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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 477 matches

by Patrick Mackle
Thu Feb 21, 2008 4:17 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Finished Glass Picture
Replies: 13
Views: 8088

Wow Kelly, that turned out really nice. The frame is perfect for it as well.
I would be temped to make a silicone mold of the other repairable frame and then produce several more copies in the likelihood of future inspirations.
Nicely executed technique for sure.
Pat
by Patrick Mackle
Tue Feb 19, 2008 8:48 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Red Bell Glass Panel
Replies: 16
Views: 9783

Dave, Linseed oil and whiteing were key components in glazer's putty. I would saturate that old putty with mineral spirits or paint thinner and allow it to soak in. After it has soaked in well, I would test a razor blade in coaxing it off. One added idea would be to carefully belt sand the majority ...
by Patrick Mackle
Fri Feb 15, 2008 8:03 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Hard Water and Silvering
Replies: 10
Views: 5375

I just order it through the same guy that supplies my bottled water (Sparkletts)
It comes in the same style polycarbonate 5 gallon bottle as purified but with a green colored plastic cap to signify distilled.
Ask for "steam distilled" instead of filtered.
Pat
by Patrick Mackle
Wed Feb 06, 2008 1:00 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Havana Cigar glass
Replies: 11
Views: 6616

I took a minute to scale this sign. If one of the two tallest gents to the right were 6 foot (70") tall, the visible glass would be near 53" in height X 169" in length. Add an inch to each measurement to include the rest of the bevel in the frame. It took a herd of cows just to chip t...
by Patrick Mackle
Tue Feb 05, 2008 12:43 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Old Ironworks Sign
Replies: 1
Views: 1563

Ooohh, back in the day when there were no sign codes. The things you had to do before neon to be recognized.
Pat
by Patrick Mackle
Mon Feb 04, 2008 12:33 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Havana Cigar glass
Replies: 11
Views: 6616

These pieces appear to be screened off of the exact same art master, but in these photos it looks like the letter centers were done differently. The one on EBay is fully pearl chips, the one at Rick's looks as if they used the pearl sparingly and then applied a textured silver aluminum foil. Any inp...
by Patrick Mackle
Thu Jan 31, 2008 1:19 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: tool tales
Replies: 7
Views: 3880

Speaking of lathes and long hair took me back when I worked machine shops. I was beginning the day deburring metal rings on a Swiss deburring lathe. I had remembered to wear my goggles, but had left my cap in the coffee room. While chucking up only the second ring of the batch, it dropped down into ...
by Patrick Mackle
Tue Jan 29, 2008 10:43 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Applying Printed paper to glass with a varnish
Replies: 9
Views: 4672

Dave, I was thinking about your posted question and the thought came to me that those paper prints may have been attached with simple animal glue thinned down with water to the consistency of postage stamp or envelope glue. The water in the glue would naturally relax the paper making it mate well to...
by Patrick Mackle
Thu Jan 24, 2008 1:15 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Lola
Replies: 16
Views: 9526

And so ends a chapter in that great golden book of my life that I will quietly take pleasure in reviewing when my time comes to an end. "The story of Rick and Lola" and the wonderful memories and friendly faces that encompassed their lives and enriched my own. As recently posted, I had jus...
by Patrick Mackle
Thu Jan 17, 2008 1:03 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: THREAD CABINET
Replies: 6
Views: 4220

Bobbie,
You did a fine job, and thank you for pix of the finished project. Although I've etched replacements for these cabinets, I have never seen the complete cabinet only details of damaged glass to be matched.
Pat
by Patrick Mackle
Wed Jan 16, 2008 4:26 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Gold Glass Cast Letters and Cut and hand bevelled letters
Replies: 7
Views: 4854

You are right Danny. The "original" poor man's horizontal hot glue gun, with the added advantage of heating the object being applied = more working time.
Pat
PS it just might appear that I am not a man of few words. :-)

A Wildwest Proverb: Don't waste time talk'n when you otta be shootin.
by Patrick Mackle
Wed Jan 16, 2008 2:00 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Gold Glass Cast Letters and Cut and hand bevelled letters
Replies: 7
Views: 4854

My guess on the adhesive method for these letters would be the same mixture that was used to adhere those slumped and gilded apothecary labels to the indented bottles. That was a mixture of rosin and beeswax. The mixture can be adjusted according to the temperature in the area. ie: more or less wax....
by Patrick Mackle
Tue Jan 15, 2008 7:34 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: La Azora Cigar sign Step-by-step...
Replies: 33
Views: 39279

Mental Tuesday? I like it!
I'll be following your steps on this piece Larry.
Thanks for the mastery.
Pat
by Patrick Mackle
Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:34 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Gold Glass Cast Letters and Cut and hand bevelled letters
Replies: 7
Views: 4854

Dave, You have two different types of letters shown. The rounded dimensional letters are the type that were first shown to me by Rick Glawson as I entered his shop one day. He asked me how I thought they were made. I thought about the era of their production and what would have been available to mak...
by Patrick Mackle
Tue Jan 15, 2008 12:51 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: practice piece
Replies: 4
Views: 2926

Catharine, Can you explain some more. Is that on a larger piece of glass, or cut to pattern shape? Was the black line screen printed and fired in a kiln, or air dry ink? I can see the textile through the colors, what part if any was gilded, or what are gilding colors exactly? Its a nice piece, I'm c...
by Patrick Mackle
Tue Jan 15, 2008 12:43 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Kilns
Replies: 6
Views: 3815

Kelly, I would like to pass this thought along. Many notable glass artists began as ceramics people and eventually migrated to glass. Some say they wished they had found glass art sooner in their life. Glass is really hot right now especially in building and furnishings. Glass is worked at lower tem...
by Patrick Mackle
Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:42 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Kilns
Replies: 6
Views: 3815

Kelly, Trying to build a kiln for both glass and pottery will basically result in a mutant kiln that will present weaknesses for either interest. Kiln technology is higher now than ever. Pottery kilns are constructed of bricks whereas most warm glass kilns are incorporating fiber board, vermiculite ...
by Patrick Mackle
Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:34 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Chipping Without Blasting
Replies: 5
Views: 3630

Brilliant Sarah! My friends ask how I stay thin while they are constantly battling their weight- Hey, its the Sandblast Diet! Makes more sense than most of them.
Pat
by Patrick Mackle
Wed Jan 09, 2008 5:51 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Chipping Without Blasting
Replies: 5
Views: 3630

I dunno Sarah. I read your post and it left me with an odd feeling somehow. Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment, but chip'n without blast'n feels like the notion of
eating a candy bar without tasting it.
Do the scratch lines on the unchipped glass show up between the chips?
Pat
by Patrick Mackle
Mon Jan 07, 2008 6:52 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: W.D. LANE ,ABBEY DAIRY GLASS SIGNS ,BATH ENGLAND
Replies: 7
Views: 5019

The odd shape of the sign and the visible left side crack suggests that the ends were somehow damaged to the point that someone added those slats to cover the breakage, while leaving the main advertising to still remain readable. A penny saved?
Pat
by Patrick Mackle
Mon Jan 07, 2008 12:57 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: The Hensley Co.
Replies: 85
Views: 78654

Hi Carol, Yes your memory is correct although the bike was not cut. The body is made in two halves and either side can be removed. I attended a motorcycle reunion at the Pomona Ca. Fairgrounds last year specifically for Indian Motorcycle owners. Dean's Indian was the main exhibit placed on a rotatin...
by Patrick Mackle
Fri Jan 04, 2008 6:30 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: how would you remove a ghost......
Replies: 3
Views: 2937

Vance, Having not seen this glass, several causes come to mind. My guess on theirs is paint residue in the weathered surface. Cerium would be far too fine and would not reach the paint until you polished the glass down to the paint. I would suggest using a cleanser like Ajax or Comet and water. Try ...
by Patrick Mackle
Fri Jan 04, 2008 1:40 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: glue chipping question
Replies: 10
Views: 5646

Hi Ron, That PVC cap is at my other shop but I remember it to be a 2 1/2" white pipe cap with a rounded bottom. I drilled a 3/16" hole in the center of the dome. You could also drill a hole into a stainless soup ladle, I chose the PVC because the glue falls off when it drys. I attached a m...
by Patrick Mackle
Fri Jan 04, 2008 1:29 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: The Hensley Co.
Replies: 85
Views: 78654

Hi Kent,
Speaking of faulty memory I edited my post to correctly say Bob McDaniels (not Daniels) and tan and copper Econoline.
That info was in my memory, I just could not access it at that moment.

Thank you Catherine, I love to try and paint pictures with words.

Pat
by Patrick Mackle
Wed Jan 02, 2008 7:36 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: glue chipping question
Replies: 10
Views: 5646

Re: glue chipping question

Happy New Year to all! I'm looking for tips on how much water to add to dried (previously activated and leftover) hide glue so I can use it for anthother round of glue chipping. Thanks- Catharine :D It can be difficult to accurately weigh the used glue due to the added glass chips mixed in. To get ...
by Patrick Mackle
Wed Jan 02, 2008 6:58 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: glue chipping question
Replies: 10
Views: 5646

Hi Cat...thanks for posting the question. I don't have an answer to your question, but I would like to ask one of my own. What is the proper way to store the unused glue? Is it poured into a plastic container and placed in the refrigerator or freezer? Has anyone every used one of those vacuum seale...
by Patrick Mackle
Wed Jan 02, 2008 5:11 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: The Hensley Co.
Replies: 85
Views: 78654

That is definitely a Hensley piece. Also Dean had the shaper blades used to shape the oak frame stock custom made and only gave them to the frame maker long enough to mill the wood, then he would collect them back to avoid pirating. He was plagued with knockoffs and cheap mass imitations. Dean was f...
by Patrick Mackle
Thu Dec 27, 2007 12:58 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Restored glass signs for pub
Replies: 24
Views: 18564

Very nice Dave. I'm sure they would be even more delightful viewed in person across the rim of a pint.
Pat
by Patrick Mackle
Fri Dec 21, 2007 6:28 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Original Dead Men
Replies: 686
Views: 2085016

Now, if you could train that forklift to weed out those little squares....

Pat
by Patrick Mackle
Mon Dec 17, 2007 5:39 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Visiting with Lola
Replies: 5
Views: 3493

Visiting with Lola

I finished an on site etching job near Lola's house and dropped by to see her. She seems to being doing well, her spirits are well but she is burdened with her arthritic knees that were forecasting the coming rain. She reminded me that as of this March 11th it will be 5 years since we lost Rick. She...