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 177 matches

by Mark Summers
Wed Dec 16, 2009 11:46 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: First Lincoln Highway mural complete . . . 39 to go . . .
Replies: 6
Views: 3730

Re: First Lincoln Highway mural complete . . . 39 to go . . .

I'm sure there are some digital print gurus out there that would like
to have their way with this. 5 years from now the digital prints would
have faded away. The painted version will be there when they are
gone. Can't wait to see more of the work going up.

Mark
by Mark Summers
Mon Dec 14, 2009 10:49 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: First Lincoln Highway mural complete . . . 39 to go . . .
Replies: 6
Views: 3730

Re: First Lincoln Highway mural complete . . . 39 to go . . .

Make sure you keep us posted. A+ work.
Who put the designs together?

Mark
by Mark Summers
Wed Dec 09, 2009 5:28 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Flattering to be in the Chicago tribune today . . .
Replies: 4
Views: 2543

Re: Flattering to be in the Chicago tribune today . . .

Now there's some job security. Send us pics as they go up.
You scored well with Bill Hueg. He's the real deal.
Tell us a little about the panels and paint you are using.

Mark
by Mark Summers
Wed Nov 25, 2009 4:43 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Question about clears over acrylics?
Replies: 11
Views: 5889

Re: Question about clears over acrylics?

I think I get the picture now. Gold leaf is a whole different arena. Kent Smith is probably the authority on clearing gold. The thing with Aquathane and enamels is that the enamels have to be cured and dead dry before application or you will get wrinkle city and I guess failure. I have even used wit...
by Mark Summers
Wed Nov 25, 2009 12:50 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Question about clears over acrylics?
Replies: 11
Views: 5889

Re: Question about clears over acrylics?

Danny, are you talking about Aquathane U.V. over gold leaf?
Not sure if that's what I was reading.

Mark
by Mark Summers
Wed Nov 25, 2009 10:56 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Question about clears over acrylics?
Replies: 11
Views: 5889

Re: Question about clears over acrylics?

I (may) have a simple solution here. Artist acrylics, I use Golden fluid acrylics. After a good number of years at 9000 ft. Golden I've seen has really stayed color fast. If there is any way I would go acrylics rather than 1-Shot. For the clear I would go Ronan Aquathane U.V., two coats. Flat or glo...
by Mark Summers
Sat Nov 21, 2009 6:38 pm
Forum: Annoucements
Topic: Check your Visa and Mastercard rates!
Replies: 3
Views: 9888

Re: Check your Visa and Mastercard rates!

With credit card companies coming under new rules in Feb. they have decided to jam people while they still can. Life changes for them after Feb. 1st. as I understand it. Now Sears is another story. I see they got to you M.J. with their 'we are going to send you a MasterCard' letter. I have one of th...
by Mark Summers
Mon Nov 02, 2009 4:54 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Original Dead Men
Replies: 686
Views: 2084666

Re: Original Dead Men...

I think you are in the game like few others, not without having
paid your dues to get where you are. I sandblast my signs with an
80cfm compressor, when I saw your 375 I was taken aback.
Thanks for sharing your work efforts with us hope to see more.
Mark
by Mark Summers
Mon Nov 02, 2009 2:52 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Original Dead Men
Replies: 686
Views: 2084666

Re: Original Dead Men...

Great job Larry! Sounds like you spent a good amount of time sandblasting. Tell us if you will a little about your etching process if you will, i.e. your pot and air set-up, sandblast mask you use and the grit you use also. Do you vary the grit size sometimes? I think the customer should be abundant...
by Mark Summers
Wed Oct 28, 2009 2:57 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Computer Sign Software
Replies: 6
Views: 4899

Re: Computer Sign Software

I have been with Signlab since way early too (dongle #807) You will with a Flexi, Signlab and I'm sure Gerber need a dongle that attaches via usb or parallel port. I've had great Success with Signlab. Very user friendly. I'm thinking you are not a printer so you don't need to get the print/cut versi...
by Mark Summers
Wed Sep 23, 2009 10:42 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Do you accept credit cards !
Replies: 6
Views: 3257

Re: Do you accept credit cards !

There are so many credit card companies out there wanting to get on with you. Currently my company charges 1.59% but after you get the statement if you can figure out how they charge only the 1.59% you will be one up on me. My present company gave me a swiper (3 year commitment). Check with your loc...
by Mark Summers
Wed Sep 23, 2009 8:41 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Glass gilding questions
Replies: 6
Views: 2963

Re: Glass gilding questions

The hardener that was talked about in the previous posts, is this
the 1 Shot hardener?

Mark
by Mark Summers
Thu Sep 17, 2009 3:48 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: My "other" job
Replies: 9
Views: 4679

Re: My "other" job

sorry should have read your first line 'pine'. I'm guessing sugar pine.

Mark
by Mark Summers
Thu Sep 17, 2009 3:45 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: My "other" job
Replies: 9
Views: 4679

Re: My "other" job

What kind of wood did you use? A+ work.

Mark
by Mark Summers
Sat Sep 12, 2009 11:29 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Spyware
Replies: 6
Views: 4328

Re: Spyware

Malware Bytes is an A+ affair. If you ever get zapped by some malware you would do well to have this progam on a flash drive as you may not be able to log on. I also use Suprer Anti Spyware, with very good results I think. Here is another one I just latched onto. You can use their free lighter versi...
by Mark Summers
Fri Sep 11, 2009 9:37 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: What would you do
Replies: 17
Views: 8861

Re: What would you do

Lot's of solid points to be taken here. My answer may lie somwhere in the middle of the varied opinions. Getting involved in low quality work has it's pitfalls. Telling the customer this isn't the type of work you do sends another message. Reading the customer is the key. Swaying them, tactfully, if...
by Mark Summers
Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:15 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Encryption Software
Replies: 0
Views: 2179

Encryption Software

Came across some info that you might need to consider. Up until a few moments ago I had very personal information stored on my computer. Which is accessible to someone that gains access to your computer. That has changed as of now as it is encrypted form. On the computer but encrypted which means th...
by Mark Summers
Wed Aug 26, 2009 11:36 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: What would you do
Replies: 17
Views: 8861

What would you do

So customer has some artwork that he is set on and the thing is the
art is pretty amateurish. How do you tactfully tell customer that
you don't want to bid on the work due to this is not the kind of work
you do? Maybe I have given my own answer with the previous
sentence.

Mark
by Mark Summers
Mon Aug 17, 2009 3:11 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Interesting Scam
Replies: 16
Views: 7919

Re: Interesting Scam

My brother got a bank draft for his trailer and the mistake would
be that he assumed a very official looking bank draft was all too
good as it looked. Guess not. I would even clear a money order.
The only thing you can count on is those numbers when they
are actually in your bank.

Mark
by Mark Summers
Mon Aug 17, 2009 2:50 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Interesting Scam
Replies: 16
Views: 7919

Re: Interesting Scam

And just because you get a bank draft it's good, right?
Guess again. My brother got burned for $8k.
Make sure ANY check clears first.

Mark
by Mark Summers
Thu Aug 13, 2009 11:12 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Asphaltum method
Replies: 32
Views: 17979

Re: Asphaltum method

Wonder if we can beat this dead horse again. Here is the thing. I went to chip a glass and mixed a ratio (3 oz. Dixie cup) of 1:1.25 (5x glue) and a week later and more and many sunlight sessions with a black background has left my chipping still not quite done. I read a previous post 'glue chipping...
by Mark Summers
Fri Jul 17, 2009 9:58 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Printing on glass
Replies: 13
Views: 7907

Re: Printing on glass

There are digital printer that can print directly to the substrate such as glass or Lexan. A Zund printer will do this and 5 year print durability. Previously I have used Stonehouse Signs in Denver to do this printing in reverse on Lexan. Glass should no be a problem I don't think. After printing th...
by Mark Summers
Wed Jul 15, 2009 1:47 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: DualSaw?
Replies: 7
Views: 5596

Re: DualSaw?

I understand the logic with the dual rotating blades and going forward
and backward. The one thing I can't quite warm up to is going into
ferrous metal, rebar etc. Has anyone ever put a carbide blade into
steel before? Scared me.

Mark
by Mark Summers
Wed Jul 15, 2009 1:19 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Data Recovery
Replies: 17
Views: 8133

Re: Data Recovery

Mike,
Some of the previous discussion about Nortorn which you brought up,
and I agree, that Norton products imbed so deeply into your computer
and suck up so much resources. How do you feel about these issues
at this point?

Mark
by Mark Summers
Wed Jul 15, 2009 10:55 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Data Recovery
Replies: 17
Views: 8133

Re: Data Recovery

Doug, Just to make sure you understand the logic behind System Recovery (if Vista has it) whatever you delete from your hard drive even programs will then show back up just as you had it before when you choose to recover that date and time. I just checked mine and I could go back to June 1st. if I d...
by Mark Summers
Tue Jul 14, 2009 9:07 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Data Recovery
Replies: 17
Views: 8133

Re: Data Recovery

Don't feel embarrassed Doug. What has happened to you has or will happen to all of us. System Recovery is available in XP and I'm thinking Vista should have it too. I have used it numerous times to bring the system back to an earlier date. Also When you know you are doing something radical you can c...
by Mark Summers
Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:23 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Gold leaf on glass versus vinyl gold products
Replies: 14
Views: 8111

Re: Gold leaf on glass versus vinyl gold products

What you are show there is the engine swirl top applied. My reference
was to the reversed applied glass gold. The more I look at the SG
glass stuff the more I'm turned off to it.

Mark
by Mark Summers
Tue Jul 07, 2009 2:02 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Design Critique
Replies: 9
Views: 5430

Re: Design Critique

Cam has a point with the main copy 'Signworks'. I think a black outline
would fix it though. "Signs That Work", great tagline, I'd run with it.

Mark
by Mark Summers
Sat Jul 04, 2009 8:01 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Gold leaf on glass versus vinyl gold products
Replies: 14
Views: 8111

Re: Gold leaf on glass versus vinyl gold products

When you look at the Signgold brochure with their gold versions and the glass reverse cut gold it does lead you to believe that it wouldn't look half bad. When you apply it to glass you see another story. It just doesn't look very much like real gold. If you run you finger across the back it also it...