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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 569 matches

by Kent Smith
Tue Apr 16, 2013 2:31 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Lefranc original gold size.
Replies: 35
Views: 33296

Re: Lefranc original gold size.

I never thought about using stand oil in this fashion but it is a thickened linseed oil. I would want to do some testing but theoretically it should work. I don't know if the heating process with oxygen eliminated would effect the curing or adhesion. It is the base material when hydrogenated, become...
by Kent Smith
Sun Apr 14, 2013 6:15 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Lefranc original gold size.
Replies: 35
Views: 33296

Re: Lefranc original gold size.

Erik and others interested, adding white lead by itself would be a disaster. First you must make a lead dryer which is made with pure mineral spirits or naphtha (sometimes turpentine). The simple formulae is to add 3% by weight of white lead to the solvent and stir vigorously until all the lead disa...
by Kent Smith
Wed Apr 10, 2013 6:32 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Lefranc original gold size.
Replies: 35
Views: 33296

Re: Lefranc original gold size.

I rarely gild on slow size in less than two days. I have always thought that the 12 hours was the earliest possible time frame in the dryest and warm conditions. I have had good results with the lead free, works more like Hastings did but certainly a few days for a great gild. Cobalt dryer tends to ...
by Kent Smith
Sun Apr 07, 2013 4:24 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: a different boston gild.......
Replies: 4
Views: 5184

Re: a different boston gild.......

Boston is indeed single gild with one leaf color over "dry" clear with the paint outlines in place. Palladium is too brittle to bridge both the clear center for the matte and the paint outline without having many holidays. Double gild by dong the matte onto clear size with the burnish outl...
by Kent Smith
Sat Apr 06, 2013 9:53 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Help! Oil-base chalkboard paint discontinued
Replies: 5
Views: 4141

Re: Help! Oil-base chalkboard paint discontinued

You can add powdered pumice to any enamel color to make a suitable chalkboard coating. The heavier pigment load in the enamel, the more pumice will be needed. For example, more is needed in lettering enamel than bulletin and much less is needed in industrial enamel. Typical addition is between 10% a...
by Kent Smith
Wed Mar 20, 2013 11:09 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: chester cunningham.......
Replies: 7
Views: 6092

Re: chester cunningham.......

I suggest you contact Tod, he may know. The book was published in '82, two years after Chet died. His daughters Ashlee and Regina were seeking info some years ago as their mother received something about the book which they found in her papers after she died. Don't know how that all turned out. I ha...
by Kent Smith
Wed Feb 27, 2013 9:45 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: visiting USA in May
Replies: 18
Views: 15885

Re: visiting USA in May

I would add to Dan's post for NY be sure you have a good city map, Grand Central Station, Metropolitan Museum of Art especially the Egytology exhibits on gold (Natural History Museum is also good if you like that), The Guggenheim Art Museum, The Whitney Museum always interesting, The Waldorf exterio...
by Kent Smith
Sat Feb 16, 2013 12:30 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: visiting USA in May
Replies: 18
Views: 15885

Re: visiting USA in May

There are lots of Letterhead friends in the areas you will visit. I am sure between now and then everyone can help with tour suggestions, locations of good work etc. I doubt if much of my work in those areas still exists so I suggest you locals post some specific ideas for Bruce to make a memorable ...
by Kent Smith
Sun Feb 10, 2013 11:34 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Once again, THANKS to the Colorado Letterheads
Replies: 12
Views: 8980

Re: Once again, THANKS to the Colorado Letterheads

That is the correct address, thanks Mike and to everyone else too.
by Kent Smith
Sat Feb 09, 2013 1:08 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Once again, THANKS to the Colorado Letterheads
Replies: 12
Views: 8980

Re: Once again, THANKS to the Colorado Letterheads

We have been honored to be sponsors of this site. Many of us do not get to the live meets like we used to do so this is a good way to support the movement. Since Denver is the birthplace of the Letterheads, it seems appropriate to do what we can to keep the group and the concept alive. We have maint...
by Kent Smith
Sun Jan 20, 2013 9:13 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: My studio's windows and a website update with new photos
Replies: 9
Views: 7481

Re: My studio's windows and a website update with new photos

Stunning as always and hard as heck to photo.
by Kent Smith
Sun Jan 20, 2013 9:07 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: 276ccm: My work and progress..
Replies: 40
Views: 24289

Re: 276ccm: My work and progress..

Just another thought which you might find on other posts, the screen print ink was Colonial Ink's Dekor Gloss which we all used and the LHSS backing is a replacement of that. You might find a local supply of an ink that would be used as a substitute for it. Dekor was discontinued a number of years a...
by Kent Smith
Fri Jan 18, 2013 4:22 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: 276ccm: My work and progress..
Replies: 40
Views: 24289

Re: 276ccm: My work and progress..

Good gild for the first attempt. I suspect that your gelatin size was a little heavy but it is hard to tell from a photo. Glass cleaning is essential especially being careful to remove any residue from the cleaning process. If you have not done so, LHSS backing black is good for the outlines and bac...
by Kent Smith
Fri Jan 04, 2013 12:28 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: silver leaf question
Replies: 12
Views: 9471

Re: silver leaf question

Be sure to close the laps by pressing the leaf back over the lap. Use a ball of cotton, the heel of your hand or a gilder's mop to do this. Laps are more obvious if the size is too dry and there is a tiny gap left. Thick leaf like aluminum, composition or varieagated are more likely to have lap line...
by Kent Smith
Mon Dec 31, 2012 11:56 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: A different way of looking at Jackson Hole
Replies: 5
Views: 4169

Re: A different way of looking at Jackson Hole

Part of the video reminds me why Dad and I stopped skiing the commercial slopes when we had a couple of other people on the same slope. My bones are too old for the extreme drops. My grandsons snowboard alo around here.
by Kent Smith
Mon Dec 31, 2012 11:36 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Replicating a broken white acid etched window
Replies: 15
Views: 11814

Re: Replicating a broken white acid etched window

Nice replication. I always chuckle at the puzzles we get like this. Al least it is more of a challenge than an "out of the box" picture puzzle and more of a satisfaction when completed. Cannot tell you how many times I have received a box full of even smaller pieces and not even a photo to...
by Kent Smith
Mon Dec 24, 2012 1:55 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: New Painter from Tacoma, WA / Aluminum Box
Replies: 5
Views: 4852

Re: New Painter from Tacoma, WA / Aluminum Box

raycosignsupply.com also has them in stock although Pac coast is a short drive from Tacoma
by Kent Smith
Wed Dec 19, 2012 5:41 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: silver leaf question
Replies: 12
Views: 9471

Re: silver leaf question

I have had many calls over the years about this Definately too hard a size for aluminum or palladium for that matter. Both 1Shot and Purcell's (Letterhead Sign Supply) fast sizes are formulated for more cushion but only if you lay the leaf at the right time, too late and it is too hard for non-preci...
by Kent Smith
Wed Dec 19, 2012 5:28 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Price of Gold Leaf
Replies: 14
Views: 10915

Re: Price of Gold Leaf

Wehrung & Billmeier Co., 1919 Playbird Road, Sheboygan, WI 53083 920-459-8206 Urban R. or Urban J. Billmeier. 3rd and 4th generation. Originally started by Jake Wehrung and Frank Billmeier in 1905 then run by Urban F. untill Urban R. took over. S&H $14.40 I would suggest using a credit card ...
by Kent Smith
Mon Dec 17, 2012 12:47 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Price of Gold Leaf
Replies: 14
Views: 10915

Re: Price of Gold Leaf

I just received a pack of 23K from W&B, made in the US, great quality and $725.00. They are the last of the domestic gold beaters, family operated, always friendly and my order arrives in just a few days.
by Kent Smith
Sun Nov 18, 2012 5:28 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Sign blank background paint
Replies: 5
Views: 6045

Re: Sign blank background paint

Thanks for the push Mike. The bottom line is that both the plywoods and the paints have changed. This is partly due to regulations which have outlawed the use of some chemical compounds as well as manufacturer's trying to hold the line on costs. Background enamel (aka industrial enamel) and bulletin...
by Kent Smith
Tue Nov 13, 2012 12:01 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Another Sign Movie
Replies: 10
Views: 7257

Re: Another Sign Movie

I like the distinction of lettering artist as a third definition.
by Kent Smith
Sun Nov 11, 2012 10:03 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Want to repair window gilding in Florence, Italy?
Replies: 4
Views: 3801

Re: Want to repair window gilding in Florence, Italy?

I am up for it, does the IRS .56 per mile apply? Surely someone closer than Colorado would be interested? Greek? Brit? Hmmmmmm...
by Kent Smith
Sun Nov 11, 2012 9:55 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Another Sign Movie
Replies: 10
Views: 7257

Re: Another Sign Movie

I may be too critical but following the theme of Mike's first post, I would profer the following. There is a difference between sign painting and hand lettering. This is a good example of sign painting, many of us find ourselves doing this today, but hand lettering it is not. As Dad would say about ...
by Kent Smith
Sun Oct 07, 2012 8:52 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Black Velvet On Gold?
Replies: 11
Views: 7543

Re: Black Velvet On Gold?

For spinning and burnishing, I prefer real velvet, not velveteen. The better the quality of fabric, the longer it lasts and not leave little hairs all over, especially if there is a bit of bloom. I have found that cotton velveteen often has a "dust" it leaves on the surface, but it depends...
by Kent Smith
Tue Aug 07, 2012 10:54 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Gilding a cast aluminum plaque
Replies: 5
Views: 3657

Re: Gilding a cast aluminum plaque

I have had excellent success with Gemini plaques as long as the clear has cured at least 14 days.
by Kent Smith
Tue Aug 07, 2012 8:19 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: vinyl removal
Replies: 1
Views: 1885

Re: vinyl removal

regular shop rate
by Kent Smith
Tue Aug 07, 2012 8:18 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Gilding a cast aluminum plaque
Replies: 5
Views: 3657

Re: Gilding a cast aluminum plaque

If the clear coat is two component then you will have issues with adhesion of the gold size if you don't abraid the surface. If it is lacquer, then be certain that it is fully sealed with no voids or cracks because electrolysis between the gold and aluminum will eat away the aluminum even with the g...
by Kent Smith
Tue May 15, 2012 9:15 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: A man walks into a cafe...
Replies: 4
Views: 3083

Re: A man walks into a cafe...

perhaps Victor?