First I will tell you that I am primarily a furn-
iture maker specializing in traditional painted furniture made by immigrants to the United States and Canada ...1650-1950..styles include Shaker,
Mennonite, Hutterite, Doukhobor, Russian,Quebec,
Ukrainian, Genuine New Mexican (no pastel yuppie crap) Monterey, Spanish Revival..etc..also make
bird and ice fishing decoys (1880-1950) and recently signs...and I have absolutely no clue as to what I am doing...
In spite of my ignorance I have sold between 500-
700 in 2 years..mostly simple antiqued painted signs on masonite, faking enamel..and wood signs
trying my best to get an antiqued outdoor weathered look...If you are in Michigan I have some work in Holland , or in Chesterfield , MO
or Laguna Beach CA and Pacific Grove CA
A few other shops have my work but limited inventory..I sell only wholesale and I am not making a living at in spite of a "system" and
constant orders...
Signs range from 5 1/2" x 13 1/2" (on masonite)
up to 6 and 8 feet all solid cedar..
Most are either historical. directional, geographical..etc..Canneries, Lighthouses,,
Fishing lodges with 4 foot long carved and applied fish.. Squid Flying thru clouds,,Yacht Harbors etc..I make most of my paint and developed every "antiquing" method I use...have never before made signs or worked with anyone who did..
My look, old and Genuine..I go to a lot of trouble to "get it right" but I am still not happy with my work and , again.. I only make enough money to do it again tomorrow...
I have seen some sign makers work from Monterey Cal (recently showcased in the local paper there and my home base of 40 years) I marveled at their slickness and wish I had the skill but also marvel that they get the money they do for "new" and unconvincing look of antiquity,,and mostly foam and spray guns...nice, very nice .does not stand up to scrutiny
Enough Bitching..need some help
1. Paint..what is everyone using..I want flat and creamy and durable and readily available..(anyone remember sinclair)
2. Anyone got any natural wood aging techniques
3. What is being used for clear coats..dead flat and water proof...
4. Any recommended carving knives for incised letters..I have scads of high dollar carving and sculpting chisels and knives but haven't found the right one
5. How do you charge for work...as Joey and Jerry will attest...Oregon is weird on the finances..
been here three years and have sold less than $500 work...by the hour the square foot the piece..?
6. How do you get appreciative clients...
I have plenty of folks oohing and ahhing..not much
wallet action..
7. Recommended books and magazines to help me with hand made hand painted wood signs
8. Whats with this foam stuff??
9. Anyone found a decent silver (not oakie chrome)
water based brushable paint..
10. Any one else doing signs with an antiqued look
That'll do it for now and you can blame Joe Reed for sending me here..He and Dick have some very nice stuff..I would like to ahve the same degree of skill in execution but also "weathered"
Jeff
From the Cultural Desert of the Earth
Welcome to Letterville and also our beautiful Southern Oregon Paradise. E-mail me, and we'll get together for coffee sometime.
Gang, I pulled this guy in from an acoustic guitar forum when we both replied to a thread about what everyone does for a living. I'm glad to see he took my advice.
Welcome Jeff, I just sent you a terrible long email with way too much information in it. Hanging out here will definitely be good for you (when you're not strumming that guitar!) and take some of the weight off me. Be an open slate and let these folks fill you up. You'll find this is like every other forum in that there are all skill levels represented. Hunt out a meet in your area and dive in for the ultimate training experience.
Great to have you.
Welcome to town.
I like to do the antiqued stuff too. Haven't tried to do any aging to the wood yet. I get old pallets and cut them apart to use. If I need a wider sign, I piece and gorilla glue a couple chunks together. Gives that nice paneled look and the pallets are roughcut and set outside, so they seem aged. Most stores have stacks of them out back and are more than happy to give them to you. After I do the sign, I use step craq allure to give the top a cracked appearance. (Esoteric Supply is the only place I could find it.) Only problem is, with that stuff, it's not good for exterior signs, even after you clear it. If you do the cracking effect to any exterior signs, I'd love to hear what you use.
Joe.. thanks for the "answers"..appreciate it
Specific questions
1. Where can I get a waterbased silver that does not look like oakie chrome
2. Is everyone using alkyd enamels (oil) or is anyone using water based paints and if so what
3. Does anyone have any magic solutions for "aging" natural wood
4. If you are gluing up solid wood for exterior use..what glue are you using.
5. Has anyone found a suitable dead flat clear coat for exterior use..
Last night I mistakenly left a freshly painted sign out side flat..facing up..got rained on..very cool look..not what I wanted but very cool..mistakes can sometimes give you another direction...
Aging wood..there is a guy down in Calif that is aging redwood and cedar with a slurry of water and cement dust...he's using it on outdoor furniture but it does give that grayed weathered look..have no clue as to its practical appliction in signs of its durability...
Joey from Gts Pass is coming over tomorrow AM ..
I'll give him the quick tour of the shop and some
of the stuff in progress...
Jerry ..I'll give you a holler and lets get together..need an honest evaluation of my efforts..I am truly clueless..
Glad to have found you all.. and hope to contribute something...
Jeff H
Maybe the mix ration is incorrect???
Is their a proper ratio of water to granules (looks like tannish pink kitty litter)
Jeff
PS Joey Madden came by today..what a trip..
a memorable ocassion...and one heck of a striper..
more on that later after I digest all the info..
[ October 14, 2001: Message edited by: Jeff Hildreth ]
