Enameling

[Rick Sacks]

A project I'm asked to bid on for a municipal park involves some enameled signs with a written guarantee against fading for 25 years. Is such a thing possible?

[Mike Jackson]

Rick,
I'd call Noel on that one. He has been doing them off and on for a few years and should have some specs. I'd also contact whoever you plan on using to make the signs and get their guarantee.

Let's see, you are probably over 50. Your business will probably be long gone and you will be fishing in the ocean in another 25 years. Porcelean Enamel signs are probably more prone to theft, or being dinged with a rock than fade.

Good luck on the project,
Mike Jackson

[Roderick Treece]

Rick,
I had a chance a while ago to bid on some porcelain signs.What I came up with was the following.As Mike mensioned Noel Weber and also Winsor fire form in Olympia Washington. 360 768 8200.But be warned it is very expensive.
I have wanted to learn how to do it for a long time .I know that Noel has a class but I never heard back from him about,If you hear of any thing let me know.Hope your doing good

Thanks Roderick

[William Holohan]

I once saw part of the process by accident in Virginia Beach, Va. about 35 years ago.
Had no knowledge of the sign business at the time, but was fascinated by what I saw.

From what I gathered, the white background on the signs this gent was doing were fired first in a large kiln shaped like an oversized pizza oven.
High Temp Glaze is what he said.

Then a screen very much like a silk screen (but much thicker) was placed over them, and the lettering sprayed on with what looked very similar to an automotive spray paint gun. Screen removed and allowed to dry overnight, then refired. He said the sprayed on letters were a different temp glaze. Lower?

Wish I had asked more questions...

They were parking signs for the Naval Air Station at Oceana