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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
Tue Nov 07, 2006 6:10 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Photo Resist for glass etch
Replies: 2
Views: 2247

Re: Photo Resist for glass etch

"Someone here knows all about it and has made the mistakes already."

Who that be???

Pat
by Patrick Mackle
Tue Nov 07, 2006 1:45 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Images on Tile
Replies: 9
Views: 5070

Kelly, Some ideas come to my mind. You could blast them with photoresist and then, instead of paint, fill them with a sturdy grout of colored portland cement with an acrylic additive for extra bonding strength. This cement fill would have a non-glare finish against the glaze of the tile. Also, this ...
by Patrick Mackle
Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:11 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: GOLD LEAF restoration project...I need advice please..Update
Replies: 12
Views: 7169

Just a quick note before I head to lunch. The black brush writing "Parl. Bldgs" on the backing board has to be an abbreviation for Parliment Buildings. Seems like they recycled some crateing wood as backing. Pretty cool, who would think a sign would double as a time capsule! On an added no...
by Patrick Mackle
Tue Oct 31, 2006 5:34 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Boise workshop was good
Replies: 9
Views: 5943

Russ,
Thank you for taking such a great collection of pictures! This is a wonderful archive for members that couldn't attend to return to and draw upon.
I appreciate the time you spent putting this together. I know that I will be returning to view them again.

Pat
by Patrick Mackle
Wed Oct 18, 2006 12:29 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Brilliant Cutting
Replies: 13
Views: 10601

Hi Larry, I first met Andreas Lehman and also Thomas Tisch (Google his website) who is also a master glass cutter. Both learned their trade, I believe in Germany or Austria. I met them back in 1981 or 1982 at a glass conference called "Portcon" that was held in San Diego. I got into the co...
by Patrick Mackle
Fri Oct 13, 2006 11:09 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Original Dead Men
Replies: 686
Views: 2084423

Blake,
Just tell 'um that you poured the foundation too thick!
On first glance I had thought that you took that Machine sign to the hotel in Cerro Gordo, until I recognized the block wall.
There's room on the side for a ghost sign and skulls too!
Twill
by Patrick Mackle
Tue Oct 10, 2006 10:16 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Silver mirroring and ONE SHOT
Replies: 3
Views: 2727

One shot is an oil base enamel, the petroleum base could have a sulphur trace.
by Patrick Mackle
Thu Sep 14, 2006 7:39 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: 1915 Fire Engine - Gold Leaf on yellow?
Replies: 12
Views: 9491

Kelly, Thank you for the continueing update. I personally, (and I am sure I'm not alone) am deeply into older vehicles and their restoration. Especially when those assigned dig up all the actual-original tidbits and proceedures. To me its kind of like in the film Farhenhiet 451, where individuals be...
by Patrick Mackle
Wed Aug 23, 2006 8:08 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Original Dead Men
Replies: 686
Views: 2084423

Nice work Larry, as clean and neat as any that I've come to expect from your hand. Light plays many tricks where etched or frosted glass is involved. Between light transmission or reflection the etched tones on the glass can turn from art positive to art negative just from a simple head tilt or a li...
by Patrick Mackle
Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:13 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: nice texture
Replies: 13
Views: 8232

Entertaining to hear your account of how they did their etching. Also 70% hf is difficult to obtain anymore in my experience. I wonder if they make their own or buy it around 51% and increase the % themselves. Your post reminds me of all the acid etching experiments I did long ago trying to learn an...
by Patrick Mackle
Thu Aug 17, 2006 1:54 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: nice texture
Replies: 13
Views: 8232

Face down acid embossing... probably done in China, I mean am I close?...am I right? ...Milwaukee? ... What do you think Pat? -Larry Yes sir, definatley acid etched face down right here in the US. I'm a little surprised to learn that they use asphaltum as the resist, I would think they might also u...
by Patrick Mackle
Mon Aug 07, 2006 4:35 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Cigar box guitars
Replies: 0
Views: 3044

Cigar box guitars

Found this website by chance. It has some old cigar boxes with label art that were incorporated into instruments. The DEXTER box has a neat logo.
(The oddmusic site also has music sound clips of odd instruments, check out the beer bottle pipe organ playing Elenor Rigby.)
Go to www.oddmusic.com

Pat
by Patrick Mackle
Thu Jul 27, 2006 4:03 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: making angel gilding more "yellow"
Replies: 8
Views: 5961

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. Doug may be on to something her...
by Patrick Mackle
Sun Jul 23, 2006 11:53 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Dave Smith's Silver Stain up-date
Replies: 3
Views: 2449

Doug,
Thanks for helping Dave. Another award winning eye desert from Dave's Kitchen! I can see him now, slaving over a hot kiln wearing insulated mits, like the Julia Child of glass decorating, or Wolf-glass Puch!
He's on a role!! Now its silver stain, next ingredient, glass enamels- yummm

Pat
by Patrick Mackle
Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:15 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Victorian Silver Staining
Replies: 7
Views: 4913

Hi all. Dave and I have become interested in silver staining glass. I've been working on duplicating a replacement of silver stained and wheel cut glass for an 1800's antique gypsy caravan wagon. I bought some silver stains from Reusche Company, but they didn't fire up to a deep amber. They required...
by Patrick Mackle
Thu Jul 06, 2006 6:39 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Cleaning and abradeing screens
Replies: 4
Views: 3301

I seldom find it necessary to abrade my screens whether scooping or using indirect film. I know a film chemist that creates a specialized adhesive component that is applied to screen films to make them bond to the screen for long printing run endurance. But when I did want to add a tooth to the scre...
by Patrick Mackle
Fri Jun 30, 2006 3:38 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: silver mirroring and angel guilding
Replies: 1
Views: 1963

Roderick, As it was explained to me years ago, there are two types of "distilled" water. With everybody trying to keep profits or turn an easy buck you have to watch out for yourself. Apparently "distilled" water may be manufactured by either filtering (reverse osmossis" and...
by Patrick Mackle
Tue Jun 27, 2006 5:49 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Just lucky I guess...
Replies: 4
Views: 3227

Very nice work Doug. Feels good don't it!
Pat
by Patrick Mackle
Thu Mar 30, 2006 6:19 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Old Glass Sign Images...
Replies: 1
Views: 2014

Wow- Thank you Larry for the lead. In viewing the antique chipped glass signs supposed to have been found in the old Western Sandblasting building, it looks like Western didn't have the ability or knowhow to get the quality of chip that 'ol Rawson & Evans were able to perform on their signs. I s...
by Patrick Mackle
Fri Mar 24, 2006 12:41 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Chipping in Snow County - Mike, Doug, or anyone
Replies: 26
Views: 19819

Hello All. My hard drive crashed- remedy= down time and BIG bucks at tax time!! Positive side-It's a rippin' monster now. In answer to Dave's lead to different glass hardness. It is true that glass varies in hardness to the fact it will cut or glue chip differently. Just tempering regular plate glas...
by Patrick Mackle
Fri Mar 17, 2006 8:24 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Chipping in Snow County - Mike, Doug, or anyone
Replies: 26
Views: 19819

Great post Dave. You have made some keen odservations on the preliminary stages of applying the glue AND initial drying prior to involving heat and inducing a dehumidified environment. I believe variations of these preliminary proceedures once defined and catagorized will answer our long asked quest...
by Patrick Mackle
Mon Mar 13, 2006 1:22 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Let the chips fall where they may.
Replies: 4
Views: 3547

Roderick, I don't see how a hydrometer will work in this instance. They are used to determine the specific weight of salts or acids in water, and even then if the fluid being tested was too viscous it would fowl the displacement of the hydrometer. I believe a simple viscometer as I mentioned earlier...
by Patrick Mackle
Wed Mar 08, 2006 9:46 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Let the chips fall where they may.
Replies: 4
Views: 3547

I was given notes by a practicing decendent of Rawson & Evans that they ALWAYS reused the glue, and only added new glue to maintain the batch. Sadly the information was passed on in a deathbed situation, so there was not the best detailed step by step recording of the proceedure. The note stated...
by Patrick Mackle
Wed Mar 08, 2006 7:24 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Compressor Questions
Replies: 10
Views: 5271

Two stage compressor pumps have two or three cylinders. Single stages can also have two cylinders. The difference is that on the 2 stage, air is drawn into the first cylinder, compressed and sent to the second cylinder which is a smaller cylinder which therefore compresses that same volume of air to...
by Patrick Mackle
Mon Mar 06, 2006 10:44 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Compressor Questions
Replies: 10
Views: 5271

There are 7hp 220v single phase motors but they are less common and more expensive. At that point you may as well consider moving up to a 3 phase motor if you currently have 3 phase service. Probably more efficient and a little cheaper to run. You could employ a "motor generator" with whic...
by Patrick Mackle
Sat Mar 04, 2006 10:00 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Compressor Questions
Replies: 10
Views: 5271

Doug, The sander will require the most air, as it generally is used continueously. The HVLP can also use alot on large surfaces. If you are only spraying a few square feet with pauses inbetween you can get by with a smaller compressor. The nailer should not be a problem unless you are roofing with a...
by Patrick Mackle
Thu Feb 02, 2006 6:34 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Glue won't adhere
Replies: 6
Views: 5673

Brian, Animal glue does not get old easily. I store mine in big plastic trash cans. Have kept some of it since 1980. I also recycle the chipped glue many times. Your description sounds like the glue hadn't adhered tightly to the glass. This will happen if the proceedure is rushed, especially if you ...
by Patrick Mackle
Tue Jan 31, 2006 11:49 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Rawson & Evans sign,what does it say?
Replies: 9
Views: 5776

You realize Larry, it's only a temporary condition lingering from that spectacular step by step REVERSE glass sign project. You MUST do another to counteract this condition!
by Patrick Mackle
Mon Jan 30, 2006 4:58 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Rawson & Evans sign,what does it say?
Replies: 9
Views: 5776

The info is repeated below on the foot signs.

Laarry, I just figured it out. The little panel to the LEFT of Evans says "&"
Thought ya fooled us didya?? Nyuk-Nyuk
Pat
by Patrick Mackle
Mon Jan 30, 2006 1:23 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Embossed Glass - From "Decorative Glass Processes"
Replies: 3
Views: 3214

William, I first found the book Decorative Glass Processes by Duthie in the late "70's. It was in a Ohio library. They were nice enough to lend it to me through the L.A. library. I had a burning desire to learn about french embossing. I had accidentally seen my first examples in an antiques war...