I just saw a few things that our buddy Dave Smith referred to in an earlier post how his design fees are such that it encourages the prospective client. Now how exactly does that work? I have a fee built into the sign price and for the most part that is all it takes. Most of this is done for existin...

Great Larry....Just loved walking back into that place again...remember that smell of varnishes when you walked in the door? What a terrific time it was!

Yeo Smitty....the glass is about 24 inches wide and wraps around the corner at about 60 degrees, with a height of about 8'. It'll need to be done in a couple of pieces as the fellow's kiln can only handle about 7' altogether. They actually called today about it so things should get underway in a few...

Patience...I buy that one for sure....but will it ever be beautiful.....so ya gotta try it. Make an extra or two....etch and cut then bend. I found a guy in my neck of the woods with a good sized kiln and have a job coming up that needs to be bent around the corner of a building. The glass for that ...

You really hit the money with this technique Smitty....can hardly wait to see you throw the whole works into a project!

Thought you all might like a peek at a few "tiles" I saw in the UK

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Had a friend doing work in the Federal parlimant buildings a few years ago and he saw many time capsules and signatures in the walls etc. A fascinating bit of work all the same. Something quite cool to be involved in....so are you gonna replace the newspaper after you finish?....a dilema. I have an ...

I follow Pat on the Abreviation...Heck I work a few miles from them here in Ottawa. How they wound up in Winterpeg is another matter. Which newpaper is that?

Thanx...2 good answers and am gonna take a closer look. I have no idea of the correct terms for some of these things but the post was born more from a little frustration. A roll could last me a couple of years and I suspect this might also be the case.

Okay I shouldn't actually post this here but what the heck, Today I was hand cutting some mask (I don't have a plotter) which I do occassionally and I had the backing paper stuck, in places all over the back of the mask. Sort of shreds of paper usually starting at the inside of an "O" or w...

Hi Jennie, I think what you are asking about is "velum" which a type of leather/paper. But I think more importantly is to point him towards a "Calligraphy Society" in your neighbourhood. In Canada here, there are usually a societies where like minded ppl get together....run works...

I feel for ya Mikey....yesterday was a beautiful warm day here...(truth be known, the first one in a long time) and had the shop doors open...today we had snow....just a dusting but it's here to remind us all to get ready for nothing green for another 6 months. Funny...when I was a kid I didn't mind...

Hi Jim....you sure are in the right spot to find "olde tyme" signpainters. You're not alone.

Hi Kelly....at first glance it does look like the "Palms" ornaments and have the catalogue at work. I'll certainly check back in, soon (or as soon as possible) but am off for a couple of weeks on Monday. Good luck with your research but didn't want to seem impolite when I just disappear fo...

I also have enjoyed this thread and will be watching with huge interest.

Mark...a little of both actually but particularly the voids. I hate seeing water get in and if the planks needs a real nice edge...the whole kit-and-kaboodle! I need to add also that quite a number of years ago a rep from our supplier gave a talk on recommended prep and his advice was an epoxy seale...

What has worked for me here in Canada is this...fill edges with bondo and sand (have also used epoxy at this stage)...sand board and 2 coats of oil primer followed by enamels and and an acrylic top coat like "Clearstar" the uv topcoat is terrific if you have west facing dark boards. Good L...

Yeo Joe....I was hoping Kent would reply to this as I really don't know the products you are using. My approach is to have a satin finish at the end as I like that look and still use oil primers. So hey....don't be so lazy and get back to work sanding!! ;=) I don't think I could live with the idea t...

Some great antiques there....!!

No No No...I think Indianna was the last time we crossed paths....am stuck here in Canada as it is "my Home and Native Land". Holidays are an important part of life for me nowadays....I went 20 years without taking more than a week every couple of years and it made me lose focus. Now I get...

Hi again Karen......I wouldn't usually post something like this so publicly, but what the heck. I too am working at my "dream" shop right now. Bought a plot of 25acres near a small town and still within range of the city, and plan to put house and shop there. This will be the last one for ...

What I'd try, and (ain't never messed with the copper) works well with silver is the lye solution in advance of tin and silver. It seems that the aluminum gets trapped in areas that haven't chipped and will tarnish...what I've also noticed is the tin doesn't seem wash out thoroughly enuf on occassio...

Yuppers...better get the sample okayed....I have a couple of old books on the water gild, gesso technique and I just gotta give it a try some day...till then I wouldn't take on a big job either. I think Rod has hit the nail on the head here.

Great advice above and would only add that I tend more and more to put aluminum flashing (like roofers) across the top of anything that sits unprotected on a wall. It is way too easy for mouldings to delaminate etc. I also epoxy seal edges and that does go far but paint layers over that will still p...

Hi Karen....Not sure if you'll remember but we have met a few times over the years. I took a look through your web page and you have (as always) beautiful stuff there. The only thing missing was an action shot, white glove and all. I'd heard you kept an imacculate shop but holy smokes! When was the ...

Just to add...me thinks the shellac and heat combo is the culprit...size takes SO long to set and cure.

I dunno Rick....you seem to get away with murder in California. Is this process with shellac usual for you? Has it worked before? Shellac is great stuff but I couldn't use that outdoors around here.

I might be way out of line and have no way to see what the actual example is, but this sounds very much like silver stain...would be really terrific to see a couple of photo's. The only thing I have ever seen that is a transparent yellow and not a solid gild is that.

I guild carved letters all the time and would agree with all that has been said. Both Studdley and Mike have experience with computers and Plexi as I have not but, keeping a tin even layer of size is the key. It also may require giving the letters a priming with "maybe" a spray balm primer...

Hi all...had a conversation with our buddy Mr.Smitty and I hate to inform you all, but he is having ISP problems and looks like he will be off line for a couple of weeks. He also asked me to post these photo's of his experiment in this for him. and I copied in a part of his letter..... The pictures ...