Every now and again when you break out a new brush it turns out to be the "perfect" sooo...sweet brush. Right from the get go.
When I was an apprentice I can remember being called aside by one of the journeymen I worked under and he would say something like "Here kid see what it's like to letter with a good brush".
Well today was the day I called Patsee in and said "I want you to see what it's like to letter with a good brush" she tried it and just smiled.
As it turns out this was a brush I got from Timi about 2 years ago (a yellow handled long haired grey # 16 Langnickel quill) and it's first time in the paint it was sooo...sweet.
Ya know what I mean?
Thanx Timi!
Posted by Troy Haas (Member # 472) on :
Monte,
Did you aquire these at Pat's meet???
If so I have several myself that have never been used yet. I used one and it was great (IMO,which don't count for much ), the other I used shed REALLY bad. Funny how the same brand/type/etc. brush's will react different.
I am still green enough not to understand why.
Great for you buddy.
BTW, we need to meet up at a live meet sometime, I still want to learn that "Feather" voodoo that you do, so well...
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
Monte, I more remember the guys buying new brushes and handing them to me. I thought they wanted me to have a great experience with a new tool, but soon came to find out that I was the break 'em in boy! I'm glad you had one of those wonderful moments feeling one with a quill. I love those times!
Imagine being one of the folks today that buys a brush from a mail order place and has never been taught how to tell which is the cutting edge or how to palette and charge the tool, or how to shape it. Monte, there is so much stuff we learned that might not get passed on.
[ July 30, 2003, 10:38 PM: Message edited by: Rick Sacks ]
Posted by Michael Boone (Member # 308) on :
Do I know what you mean? Yes.. And guess who..is responsible for doin it to ME? Timi? Yes.....I like the browns!!!!!!
Posted by Kristie Byrnes (Member # 3510) on :
Oh yeah,Monte.....Know what ya mean!
Rock On in paint land!
Posted by Jon Butterworth (Member # 227) on :
Guess what? My mate Monte sent me a new fitch in the mail last night!!!!! Thanks man.
And I just have the job for it on Monday! 12x6 ft brick wall with 1ft high Candice script lettering. Can't wait to try it
I have a brush box full of all sorts. Some are plain work-horses. But then you always have a soft spot for the favourite "stallions". They seem to have a certain feel that's magic with paint.
My "work-horses" are mainly 3/4" and 1" Haydn trucks which I use for all types of paint and also screen inks on banners and tents. Nice brushes. Pity the poster paint (tempra color?) that we use on windows every week cuts them out so fast. "Retired" another one this week
What do you do with burnt out brushes?
I gotta very large tin full that I don't have the heart to put in the trash can Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
I can't relate to this experience yet, but Jon's last comment reminds me of a similar feeling I have always had about my drumsticks!
(My mom still has nostalgic memories of me throwing 4 years worth of old sticks in the fireplace after selling my drums & getting ready to hitch out to California with a backpack & a mandolin.)
Posted by Ray Rheaume (Member # 3794) on :
Hey Doug,
I know both feelings. I play drums, too!
Best of both worlds.... Rapid
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
Those drumsticks could be whittled down to become fitch handles
Better rhythm to your lettering!
[ July 31, 2003, 09:07 AM: Message edited by: Rick Sacks ]
Posted by George Perkins (Member # 156) on :
Stop it ! You guys are gonna make me cry I know the feeling all too well and it seems "the pusher" Barrow is reponsible for spreading quite a bit of it. I've got a couple of liners I got off him that are just super. Gary Jenson trimmed one for me and it does just unbebieveable things. I also picked up a couple of those Haydns Jon mentioned. I'm a big user of flats but these things are far superior to any flat I've run accross in thirty years, you Aussies are lucky to have something that fine as a "workhorse" Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
Well now, let me tell you about this squeege I came across last week.
Posted by Linda Silver Eagle (Member # 274) on :
I fell in love with the brown handled Lang's myself and I hope they never start shedding...so far so good! Oh happy day!
Troy, as far as the yellow handled quill, we're supposed to put a drop of superglue in the the ferrul via a syringe. (sp) I didn't do that either. I named that brush Shaggy. I did experiment with it and found that if I hold the paint right, less hair comes out!
Do not underestimate the power of Roger's Rapid
Prep to clean them "just like new!."
Thank you Timi!
Posted by bill riedel (Member # 607) on :
Hi Monte, There is nothing like that special brush that makes you feel like the work is going so smooth. Once while lettering some show cards, a friend was watching and commented that it looked as though the letters were just coming out of the brush. What could be sweeter than that?
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
So how many years has it been since timi told me he had some for me and was awaiting his next trip to the post office. I thought he was in a rural setting and many miles from the post office as I am. Well in a week or so, I'm gonna be knocking on his door and wanting to try out these antiques.
PS. Please tell me about Haydn's????
Posted by Roy Frisby (Member # 736) on :
Now wait a minute! Are you trying to tell me that brushes reach a point when you're supposed to throw them away? Someone once asked me if I got my brushes from Noah. Posted by Gail & Dave Beattie (Member # 572) on :
way back when... I was taught to use ticket writing brushes which all had flat ferrals, the paint was water based and the pigments strong, we worked on a slight incline bench and in a short time I found that the brushes became a natural extention of my hand... what bliss! it was quick, it was sharp, it was bright
then I married a signwriter and he had all sorts of strange brushes that he expected me to use, most had round ferrals, the paint was oil based and the walls vertical, I worked hard to get the longer bristles to do the things I expected of them, eventually turning out reasonable stuff (i hoped)
then one day I found a quill in the back of the traveling suppliers van the first one I bought had the wire twist around the ferral and a very long handle... with even longer bristles that devo's much used and loved sables it was a size 8, which of course it a fairly big brush for general signboard stuff but I loved it from the first moment I put it in the paint it became my best friend, that at times I know I treated it dismally, especially when time was of the essence
I had many other quills over the years but that one was always my first choise
devo would look at me as I worked and ask why I was using that big brush to put a fine outline around something.... it was ok I just palleted it sharp and ran it on it's side
it's head fell off one day and I nearly cried, but no worries I fixed it with more fuse wire and we were off again
I found my friend resently while unpacking some boxes in the shed and lovingly took it to my brush soaker n washer that I got in the UK
I tended to it's neglect and made it all new again now it's waiting for me to come out and play so that together we can dance again
I do understand that Sooo...sweet! feeling monte and look forward to having it again soon
cheers gail
ps: no you never throw them away... even broken brush (so named cause it has a broken handle) is still there waiting to work for a living
Posted by David Fisher (Member # 107) on :
I have a #12 Rekab medium that should have been retired many years ago. Apart from the fact that it'd cost at least $120.00 to replace it I just can't bring myself to do it. Now about this brush cleaner you bought Gail.... you gunna bring it to Cairns? Maybe theres life in the old girl yet. David
Posted by timi NC (Member # 576) on :
Monte,..You are very welcome,....I still have the fitch we traded at Pat's and cleaned it today and wrapped it! I feel as tho I got the best end of that trade heheheheheh can't seem to find the brush with the type hair that was used two decades ago,...go figure,...That fitch has made me a pretty penny or two and I am sure you understand my meaning,....It is a real shame they can't seem to find the same quality royal sable hair that they did in years past but those are the breaks,...I still have to mail out that harrison favorite I found they other day,...so keep your eyes open,....
Rick do drop by by all means ,...I can't show ya much of a choice these days but you're welcome to look at what I have left,...I look forward to your visit,....
On last note I found a royal langnickel site a month or so back and most if not all of these brushes are still available under the "royal"/langnickel brand name,...If my sources are correct there will be a couple of "langnickel dealers" in letterville soon!
Posted by dave parr (Member # 3868) on :
Monte, Ya gotta love a good Langnickle, it's almost as if they have eyes of their own. They know just how much paint to carry, just how far to lay down for whatever letter you're working on, just how much to twist and snap & just how sharp to make that corner. It's like you're working with "Ole Lang's Eye." dave
Posted by Ray Rheaume (Member # 3794) on :
Oh yeah, almost forgot..
Rick... a drumstick with a little masking tape on the tip makes a great mini Mahlstick in a pinch.
"Desperation is some time the Aunt of invention." Rapid
Posted by Mark Rogan (Member # 3678) on :
Where can I get one (or more) of those Langnickels?? They sound too good to be true!
Posted by Myra Grozinger (Member # 327) on :
Just sat down to eat my lunch and check in on Letterville and ran across this post.
Would y'all believe I own a brush that Timi wants? (it says Langnickel on it)
I can't let him have it, because if I do, maybe he won't have a reason to come around any more....
Posted by Linda Silver Eagle (Member # 274) on :
Oh Myra,
Don't sell yourself short! Timi adores your company! I hope to meet you one day when I visit him!
Timi let me peruse through their catalogue on my last visit. I drooled big-time!
Have fun!
Posted by Jon Butterworth (Member # 227) on :
Rick
Haydn Truck Brushes are made in New Zealand.They are top line 3/4" and 1" flats for all kinds of paint and especially good for painting screen inks on banners etc.
The maufacturer does not sell retail. I have finally set up a deal with the Australian importer here and forward them on to LAZERLINES .... www.laserlines.com. Contact JoAnna Nouis if you want some.
Timi likes them Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
I like the haydns too! Nice flats!
Those yaller handled quills of Timi's bring a tear to my eye...remembering what brushes used to be like!
[ August 01, 2003, 05:38 PM: Message edited by: Si Allen ]
Posted by PKing (Member # 337) on :
Timi,"you the man" from brushes to talent! Those (long haired outliner)HOG LEGS are my favorite to use,and use them I have!
How very unfortunate for the signmakers of late that can not enjoy the THRILL of a "Brush" By making the decission NOT to learn hand lettering. They miss out on the VERY thing that is the driving force for self improvement in ALL areas of life itself.
Thanks Monte for the reminder
[ August 01, 2003, 08:45 PM: Message edited by: PKing ]
Posted by Mark Rogan (Member # 3678) on :
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
), the other I used shed REALLY bad. Funny how the same brand/type/etc. brush's will react different.![[Smile]](smile.gif)
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