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In reality there is less than a handful of sign persons yet including Bill Diaz and George Perkins here in Letterville who has had it up to here ( as I put my hand in front of my neck ) when it came to insight, longevity and BS. Back in 96 I wrote a website in regards to Neanderthal sign paints vs HoK and the are few here which took this seriously so I believe you reap what you sow. Also back then it wasn't a secret that they were removing Lead from all paints including 1-Shot and HoK and smart persons who truly wanted to stay in business bought and continually updated their arsenal of paints knowing they would last many years to come. I find that even if you hadn't changed and continually used 1-Shot throughout the years most persons never got to use it correctly for whatever reason. From prepping the surface to shaking the can for 3 minutes before use, keeping you cans completely shut, adding vitamins so speak like Paint-Sav which stops the skinning whereas the skin contains the binders etc. I've always found that signpainters took paint for granted and never learned its proper storage technique right up to shaking the can vigorously before using it and than taught others how they did it. And since I'm on a roll, I'll get into removing the sizing from new brushes using warm water as it is supposed to be done according to brush manufacturers as the sizing is only coffee. And oiling the brush is only because of the way you clean your brushes so the general rule is to use brush oil so the oil enters the ferrule and moistens the hair which has been soaked with paint and left to dry, in reality an ultrasonic cleaner gets right up there and oil isn't necessary if you sandwich the brush between two pieces of foam rubber to keep its shape. But no, many look towards their icons to step up and repair their problems which may or may not have occurred than going back to the same old " well this is what I was taught by so and so " Whoppie Do, good for you.
Every so often I see a problem here regards to something everyone who uses paint daily should have learned before they went into business. Now you may think I am ranting but sometimes a crazy has more to offer than ten icons, all of those which I've probably helped in my travels down the road. Common sense seems to be lacking whereas one buys a new truck for forty grand yet thinks spending two hundred for an ultrasonic is a ripoff so they go to Harbor Freight.
Maybe another time I can get into other things you should know..
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
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I'm always surprised that so many sign people continue to believe that lettering enamel (like one shot) is the ONLY paint to use for everything. Being aware of their industries latest materials (such as paint) and being totally well versed on how to use them is the DUTY and obligation of the professional. Or,it should be.
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I am so sorry that I missed your informative post from 16 years ago, Joey. Not all of us were a part of the collegial and from what I gather encouraging group known as Letterheads. In fact many who love this craft picked up what they know by trial and error. Relying upon a sign magazine or two and perhaps, if they were fortunate a helpful mentor who was kind even though they knew that the young up-start would in all liklihood be their future competition if they were dedicated.
Most of us would have given up long ago if we knew everything that being in this business would eventually demand of us.
-------------------- Bob Sauls Sauls Signs & Designs Tallahassee, Fl
"Today I'll meet nice people and draw for them!" Posts: 765 | From: Tallahassee, Fl | Registered: Jun 2009
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Sorry Joey, but '96 was before a lot of us got here.
Many of us did follow the paint companies' guidelines, but even some of them were lacking in the real world's experience of 'how-to-do-this' or 'the-best-way-to-do-that".
Many of us followed in the steps of other 'old-timers', who we trusted; and maybe even what they believed was the "Right" way to do something, was not.
Lots of techniques that you guys, who are supposed to be the "gurus" of our profession, didn't pass on, universally. Lots of you old guys were pretty secretive about techniques and procedures. Like Bob said, a lot of us learned much we know, by the seat of the pants.
There may be a lot of things that many of us out here "should know", so how 'bout not making us wait for another 16 years. Hell, a bunch of us may not make it that long........!
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Ok everybody, lets stop taking about signs and go back to complaining about our designs being stolen (again)/ cheap customers /low ballers and Nigerian scams and such. I think that there is a lot of frustration over poor product performance and lack of accountability by the manufacturers(there are some of us that do what we're suppose to and still run into problems) and only a few "Icons" offering solutions. I agree that there are a lot of different paints and products available, but the trail and error road can be a costly one. What I use to like about this site was that people were willing to share their knowledge instead of telling us " I told you so" or that we don't know our craft. I guess that's just the way it is. Too bad, so sad.
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Joey My Grandpa used to say,.... "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink it",...My kudo's here for your efforts,... THANK YOU for being a very informed and validated source of info over the years,.......
-------------------- fly low...timi/NC is, Tim Barrow Barrow Art Signs Winston-Salem,NC Posts: 2224 | From: Winston-Salem,NC,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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There is a paint company here that still uses oil base paints for the fishing fleet boats. The ones you see on the tube that crabbers use and fish too. Anyway I have lettered with it and it has good swing but needs a little more body. I thought about talking to them about sign inks but I have been lazy getting to it for some time. Maybe J&J sign inks, huh..?
-------------------- Jack Wills Studio Design Works 1465 E.Hidalgo Circle Nye Beach / Newport, OR Posts: 2914 | From: Rocklin, CA. USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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"What I use to like about this site was that people were willing to share their knowledge instead of telling us " I told you so" or that we don't know our craft." That's odd. What I've liked ever since I joined a couple years ago is how freely everyone shares their knowledge.
-------------------- dennis kiernan independent artist san francisco, calif, usa Posts: 907 | From: san francisco, ca usa | Registered: Feb 2010
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Dennis, my site is still up and running since 96 yet updated every once in a while. Years back many articles were written on the information I gave and even though I mostly speak about pinstriping, its about paints, materials and how to make yourself look good. Here is the link to the site http://members.tripod.com/Inflite
On every post or reply, below my name is the link to my site
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
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Thanks, Joey. I read it a couple of times in the 2000s, and still appreciate what you've written.
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6713 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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It is much simpler to keep my site up and running than it is to look through the archives of another site for a specific problem. At that time I had forty years into my craft, I've experimented and have worked with paint companies, icons and ordinary goods putting together a basic history of the art of pinstriping for another to either learn from or better themselves using non problematic tools and materials and all anyone was to do was read what is written. Granted I'm some crazy from another planet so to speak yet I never had the problems many faced at that time or even today. All I wanted to do was give some insight to those who needed to reassure themselves that they were either doing this paint thing correctly or offer a measure which has taken me from a kid to a grownup strictly doing my thing without problems.
I find that no matter how much anyone tries to help another, things don't always go as planned for whatever reason right down to not listening to the entire subject. Personally at this time in my life I don't give a rats azz if anyone cares to learn or even wants to here in Letterville as there are hundreds more inspiring sign dudes and pinstripers the around the world taking this up on a daily basis while persons here are saying that paint is out and tech is in. Having the talents all of you have, you should actually get out more often ( out of the box, that is )
And now I will leave and have you fend for yourselves. At least until the next problem arises while I am surfing the Internet..
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
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