Tubelite is in NJ, there is also Glantz, they are everywhere and been around a long time.

Hey John, I can say, because I just did one.... I used japan lampblack and Quick rubbing varnish, and didn't have too much build at all. I just mixed enough rubbing varnish in the japan to smooth it out to be a nice thin medium. It brushed well and covered alright. I never added any thinners to it. ...

Hi Mike, I have bought many a student software, most times about 70% off retail! Anyway, no lesser version than the full retail stuff besides it says Academic Edition. Why would they short change the people learning those programs to live by? There was a place in Ocean NJ, I forget the name, but the...

Hey Hedley, As far as I know, sables only have the metal seemless ferrule. They have a chisel edge and have much more snap to them. Perfect for the letterstyles you do, by the way, NICE stuff! Sables are more money, my favorites are the LUCO 6999 They are more durable too. They come from a different...

Lets see.... I will tell you all I know about brushes, but I am pretty new to the whole thing too. Browns are softer that grays, grays are better for learning with. Browns are best for gold on glass work (won't scratch the gold) Quills are more flexible than say flats or rounds, and quills are affix...

Oh, yes, I've done that too..... The inside and outside of a roll of tape, Quarts, Pints, Half-Pints and Quarter-Pints..... Paper cups, beer bottles

Si, thanks for the formula, I will be sure to never forget that one. Got any other formulas you'd like to share with budding sign painters?
So, is it always: L (Feet) x 12 (To break it into inches)= X/ Number of strokes and spaces= Width of strokes and spaces?
Just want to be sure I have it right.

What Mike said.

I was referring to old office doors with the frosted look, and my truck has the dark tinted back windows. I am not sure of your situation, so I just offered you info on what you asked.
Good luck!

Hi there, I am in no way an authority on this, but I imagine you can do it like they do lots of office doors, paint your lettering on in black then when that is dry, size and gild, clear and outline to seal the edges. This is how I IMAGINE it is done. Probably do the initial lettering (black) in Jap...

Hey thanks Ron,

I had sent him an e-mail a few months ago, and never heard back. Anyway, it may have been a too complex question about decalomania. Anyway, I will give him a shout.

Doesn't Esoteric still sell them?
I could've sworn they said they still have them.

Hey, I will get that picture as well as others when I go back to NJ in 2 weeks. The StovePipe letterstyle is in the book: 222 Alphabets for All Occasions by Lonnie Tettaton. Published by Nutwood Publishing Co., St. Louis, MO; 1983. 8-1/2 x 11 in., spiral bound, 124 pages I have the book and it is qu...

Look up Lazer Lines.com He has Raphaels and also when he buys his brushes he keeps the good ones to sell and sends the rest back. I have never bought from him, but that is what folks say about him. I have almost a lifetime stock of old French Masters for myself, and a whole bunch of Mack grey quills...

Hey, Great Photo! They look like mono width letters, where all the letters are the same width except for the letters W & I, but that is the width of one of the strokes. There is a guy in NJ that bangs stuff out quick like that, on school buses and any low paying quick jobs. I have actually lette...

I was reading in AutoArt Magazine the article about Ken Soderbeck, the famed Gilder of Fire Apparatus ( http://www-personal.umich.edu/~oats/restore/ ) He had mentioned that once he was told the secret about making scrolls, it was so easy from then on. Anyone read the article and know what he was tal...

All I can think is that there are 2 curves working against you to screen it on there, then there is the rough surface.... I would say do 'em all by hand and make sure the paint is thick, so it won't bleed. Another idea is to shallac the barrels first which'll give you a smoother non porous surface. ...

Less than one of your fabulous glass pieces...... but more than the cost of supplies.
Or an off season ticket from NY to Munich.

Thanks everybody, Yes, I have decided to make copies available, right now looking at putting it on CD in PDF format. Other ideas are welcome. Will let everyone know when and how much soon. Jeff Lang offered a spot for me to sell it in the Letterheads in the Etcetra section. Look for it soon...... I ...

Hey guys, After signing up for my 2yr subscription for the Letterheads Magazine, I got the Vol. 9 Num. 1 International Issue which covered the book: Der praktische Schildermaler (The Practical SignPainter) from 1910 by H. J. Jedlitschka. I fell in love with the color plates and layouts etc. I search...

Since I will be out there the last week in February for a wedding in Vegas, maybe you can schedule it around then sometime? I really want to go! I can leave the GF with my parents and hang out with sign folks. I was hoping to breeze out to John Studden's place while I was there too. John, if you're ...

I too am interested, how hot is it there now?
What is the temp like in the winter?
Sometimes it is nice to get away from the cold.

Hey Geet, I am a big fan of Motorbooks, as a motorhead I get their catalog all the time. I will have to buy that one. Thank you. As for old sign guys, the oldest one I have met was Bob Fitzgerald, there is a funny story about that (posted somewhere on here) but he told me he was too old and that nob...

I just bought the book seen in AMOL a year or so ago called: Der praktische Schildermaler (The Practical SignPainter) from 1910 by H. J. Jedlitschka. I searched the book online because of its incredible color plates and effects samples, and found only 1 in the whole internet that was a failed auctio...

Ah! Very good advice!
I understand about the x blowing in the wind, especially here in VT where it is quite windy most of the year.

Thanks.
Doug.

Hello, I was asked recently about making a flag for a customer and it will be outside mounted on a pole I want to do it in gold on black. Anyone have any suggestions about how to go about this? Nylon or Canvas? Other? Suppliers of materials? I am thinking I will buy the basic flag in black and do th...

Does anybody know if all that fine intricate stuff was silk screened before leafing or was it all done by hand?
Great tip Jeff, I will use that more often.

Having grown up in NJ, and not knowing there were grafiti magazines.... Must have lived a sheltered life!

Another of my favorite magazines is Juxtapoz, a magazine about all the crazy art being done in the world. Which does from time to time feature grafiti artists.

Hello again, I was always taught that research is the key to successful design, so besides A Magazine About Letterheads and the other Sign mags, what or where do you commonly look for design ideas and Inspiration? Places I have found for good design inspiration: Liquor store, Wine and Whiskey Bottle...

Hey all, I have tried the Opaque projectors before, and liked it. I have looked around at new projectors and the OHP are $300+, whereas the Opaques are from $150+ (for one that seems decent). Haven't had a chance to look for used ones. I have also done the draw it then scan it then clean it up.... w...

Hey, thanks for the good tips! So, does the overhead work with velum and tracing type papers? Or does it need to be a full transparency? I am a minimalist, that is why at 31yo I am doing everything by hand, so I am trying to do away with having to scan things and print them out etc. I am also trying...