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 321 matches

by vance galliher
Sat Jul 21, 2007 12:13 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: New Gilders Tip for Laying Full leaves
Replies: 45
Views: 38287

you are one amazing guy mr. smith !! ...thank you for being you and sharing that with us !.. that device is simply amazing ! ........at the last deadman i watched david t. lay whole leaves. i emulated and now feel comfortable with the whole. ...distance is key ! .....just slip it off very close to t...
by vance galliher
Thu Jul 19, 2007 10:55 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Anyone had experience with Starphire glass ?
Replies: 2
Views: 2363

Anyone had experience with Starphire glass ?

I'm doing more LED lighted carved glasswork now and my glass of choice is Starphire, because of its optic clarity (low lead/low iron content) It is simply awesome when light hits the carved areas. But with the joy of discovery also comes the disappointment of the learning curve. If there is interest...
by vance galliher
Wed Jul 18, 2007 10:02 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: gilded bird..........
Replies: 11
Views: 7139

bird

this is such a great place !! thank you all for your replies. The piece will be exterior, in Lake Tahoe, Ca. Lot of snow in winter ....I use Fresh Start 100% Acrylic as my standard primer but I'll use the oil base for this. ..... several coats of thinned primer so it would have deeper penatration . ...
by vance galliher
Wed Jul 18, 2007 11:44 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: gilded bird..........
Replies: 11
Views: 7139

bird

Mike/Doug, do you guys have any suggestons? Mike, I spoke with Bill Blumberg yesterday,and he mentioned your eagle on the attorney's sign....had to tone it down with asphaltum. That may be a possibility on this piece
by vance galliher
Tue Jul 17, 2007 5:21 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: gilded bird..........
Replies: 11
Views: 7139

bird......

thanks Kelley just spoke with Rodger,but he's never worked with Port Orford Cedar.....he also said latex primer would be fine, ....and I'm just not certain about that. I called a close friend of mine ,Gary Rhodes, who carves a lot of wood, and he says don't use latex primer.......? I wish there was ...
by vance galliher
Tue Jul 17, 2007 11:57 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: gilded bird..........
Replies: 11
Views: 7139

gilded bird..........

I'm preparing to gild a fairly large bird carved from Port Orford Cedar. I plan to prime/paint/size/gild. My questions are: What should I thin the slow size with to make it sprayable......... What primer- water or solvent........Should I shellac the wood before priming, I think the cedar is somewhat...
by vance galliher
Sat Jul 14, 2007 1:28 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Original Dead Men
Replies: 686
Views: 2083374

deadman....

I'll miss not being there
by vance galliher
Sun Jun 24, 2007 11:00 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Looking for an MDO alternative
Replies: 23
Views: 18621

mdo..medex

Rod, I stopped using MDO years ago because of what you stated, and like Kelly, Medex is more than a four letters for exterior work. In the earlier 90's a lot of signmakers here in Oregon thought Medex was the perfect substrate......a local product, easy to tool and shape, smooth face...just round ov...
by vance galliher
Thu Jun 21, 2007 11:29 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: New web site look and update
Replies: 9
Views: 5036

site....

Hi Rod, I like your new site! Lots of detailed description about the possibilities with glass work. Like Dennis, I like close-up , but it looks great ! I appreciate your pricing some of the work. I price my work much like you. I'm always curious about what others charge..... putting a price on this ...
by vance galliher
Thu Jun 21, 2007 9:39 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Mask(s) for glass glue chipping
Replies: 5
Views: 3682

masking

Dennis, I use Venture as well and get it from CRL Kent Washington. !-800-421 6144.......Product #SB818......18" x 60' $145.00
by vance galliher
Wed Mar 14, 2007 9:34 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Does anyone collect all the SignCraft collector cards?
Replies: 19
Views: 13713

cards....

I have 62....does that make me a collector ?
by vance galliher
Sun Feb 11, 2007 8:42 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Advice for practicing lettering daily
Replies: 6
Views: 5200

brush work

.....John, your left-handed question opened a posssibility. What if sometime in the future there was a grathering of northwest left-handers ?....... no right-handers allowed !! ....hahaahaaaaaaaaaa
by vance galliher
Sun Feb 04, 2007 8:50 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: etched tinted glass question....
Replies: 1
Views: 1853

etched tinted glass question....

I've done alot of glass work, but this present work is presenting something new to me. I'm etching some large green tinted (Alantica) 1/4" glass panels. After etching, I move the panel to my water bath area , hose it down and wipe with a scrub pad Pat Mackle told me about....like a schotbrite o...
by vance galliher
Tue Oct 31, 2006 11:47 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Boise workshop was good
Replies: 9
Views: 5942

boise

Thanks Russ for taking the time for the photo work !
by vance galliher
Tue Aug 08, 2006 11:10 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: distressing gold leaf.........
Replies: 5
Views: 4961

distressing gold leaf.........

I'm doing a project for a local cabinet maker who is building several large wooden pieces of furniture that will be finished with a matte black. All the beading detail on moulding and drawers will have 23k gold leaf...over 100' of 1/2" bead gilding,.......... . I would use transfer tape to mask...
by vance galliher
Sat Aug 05, 2006 11:36 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Chipping insulated glass units
Replies: 2
Views: 2485

chipping

Hi Dan, I would proceed with your approach.....don't see any potential problems ......but as always, just see it thru beforehand.....I enjoyed our visits.......
by vance galliher
Thu Jun 01, 2006 8:11 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Roderick Treece latest Glass Art
Replies: 6
Views: 4394

knights......

very nice piece Roderick ! Like to see a few closeups.........Just curious, why did you use vinyl as a mask rather then paintmask ?
by vance galliher
Wed May 24, 2006 9:57 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: New Look for the Forum
Replies: 9
Views: 5678

new format....

I like that I can now print info again in "portrait" layout and get all the words on. However, the green is a bit glarning and overpowering for my eyesight.......but I can live with that... Thanks for the effort Mike.
by vance galliher
Wed May 10, 2006 12:00 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: airbrushing slow size?
Replies: 5
Views: 4637

slow sizing

A follow-up to the gilded letter……..Whenever I lay size, I really try to pay close attention to what I’m doing. I always go back over and re-examine the area I just sized to make sure I didn’t miss a little spot in the corner, an errant brush hair, a small run, bug, or whatnot. After waiting...
by vance galliher
Sun Apr 30, 2006 6:35 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: airbrushing slow size?
Replies: 5
Views: 4637

slow size spray

Went to Harbor Freight and got a nice little hvlp gun (5 oz) for 60 bucks. I think it did a great job, didn't need to thin size anymore and didn't use very much material either...., not nearly as much as I would have had I brushed it. A nice thin layer. We'll see tomorrow night when I lay the leaf.....
by vance galliher
Sat Apr 29, 2006 5:34 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: airbrushing slow size?
Replies: 5
Views: 4637

airbrushing slow size?

I have a large gemini letter ( 2"x18"x26") to gild. I'm thinking of airbrushing it LaFranc slow size. I've added a little mineral spirit to thin the size but it still spudders, so I need to add more. My concern is how much thinner can I add without screwing up the size tacting ? Thank...
by vance galliher
Wed Mar 15, 2006 11:46 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Chipping in Snow County - Mike, Doug, or anyone
Replies: 26
Views: 19815

chipping..

thanks for following up on thist Doug, I await Dave's reply .......... someone has to know how to get more consistency with chipping. Its becoming a large part of my work and I ... well better know how to do it. When I get that nice architectual job with all the chipped/gold glass panels, I don't wh...
by vance galliher
Mon Mar 13, 2006 1:46 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Chipping in Snow County - Mike, Doug, or anyone
Replies: 26
Views: 19815

gluechipping

Hi Ron, don't get me started.....hhaaahaaa ..glue chipping, the thing I'm doing more of and knowing less about ? Humidity is key in this process so I'm told........31% is ideal .....My hot box is exactly like Rick"s, and it gets 110 f / 31 -40 % h....and at times I still wait days for the chip ...
by vance galliher
Wed Mar 08, 2006 9:33 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Compressor Questions
Replies: 10
Views: 5270

compressors

expect to pay about $2,000 for a good one.....have fun
by vance galliher
Wed Mar 08, 2006 8:51 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Compressor Questions
Replies: 10
Views: 5270

compressors....

Doug, no we both know what the real difference is !......thanks Pat,...... great explanation.
by vance galliher
Wed Mar 08, 2006 11:03 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Compressor Questions
Replies: 10
Views: 5270

compressors...

Hi Doug, the only thing I would add to the requirements is make sure its a two-stage. I'm mainly doing glass work now and no longer have to wait for the compressor to catch up with me. It has brought the fun back into blasting........
by vance galliher
Thu Jan 12, 2006 1:31 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: to those who use a dehumidifier for chipping..........
Replies: 2
Views: 2615

to those who use a dehumidifier for chipping..........

I have a hot box much like rick had with 4 heat lamps and a small fan, and it get to 110 temp with 31-40 humidity. It has worked fairly well. Today I bought a Whirlpool 25 pint dehumidifier ($150). I'm going to build a larger space, like maybe a 4'x4'x8' box in the corner of the room for my new appl...
by vance galliher
Sat Jan 07, 2006 1:56 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: flash gilding
Replies: 9
Views: 5954

flash

...just a footnote. Every scew-up is a great learning time for me ........I always try to be with the ....."what if"....Granted, there are "right ways" to do certain steps to acheive certain results......and then there are times when you invent......... "glue chipping"....
by vance galliher
Sat Jan 07, 2006 12:47 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: flash gilding
Replies: 9
Views: 5954

speaking of flash.......

I was just looking through the sepp leaf book...making a list , and on that list was mica powders ....I love mica powders ! I can do anything I want to with them.... if I can think it, I can test it !!.....like Mike and Larry say.."Do lots of tests" ..that's the learning time !...............
by vance galliher
Tue Dec 27, 2005 5:36 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: problem in printing post from this forum
Replies: 8
Views: 4038

printing....

Hi Danny,...........my pc is the same as mac for print setup, but it doesn't solve the problem. A friend said just select all, copy and paste in Word, then print. That does works, but I would rather not have to go to the extra step. On other bulletin boards everything print fine in "portraits&q...