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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.

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by joe cieslowski
Wed Jan 26, 2011 1:52 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Traditional carved ribbon sternboard
Replies: 3
Views: 2419

Traditional carved ribbon sternboard

Nothing facy here.....two layers of 1" HDU, hand carved, gilded about 48" long finished with latex. If there is any interest, I took a lot of step x step photos I could post. http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll131/jmakinchips/004-6.jpg http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll131/jmakinchips...
by joe cieslowski
Thu Jan 20, 2011 4:44 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Little Birdie
Replies: 7
Views: 3765

Re: Little Birdie

Anthony,

Different brands and weights are different colors. I use the Duna brand, 20lb (per cubic ft.).
Their 15lb. is green.

The 20lb is about $260+ for a 4x8. I charge about $20 per sq. foot.....there's a little profit in there :)

Joe
by joe cieslowski
Thu Jan 20, 2011 2:05 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Little Birdie
Replies: 7
Views: 3765

Re: Little Birdie

Anthony,

The top photo is the HDU from Duna.....20 lb. All the shots are of the same piece.

Joe
by joe cieslowski
Thu Jan 20, 2011 1:24 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Little Birdie
Replies: 7
Views: 3765

Re: Little Birdie finished

12"x30", HDU with latex finish. The bird is in a 5" circle.

Image

Image

Joe
by joe cieslowski
Wed Jan 19, 2011 3:31 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Little Birdie
Replies: 7
Views: 3765

Re: Little Birdie.....painted

Here he is all painted up.

Image

Joe,

Makin Chip$ and Havin Fun!
by joe cieslowski
Sun Jan 16, 2011 9:19 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Little Birdie
Replies: 7
Views: 3765

Little Birdie

I haven't posted a project in a while, so here's a little one. The last time I used this motif was on a "Farm" sign for TV/Movie actor Robert Montgomery in 1981. He was a big collector of world championship bird carvings. His was a lot bigger than this......this is 5" in dia. and abou...
by joe cieslowski
Mon Aug 16, 2010 1:37 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Acrylic Siding Stain on HDU??
Replies: 1
Views: 1691

Acrylic Siding Stain on HDU??

I'm planning on using a 100% acrylic siding stain on HDU to match an existing sign system (all made from wood). http://www.cabotstain.com/products/product/Solid-Color-Acrylic-Siding-Stain.html?productTypeName=Staining Products I'm thinking..... "No Problem!". Any thoughts or suggestions wi...
by joe cieslowski
Wed Jul 14, 2010 7:34 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Good to be back
Replies: 17
Views: 9978

Re: Good to be back

Both are real beauties!!! Jeff, did you use wood or HDU? I would think that would make a huge difference, Some day I'm going to put together a sample of the rear lit/light reflecting/neon look/whatever it was that I showed you at Atlantic City a few years back. THAT would be totally over the top.......
by joe cieslowski
Wed Jul 14, 2010 7:26 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: gold & glass monument
Replies: 13
Views: 8547

Re: gold & glass monument

I'm amazed!!!!

Where do you guys EVER come up with such great shapes for your signs??? :lol:

Wonderfull job.....nice to have a great support team as well.

Joe
by joe cieslowski
Wed Jul 07, 2010 7:08 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Xacto knife blades
Replies: 5
Views: 3293

Re: Xacto knife blades

Just a short quip here.................

Thank you for not insulting real knives by calling this tool an X-ACTO Knife.

They are X-ACTO'S...............just X-ACTO'S.

:D

Joe
by joe cieslowski
Wed Jun 30, 2010 5:33 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: What are friends for ?
Replies: 11
Views: 5633

Re: What are friends for ?

I'm sorta in this situation right now......it's happened before but it is rare. I was asked to design and price a sign for a rather large animal hospital and their feed and gift shop. It's a larger (size wise) sign that I am no longer comfortable making. Soooooo, I go into town to the "real&quo...
by joe cieslowski
Tue Jun 22, 2010 5:28 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Quills
Replies: 9
Views: 6514

Re: Quills

I know some guys use heat shrink tubing.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat-shrink_tubing

Get it at auto stores or Radio Shack?

Joe
by joe cieslowski
Fri Jun 18, 2010 7:53 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Back to Traditional Signs
Replies: 7
Views: 5422

Re: Back to Traditional Signs

Andrew, Like Doug, I never made the big switch to computers and CNC's. I've been fortunate to have maintained my place in the market despite the wave of technology around me. People see and know the difference mostly because I keep it in front of them. Education, here, is probably the key. Education...
by joe cieslowski
Thu May 27, 2010 4:30 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Clear for a carved Teak boat name panel??
Replies: 8
Views: 5080

Re: Clear for a carved Teak boat name panel??

Teak is tricky because of it's oils.

This is as good advise as there is.....esp last 2 paragraphs.

http://www.essortment.com/hobbies/finis ... a_sezk.htm

Joe
by joe cieslowski
Tue May 11, 2010 8:23 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Mahogany School Crest
Replies: 4
Views: 3055

Mahogany School Crest

Here is one of the two crests that I asked pricing guidance on a couple of months ago. 20" in diameter circle. The Trojan is 13" high and 1/2" thick. http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll131/jmakinchips/005.jpg http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll131/jmakinchips/010.jpg The two took ...
by joe cieslowski
Wed Apr 28, 2010 5:25 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Two Questions ($$)
Replies: 8
Views: 5548

Re: Two Questions ($$)

The"economy" in this area is still pretty slow. It has however weeded out the lowballers and the FBN'ers. The sign business, however, is just dandy! (This info is based on the "real" sign shop in town. :wink: ) My carving business has been quite steady and as every spring arrives...
by joe cieslowski
Sat Mar 27, 2010 7:46 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: "Day Job".......Brookie
Replies: 3
Views: 2197

"Day Job".......Brookie

Here is a mirror frame, 14"x17" eastern white pine. All hand carved, stained with oil stains.........no sanding on the carving. Four hours in the carving and two on the staining. It's cleared with a semi-gloss laquer. It was commisioned by a good customer/collector for an auction at a pret...
by joe cieslowski
Thu Mar 18, 2010 1:38 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Gilding on Sand Blasted Foam
Replies: 17
Views: 8313

Re: Gilding on Sand Blasted Foam

OK, I'll try to keep this simple.... I don't have a problem with drying. Each board is on a shelf with plenty of space between each piece. The shelves even have an open grill pattern so all sides of the piece are exposed to drying. I posted the question as a logical final step to the methods describ...
by joe cieslowski
Thu Mar 18, 2010 12:29 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Gilding on Sand Blasted Foam
Replies: 17
Views: 8313

Re: Gilding on Sand Blasted Foam

Thanks Robare, Unlike your friend, I'm quite anal about reading directions.....usually to a fault. I'm also quite production oriented so I get irritated when I find myself wasting time.......not impatient tho. If it takes 3 hours or 3 days....no problem but I'm not going to wait 3 days when only 3 h...
by joe cieslowski
Thu Mar 18, 2010 7:57 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Gilding on Sand Blasted Foam
Replies: 17
Views: 8313

Re: Gilding on Sand Blasted Foam

Kent, Could you please give me some guidence on drying times. I know they can vary widley depending on conditions. Is there a technique that can be employed universally to determine when each coat is dried properly? Is there an ideal combination of temprature and air movement along with humidity? Th...
by joe cieslowski
Thu Mar 11, 2010 5:41 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Price increase after 7 years???
Replies: 12
Views: 6439

Re: Price increase after 7 years???

And who might be that router owner? :lol:

Aside from doing the 3D programing, this might be a bit of a trick to do this lettering.......it goes slightly up on the inside of the curve near the edge....the lettering might get a little chubby in that area :roll:

Joe
by joe cieslowski
Thu Mar 11, 2010 3:16 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Gilding on Sand Blasted Foam
Replies: 17
Views: 8313

Re: Gilding on Sand Blasted Foam

Jim, Assuming you are talking HDU, prime first wit a high build primer, usually laytex. Sand between coats....2 or 3 may be necessary. Also, make sure the surface is dust free first.....gotta get all the dust outa the pores or the paint won't stick. Two or three topcoats of either laytex or oil pain...
by joe cieslowski
Thu Mar 11, 2010 2:57 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Price increase after 7 years???
Replies: 12
Views: 6439

Re: Price increase after 7 years??? Update

I recieved the 50% deposit this afternoon. I decided to go for a 25% increase.... $1,500 each. I checked what gold cost me then and it was $375. I checked my wood pile and I have enough mahogany already in stock. I also found my cost to "clean up" the copy.....$150. That's still on file so...
by joe cieslowski
Mon Mar 01, 2010 3:17 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Price increase after 7 years???
Replies: 12
Views: 6439

Re: Price increase after 7 years???

Thanks everyone for the input. It was $2,400 for the pair and I was OK with that. The only materials were about 12 bf of mahogany and a little leaf. Even if i double those costs, we're lookin at $60 increase (I have a wholesale source for the mahogany). Last time, I paid someone to "clean up&qu...
by joe cieslowski
Mon Mar 01, 2010 12:14 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Price increase after 7 years???
Replies: 12
Views: 6439

Re: Price increase after 7 years???

Thanks Danny! It is for the same customer and I also made 2 the last time. Both took less than a week to make. They are 22" in dia. x 1" thick (mahogany), made in 2 parts.....the circle and soldier. This time, It will go quicker cause I still have all the patterns. The guy I'm dealing with...
by joe cieslowski
Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:02 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Price increase after 7 years???
Replies: 12
Views: 6439

Price increase after 7 years???

Did this one in '03.

Image

I charged $1,200 then. In your opinion, what would be a fair increase after 7 years.

BTW, I don't have to compete for this job......no cut-rate carvers in my area.

Thanks,

Joe
by joe cieslowski
Wed Feb 24, 2010 11:01 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Sign Painters in North Carolina
Replies: 7
Views: 4635

Re: Sign Painters in North Carolina

Here's a thread about a meet in South carolina. I know a lot of very talented painters will be there.......well worth the trip from anywhere.

http://www.letterville.com/ubb/ultimate ... 54811.html

Joe,
by joe cieslowski
Wed Jan 20, 2010 7:10 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Lincoln Highway mural number 3 . . . Oregon, IL
Replies: 9
Views: 5243

Re: Lincoln Highway mural number 3 . . . Oregon, IL

Aside from the excellent composition and colors, I always love it when an element or two "leave" the frame.....very powerfull.

Keep up the excellent work and thanks for sharing.

Joe,
by joe cieslowski
Sat Jan 09, 2010 7:34 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Lincoln Highway mural project #2 . . . Joliet IL
Replies: 5
Views: 2775

Re: Lincoln Highway mural project #2 . . . Joliet IL

Love it Jay and Bill!!!

Hope you can fix the typo.......

Joe