Organic vs Inorganic Reducers Tollens reagent

Hi Ismael, You are right that formalin (formaldehyde) and hydrazine both reduce the silver faster than sugar (dextrose, grape sugar, table sugar etc.) and so they are both used for spraying. Many silver manufacturers prefer to use formaldehyde because hydrazine damages your kidneys. It is more toxic...
by Sarah King
Thu Dec 31, 2009 11:43 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Leaded/Stained glass
Replies: 6
Views: 4095

Re: Leaded/Stained glass

Hi Terry, You certainly have some wonderful stained glass in Britain - houses as well as churches and pubs. As Roderick mentioned, I've been making and repairing residential stained glass in Chicago for many years and I'd be more than happy to answer any questions. The Chicago style is very differen...
by Sarah King
Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:54 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Imitation/Composition gold leaf
Replies: 2
Views: 2378

Re: Imitation/Composition gold leaf

Yes, I've used it. It's brass rather than gold and so it is very cheap. I think the leaves are 5 1/2 inches square rather than 3 3/8" It tarnishes very easily (gold does not tarnish at all) and in my experience it does not go on the glass as smoothly as gold. It is thicker than gold which makes...
by Sarah King
Mon Jul 06, 2009 5:36 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Cutting Ovals Out of Glass...
Replies: 13
Views: 11217

Re: Cutting Ovals Out of Glass...

If you don't want to cut a pattern out of vinyl, you can always use one of my very favorite tools - a Fletcher Oval and Circle Glass Cutter. You attach the center of the jig to the glass with a suction cup, set the x and y axis to size and then move the cutter - attached to a rotating bar - around i...
by Sarah King
Mon Jul 06, 2009 1:01 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Streaked mirror
Replies: 4
Views: 3600

Re: Streaked mirror

I think that Roderick has it about right. I would certainly check the water you are using and be sure that you are using a new paint brush or roller. The backing paint in your kit is specifically made for silver mirrors so I don't think that is the problem. Drying the mirror next to a wood heater is...
by Sarah King
Fri May 01, 2009 9:13 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: chipping question
Replies: 22
Views: 11466

Re: chipping question

That's probably the difference. I make mine out of plywood and 4 foot long single bulb flourescent ceiling lights. I bet the aluminum body on yours really holds the heat. I think I'll have to stick with my small, roll-away dehumidifier for now.
by Sarah King
Thu Apr 30, 2009 11:38 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: chipping question
Replies: 22
Views: 11466

Re: chipping question

Thanks, Danny. We have been working on putting togther a bunch of glue chipping supplies including bottles. They aren't on the website yet but we have them in stock. We also have pint size glue pots (and quarts) from Hold-Heet. So phone if you're interested because it seems to take us awhile to jump...
by Sarah King
Fri Apr 24, 2009 12:06 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Mirror Back up paint
Replies: 1
Views: 1643

Re: Mirror Back up paint

Roderick, Our Black Mirror Backing Paint is made in Chicago by a company that has been making it since 1945 (I think) It is black, matte, mineral spirits based (not xylene like the Spraylat paint) and air dries in about an hour. Mostly they make gray mirror backing paint but we like black better for...
by Sarah King
Thu Apr 16, 2009 11:50 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Spray Silvering
Replies: 2
Views: 2173

Re: Spray Silvering

How can you say that? It's a goooood forum!

Prices can be found at http://angelgilding.com/SpraySilver.html Basically $160.00 for 500 ml concentrate - makes 3.3 gallons each of activated silver and silver reducer.
by Sarah King
Thu Apr 16, 2009 8:51 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Spray Silvering
Replies: 2
Views: 2173

Spray Silvering

AngelGilding.com would like to annouce that it has moved into the machine age!! We now offer a spray silver formula and all the spray guns etc. to go with it. We have kept our prices as low as possible and our forumla is formulated in such a way that we do not have to charge Hazmat shipping fees. We...
by Sarah King
Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:44 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Applying silvering solution around pre-gilded areas
Replies: 8
Views: 6325

Re: Applying silvering solution around pre-gilded areas

I haven't tried the epoxy paints but I think you can block the mirroring chemicals with asphaltum and I know you can block them with vinyl mask. Stan phoned me and I suggested that he 1) clean the entire piece completely 2) mask the area to be silvered with vinyl mask 3) Angel Gild the gold area and...
by Sarah King
Sun Feb 08, 2009 9:30 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Angel Gilding
Replies: 9
Views: 6149

Re: Angel Guilding

Thanks for the wonderful comments - you all are the best.

On the spelling thing "gild" means applying gold and "guild" means an association of craftsmen so what we have here is a guild of gilders - The Gilders Guild - a generous, guilless group - haha.
by Sarah King
Wed Dec 17, 2008 3:58 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Antique Size Pot
Replies: 0
Views: 2541

Antique Size Pot

Robert Frese of http://www.chicagoldsigns.com/ asked me if I could make a reproduction of a very handy little antique size pot he has been using for years. Since I had taken metal working classes from my neighbor, Veronica Fremont - jewler and sculpter, I thought I would give it a try. We now have t...