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 1076 matches

by Doug Bernhardt
Thu Jan 26, 2017 7:46 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: in the shop
Replies: 3
Views: 3542

Re: in the shop

Here's a little more from this project. There is still a sanding and another coat of finish due on the weekend but there are 9 more columns to make and am pacing this. I should add that there will be 2 glass pieces to add to openings. My problem really is that my wife wants one now so she can proper...
by Doug Bernhardt
Thu Jan 26, 2017 7:42 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: GLUE CHIPPING HELP !!!
Replies: 13
Views: 11684

Re: GLUE CHIPPING HELP !!!

Francois...I'm a little hesitant to jump in here but generally any part that has been blasted enuf and has a good layer of glue on it will chip eventually. The humidity is the thing. If it were me (and without seeing it) I would wash with hot/warm water and re-apply a little glue to the stubborn are...
by Doug Bernhardt
Thu Jan 26, 2017 7:34 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: base coat for gold size...
Replies: 9
Views: 7245

Re: base coat for gold size...

Hi Rick. I've been using (and am VERY pleased with) painting the sign as usual....a coat of Star Clear coating is also a Sikkens product I believe followed by another coat (or more) acrylic from "Finitec" (which is a Montreal Company) then gilding gold. Any lower carats of 16k or 12k are o...
by Doug Bernhardt
Thu Jan 26, 2017 7:25 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Whats keeping me busy
Replies: 25
Views: 20993

Re: Whats keeping me busy

Just come on up! ;=)
by Doug Bernhardt
Sun Jan 22, 2017 12:32 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: in the shop
Replies: 3
Views: 3542

Re: in the shop

Hey Danny. A pile of wood. ...it was that and had never thought of the whole process like that before. I actually started this last year when we redid all the signs for a pub in downtown Ottawa, (The Heart and Crown) which I started around St. Patricks Day and finished in June. There were a couple s...
by Doug Bernhardt
Sat Jan 21, 2017 10:48 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: in the shop
Replies: 3
Views: 3542

in the shop

Just thought it was time to add a few photos of things in progress. I used my lathe and carved up these little finials or brackets over the Christmas holidays and then settled into the box which is actually a column to be used as a support for the earlier posted piece with the violin and harp. There...
by Doug Bernhardt
Tue Jan 17, 2017 9:46 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: The Forum vs Facebook
Replies: 13
Views: 12564

Re: The Forum vs Facebook

a Big thumbs up to that one. There seems to be a cycle to everything and I personally hope this thing we have here will revive as bit by bit we rediscover what a great source it is.
by Doug Bernhardt
Tue Jan 17, 2017 9:45 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Hello fellow Sign Painters! Thanks for adding me.
Replies: 5
Views: 5357

Re: Hello fellow Sign Painters! Thanks for adding me.

For what it's worth I agree with almost everything said so far. I've seen many examples like this in UK and north America and most often were not decorated in anyway. However there should be some artifact left behind of any paint or gilding and a good close up photo would be great a help. Having sai...
by Doug Bernhardt
Tue Jan 17, 2017 9:36 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Smith's Cream experimenting
Replies: 2
Views: 3388

Re: Smith's Cream experimenting

Yes ...definitely post a photo. This is something I've never seen or heard of.
by Doug Bernhardt
Tue Jan 17, 2017 9:34 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Whats keeping me busy
Replies: 25
Views: 20993

Re: Whats keeping me busy

Pretty Face?? Now thats a scary thought ;=) Jim...I'm a big fan of the Cetol (sikkens) system. Just stain to colour of choice and finish with overcoats. I've found that a refresh of the overcoat (door and Window it's now called) every couple years is easy to maintain and keeps looking good. There ar...
by Doug Bernhardt
Sat Dec 24, 2016 11:53 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Oslo Letterheads 2017
Replies: 8
Views: 6285

Re: Oslo Letterheads 2017

I just love hearing..... "I've only had a chance to attend two Letterhead Meets so far, one in Rochester, England in 2014 and this year's Amsterdam, but it sucked me in completely and I've decided Norway needs one, too." Sounds like you've got it bad ;=) Always great to see the movement sp...
by Doug Bernhardt
Sat Dec 24, 2016 11:53 am
Forum: Letterhead Events
Topic: Oslo Letterheads 2017
Replies: 8
Views: 11034

Re: Oslo Letterheads 2017

I just love hearing..... "I've only had a chance to attend two Letterhead Meets so far, one in Rochester, England in 2014 and this year's Amsterdam, but it sucked me in completely and I've decided Norway needs one, too." Sounds like you've got it bad ;=) Always great to see the movement sp...
by Doug Bernhardt
Sat Dec 24, 2016 11:50 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Heating Paint
Replies: 3
Views: 4054

Re: Heating Paint

Heard a lot of what sounds good to me hear. Heating I do wonder about as you can change the chemical properties of (at least some) paint by doing so. I've switched over to all the new one shot thinners for reducing paint as I don't think I could live without it thinner for lettering.
by Doug Bernhardt
Sat Dec 24, 2016 11:46 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: base coat for gold size...
Replies: 9
Views: 7245

Re: base coat for gold size...

Thar ya go. The secret is down to a hard dry non-absorbant surface. I'm a big fan of the new acrylic clears and I'll do my entire sign in oils and put 2 or 3 coats of clear down and then size and gild. Never had a problem.
by Doug Bernhardt
Sat Dec 03, 2016 5:08 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Appropriate thinner/solvent
Replies: 5
Views: 5630

Re: Appropriate thinner/solvent

Just and addition to all these replies....While I was at the Rochester Meet in the UK a couple of years ago there was a discussion about the various reducers and I've since switched to the various 1-shot supplied/recommended varieties. The premise of the discussion was the integrity of the paint fil...
by Doug Bernhardt
Thu Nov 24, 2016 4:49 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: One Shot Lettering Enamel not sticking to Ben Moore Regal
Replies: 1
Views: 2336

Re: One Shot Lettering Enamel not sticking to Ben Moore Regal

Now here's one to add to the "now I know" column. I've always used oil primers so have never encountered this problem but it sounds like you've nailed this. Manufacturers have a habit of making "small" changes to products without letting the end users in on it.
by Doug Bernhardt
Mon Nov 21, 2016 9:39 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Base for painting
Replies: 6
Views: 5549

Re: Base for painting

Hey....I bow to you guys with knowledge about something other than wood (which I don't have) and wish I did know more about. Bravo. Was a good read.
by Doug Bernhardt
Mon Nov 21, 2016 9:35 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Chalk Board Video
Replies: 1
Views: 2438

Re: Chalk Board Video

Wish the video had given a fast forward so I could see where it was going. Sorry I didn't spend more time as it seemed like a "folk art" thing BUT...I'm offering this one up in hopes we can start to talk about quality and craftsmanship again. http://blog.skillshare.com/learn/hand-lettering...
by Doug Bernhardt
Tue Nov 01, 2016 4:19 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Base for painting
Replies: 6
Views: 5549

Re: Base for painting

Hi Rita. I'm a user of wood which should be primed with 2 coats of exterior grade wood primer and then a couple of coats of a gloss enamel much like one shot with of course a light sanding between each coat except the last one. Your local supplier should be able to help with brushes and sanding pads...
by Doug Bernhardt
Mon Oct 17, 2016 4:31 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Reference material
Replies: 3
Views: 4601

Re: Reference material

Great looking piece and almost as over the top as Rick's. When you see Dave say hi for me (I've lost track of him since....) and see what he has to say about the Redondo Beach piece. Would love to know.
by Doug Bernhardt
Sun Oct 16, 2016 2:43 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Reference material
Replies: 3
Views: 4601

Reference material

Was just ruminating over great work I've seen over the years and was wondering if anyone knows where the "Boss" got his reference material for this fine piece. Outright theft is a great compliment and have done that many times. Maybe someone can get in touch with the guys who worked with R...
by Doug Bernhardt
Sun Sep 11, 2016 4:14 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Whats keeping me busy
Replies: 25
Views: 20993

Re: Whats keeping me busy

Thanx for all the good words guys and will of course post more photos as things continue.
by Doug Bernhardt
Tue Sep 06, 2016 10:56 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Window Sign Writing Paints
Replies: 4
Views: 4479

Re: Window Sign Writing Paints

Hi Jaysen. It would be great to do a test before working on the whole project with a material that may or may not hold up. Try testing with tape to see if it comes off...etc etc. My experience with latex paint is limited BUT I would find it difficult to imagine anything water based being as good as ...
by Doug Bernhardt
Mon Sep 05, 2016 6:27 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Whats keeping me busy
Replies: 25
Views: 20993

Re: Whats keeping me busy

Yes sir...them is "strings" but it won't sound that great. They're copper wire.
IMG_0379.JPG
IMG_0379.JPG (228.47 KiB) Viewed 21181 times

Here's just the front. It will look a whole lot better when I get all the columns replaced.....coming a little later and some lighting for everything.
IMG_0381.JPG
IMG_0381.JPG (151.25 KiB) Viewed 21183 times
by Doug Bernhardt
Sat Sep 03, 2016 5:59 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Whats keeping me busy
Replies: 25
Views: 20993

Re: Whats keeping me busy

Hi Anthony. These are all part of an Irish Pub called Heart and Crown in downtown Ottawa. I did the original signs some 20years ago and they needed updating. I'll post a few more photos next week when the install is complete. There's actually quite a bit more to do with some columns and millwork whi...
by Doug Bernhardt
Fri Sep 02, 2016 10:04 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Whats keeping me busy
Replies: 25
Views: 20993

Re: Whats keeping me busy

Thanx for all the compliments and of course I'm honoured. e-IMG_0277.jpg I guess I'm trying to work out the "did I ever get another dog" question. For many years I did have a shop dog that I actually got as a "training devise" for my son, who my wife thought I loved more than her...
by Doug Bernhardt
Wed Aug 31, 2016 9:34 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Whats keeping me busy
Replies: 25
Views: 20993

Re: Whats keeping me busy

I'm a bit of a fussy old bugger and want to make all the elements myself rather than order them and use existing parts. I suppose that way I get to make it in the way it fits best.
by Doug Bernhardt
Wed Aug 31, 2016 9:31 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Whats keeping me busy
Replies: 25
Views: 20993

Re: Whats keeping me busy

e-IMG_0318.jpg Thanx guys...It was a huge project altogether and the last of it will be installed tomorrow and will go well hopefully. Whenever I get into a project like this with so many pieces (parts) that need to have exact measurements I do a panic until all is complete. I was down there today ...
by Doug Bernhardt
Tue Aug 30, 2016 6:09 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Whats keeping me busy
Replies: 25
Views: 20993

Re: Whats keeping me busy

and what the heck since it's here there's an in progress picture as well.
by Doug Bernhardt
Tue Aug 30, 2016 5:59 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Whats keeping me busy
Replies: 25
Views: 20993

Whats keeping me busy

Just a couple photos from this years complicated project. This is just a small portion as altogether it's is about 100' but it was also the most involved (and coolest) of the job. Still waiting on final install which is in progress this week.