Posted by Bill Masters on April 04, 2003
Mike JacksonI contacted Sherwin Williams and they still make asphaltum,the smallest container you can buy is 5 gallons,so go to your friendly neighborhood Sherwin Williams and ask for Black Asphaltum #V74B2 and they will order it.I ordered 5 gallons today,my cost was $22.95 a gallon,the wb site also sent me a pdf file describing the product,so anyone wants the file email me and I will send it to you.
Bill, sounds like you should have a lifetime supply of asphaltum, unless you decide to go into the roofing business! Smaller amounts can be purchased through a variety of sources, including printmaking suppliers and art stores.
Someone mentioned buying some roofing materials, which they said worked fine for them...was it Lee Littlewood? Anyway, I should mention that we bought a quart of the roofing tar from our local lumber yard one time. I think the manufacturer was The National Asphaltum Company of all things. I thought at the time I had found a cheap local source, but when I opend the can at home, it was very gritty. It felt like sand particles were added to the mixture. Needless to say, we didn't use it for the glass signs.
The asphaltum you are buying from Sherwin Williams will most likely be the same material Rick repackaged in smaller quantities for us.
Thanks for the note,
Mike Jackson
Denver Chapter of the Letterheads