As most of the regulars here well know... I am more of a quicky-sticky shop but branching out & learning to become more well-rounded in various sign techniques.
Hand lettering is such a well respected & beautiful art & I've noticed the passion all the lettering artists here describe when they do pick up a brush. (especially those who have steered away from doing it full-time)
I have posted my belief that I will try to learn lettering, along with the other traditional sign techniques I've been exposed in Letterville. Well, I recently took a step closer to that by investing in some brushes.
I wouldn't know a quill from a fitch, or a steal from a burn... but I did buy a "real" brush once for over $20... so when I saw someone selling off 25 brushes that came from some old-timer closing down a shop, I started bidding. I got this package deal for about $6 each.
I will feel that it was worthwhile if it leads to me even learning just enough to feel the passion so many write about... but I am curious if they are good brushes, so I laid them out on the scanner to ask you folks. I'm imagine there are more then I will ever need, so I think they may make nice trading wampum at meets, or to share with folks who show me how they work etc.
Here they are. The close-up shows the name on the largest one, & the word "France" that appears on some.
*edited to add second pic*
[ October 28, 2003, 09:11 PM: Message edited by: Doug Allan ]
Posted by Terry Whynott (Member # 1622) on :
They look kinda short! Posted by Harris Kohen (Member # 2139) on :
Doug where were they shipped from. They look alot like some that I bought this weekend at a nearby supplier. They're missing handles obviously, but if they're the same kind they're nice brushes.
THEY'RE you go!! HaHaHa
Price wasnt a steal if they are them though
Posted by James Donahue (Member # 3624) on :
Looks to me like you just made a good buy, my man!
Now oil them in something other than transmission fluid (I'm tryin' t' start a feud) and DON'T LET THE MICE NEAR THEM! Do they even have mice over there? (They don't have snakes in Ireland).
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
appreciate the feedback.
I will have to learn about adding handles along with so much other information on my horizon.
They were shipped from PA.
Do they need to all be oiled right away? or just prior to use?
Wow... no snakes in ireland? same deal here... no snakes, lots of mice! Is it safe to keep them in an airtight case, or would something like a wood cigar bow be better?
Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
Doug theres no need to oil them as of yet, at least until yoy put them onto handles. You know how to put them onto handles, don't ya?
Store them in a CD thingie so ya can look at them
[ October 28, 2003, 09:55 PM: Message edited by: Joey Madden ]
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
I know nuthin' man... honest! I think you get, or make one that fits snug... then soak it to swell the wood, or shrink the ferrule. what is that thing? a real quill? plastic? is it even called a ferrule on this style brush? what are they anyway quills?
Posted by John Lennig (Member # 2455) on :
I count 29 brushes, mostly on the larger size. At 6 ea. =174.00... from what we pay out of Ontario, you probably paid 1/3 - 1/2 price. Most are browns, better on glass and slick surface, less snap than greys. Others can give the real deal on handle puttin' on, my advice is, talk to your brushes, they like it! they've got feelings too,trust me. and I don't mean swearing...lol
There's no turning back now...
John Lennig / SignRider (I speak brush)
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
In the "old days" quil;ls (brushes like yours) were sold without handles! When a quill wore out, you pulld the handle out and stuck it in the replacement, by 1st softening the quill: I. Soak it in warm water (with the hairs pointing up, so as not to get them wet. OR 2. Sticking it in a potato overnite.
Then a drop of Elmer's glue and gently push the handle into the quill....let dry overnite.
looks like ya got a great deal on them!
Posted by Jon Butterworth (Member # 227) on :
Nice!
Good buy! Hard to tell sizes, but if they are french quills you got them cheap.
That lot will last you a while
As Si said, soften the quill in warm water etc.
Handles? Most of us recycle old handles but you being a "Newbee" ... Buy a bunch of "artist's" brushes from the dime store ($2 for 10 here .. made in China!)Cut the junk off the end and trim to fit. Or, same stores have Chop Sticks which trim down into good handles.
I note some duplication in the selection If yer wanna trade the extras off I have some awsome 1" and 3/4" Flats I will trade yer!
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
I will be happy to trade a few duplicate sizes Jon. I mentioned that the "France" marking only appears on a few. Most are not marked. As for determining duplicates, are any of same size considered to be the same, or is a slight variation in color going to identify distinct characteristics in the "feel" of the brush? (is this where you guys would say "snap")
Store in a CD so I can "look" at em... OK, if I haven't earned the credibility to convince anyone I intend to "use" em... guess I'll just have to get busy & then post some of the damage Posted by PKing (Member # 337) on :
Not to sound Eletist or Braggartoish with this explanation. They seem to be Brown Hair/Quill Type lettering brushes. They plastic part wrapped around the hairs with the metal wire holding both together as one unit. Is the "Ferrule" Handels SHOULD be made of wood that is tapered on one end. Weather bould or hand made is your call. I prefer the "custom fit" of chopsticks honed down per individual ferrule. (the dry wood)excepts the Elmers glue used to keep hairs together&handle attached with-in ferrule. The heating of the "plastic ferrule" is used to SOFTEN up the plastic for tight fit. Potatoe is used for wood handle to slide in soften ferrule for less chance of splitting plastic. If you will microwave small cup/glass of water you should be able to Clasp hairs with clothes pin so as to "suspend" plastic ferrule only in pre-heated water for the softening process. Remove and flip clothes pin (ferrule) over empty container to except One(1) small drop of Elmers glue.Gravity will help glue into hair proceedure. Gently push and rotate handle into ferrule till tight. Remove all and reverse for glue to gravitate onto wood. Let dry(overnight) REPEAT for every brush
Hope this helps with other input frm Timi Barrows, Monte Jumper,and other Brush Brothers.
[ October 29, 2003, 04:36 AM: Message edited by: PKing ]
Posted by bill riedel (Member # 607) on :
Doug, I believe you got yourself a good deal. The quills all look good to me. If you do not use them soon, put them in a container with moth balls. This will save them from the bugs that like to eat the hairs and destroy the brushes. My favorite oil to preserve the brushes is lemon oil, the type found in furniture polish.
You are in for a treat when you learn to hand letter. Don't give up the dream.
Posted by Jeff Ogden (Member # 3184) on :
Doug
That's a great buy...the last time I bought quills like that (loose) was in the 60's-early seventies.Those sound like 60's prices. I would check with a brush co. and see if they will sell you some handles. Tell them the approx sizes, 'cause they're all a little different. The quills look like brown Kazan and taloutky grey squirrel. The quill part is the lower part of a real goose feather. Like the others said, soak just the quill in warm water, then insert into the handle for a tight fit. I'd leave out the Elmers myself, When it dries it "shrinkwraps" itself onto the handle. Like Joey said, you only need to oil them after you use it in paint. Some brushes used to come with a sizing on the hairs, which you had to wash out with warm water first, before using. Your brushes don't appear to have that. However, I would wash in warm H20 , dry, then oil once just prior to using a brush for the first time.
These are my observations, and others may disagree slightly, but we're all in the same ballpark.....
Posted by Mike Paul (Member # 4200) on :
Ditto Jeff. Looks like browns and a couple of greys. I have never seen brushes sold without handles. "Must be before my time." Always oil a new brush before using it. You want to get the oil up into the ferrule to keep paint from drying in there. Keeps the hair soft and flexible. After oiling them, put them on top of the Gerber Edge so you remember where they are. I haven't seen mine in a while. Mike
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
(They don't have snakes in Ireland).
![[Applause]](graemlins/clap.gif)
![[FYI]](graemlins/fyi.gif)