posted
It's one of those tasks that I've been using the same method for years without question. I use cotton batten to burnish surface gilding, but I'm sure there are softer and more appropriate materials.
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Shane have you ever tried a polished stone? Works great!
-------------------- Ricky Jackson Signs Now 614 Russell Parkway Warner Robins, GA (478) 923-7722 signpimp50@hotmail.com
"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Sir Issac Newton Posts: 3528 | From: Warner Robins, GA | Registered: Oct 2004
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Shane, I use those big fluffy burnishing brushes (available at Canadian Signcrafters).
I do a rotating pattern when used manually but if the job is too big, I put the brush in the cordless drill. When spinning, the brush will open (like a ballerina tutu), and only try to use the ends and reduce the speed as much as I can because otherwise one could wipe the gold with size right off.
But if you get good at this, WOW the shiny gold you get.... and so quick too !
In most cases, I don't find it desirable to have a mirror-finish on gilded signwork, so I use cotton batten, and wear latex gloves to avoid fingernail scratches.
-------------------- Steve Purcell Purcell Woodcarving & Signmaking Cape Cod, MA
************************** Intelligent Design Is No Accident Posts: 900 | From: Cape Cod, MA | Registered: Oct 1999
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Shane, I also use the soft brush from Canadian SignCrafters...I've also used the cotton but mostly on glass work....Joe and Steve this wet thing sounds interesting, something new to add to the bag of tricks to try...Oh and like Steve I wear a glove as well, but cotton on my support hand, so as not to mark or fingerprint the letter or graphic I'm holding while burnishing.
-------------------- Pat Welter Masterhand Signs and Designs Unity, Saskatchewan.Canada Posts: 1304 | From: Unity, Saskatchewan.Canada | Registered: May 1999
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Velvet works great if you want to burnish some shading into your work. I love Bill's method of making his letters 3D. Other than that I use both cotton and a soft makeup brush. I found a nice one that retracts into a tube so it keeps clean and dust free.
[ August 01, 2008, 10:09 AM: Message edited by: Kelly Thorson ]
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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Hi Shane, I use both round cotton pads - like the ones women use to take their makeup off... and sea sponge. Both I soak wet, then apply some soft detergent foaming it up, then rinse almost out so there is still some detergent left to give it some "glide". I rinse real well, but keep a slightly soapy atomiser bottle handy to re wet when necessary, kinda like the hairdresser does when cutting hair. For incised or carved letters I like the cotton pads, but for cut out individual letters, the sea sponge lets you get into the corners really well. The sea sponge can also be cut to shape say in a wedge or strip to help - just like another tool.
Cheers
-------------------- Gregg Sydney Signworks (02) 9837 1198 Schofields NSW Australia Posts: 368 | From: Schofields | Registered: May 2007
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