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Hi all.....I have a chance to do some silver leaf on the back of a very cool 120' yacht.
Now the question is....ANY problems that you can think of?
SignGold has a silver leaf product that is not recommended for boats. I know the tarnish problems with silver leaf...but if it is cleared with a marine clearcoat, will that make any difference? My other options are painted or vinyl...
The yacht is called the "Silverado"...a lot of movie folk party on this boat (as if that means anything!!!) so it never hurts to advertise, hey?
any help would be appreciated...
-------------------- Jackson Smart Jackson's Signs Port Angeles, WA ...."The Straits of Juan De Fuca in my front yard and Olympic National Park in my backyard...
"Living on Earth is expensive...but it does include a free trip around the Sun" Posts: 1002 | From: Port Angeles, Washington | Registered: Jan 1999
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posted
What Si said! And aluminum can be spun with cotton. Eventually it can gray out some as aluminum does, but it should take a long time if you clear it well. There is also a leaf called Palladium, which I undertand doesn't tarnish, but I've never used it. Silver and the silver in gold less than 24 Kt. will turn brown no matter how much varnish you put on it. Bear in mind a boat in the water lives in extreme weather conditions.
On the other hand this yacht captain can no doubt afford to have it redone every now and then!
[ October 01, 2002, 04:24 PM: Message edited by: Mike Languein ]
Posts: 1859 | From: / | Registered: Nov 1998
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Ha ha, Joey - there's a brake shop in town here that uses the slogan; "We stand in front of our work"
Posts: 1859 | From: / | Registered: Nov 1998
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The aluminum is the best alternative. TOday I did an aluminum leaf job on a dark blue truck. I like that stuff. Remember to dust the background well with a talc or Kaolin or something to kill any opportunity for the leaf to stick. I find it a helpful habit to also dust my hands before going near the surface to size it. The aluminum needs to be gilded much wetter than the tack you'd want for gold.
The metalic vinyls seem to have a short life span on dark surfaces and seem to last much longer on light backgrounds.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6807 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I have used Palladium. It is silver in color but has a slightly warmer tone than white Gold. It handles about like genuine Gold. Palladium is closely related to Gold on the Periodic Table and is actually more expensive than Gold.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5107 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Go with David Harding ..... Palladium is the ONLY way to go for any type of silver lettering outside. Use whatever clearcoat you are comfy with. I have a set of 12" submarine dolphins gilded with 24k gold and one with palladium. Facing South on the water. Six years old and they are just now starting to wear down with no clearcoat. A yacht has no budget when it comes to putting their name out there, remember that !!!
I get mine from New York Central Art Supply which is the Sepp Leaf distributor. Todays price is $51.00 for patent.
[ October 02, 2002, 01:02 PM: Message edited by: John Smith ]
-------------------- John Smith Kings Bay Signs (Retired) Kissimmee, Florida Posts: 822 | From: Central Florida - The Sunshine State | Registered: Jan 2000
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Since I talked to Rick Sacks...I have decided not to attempt anything that I am not comfortable with on such a short notice. I need to check out all the possible applications. Most of the time it is guilded in gold...haven't tried any silver or aluminum yet.
To John Smith: You are right about that!!! When I price yacht lettering I figure it REAL high. If you can afford a $3-20 million dollar boat, you can certainly afford the best possible lettering job I can throw at you. My prices start out with the very basic lettering at $800.00. So...I have found that it is very seldom about the money...it is more the service and quality of the job that the skippers are intrested in...because they are very proud of thier boats and most of the owners are "ANAL" about quality...you know that if you look around inside.
Besides...they keep calling me back to do thier work...so that must say something!
Also...part of the price includes a "pain in the ass" charge!!!
Thanks again.
[ October 03, 2002, 11:36 AM: Message edited by: Jackson Smart ]
-------------------- Jackson Smart Jackson's Signs Port Angeles, WA ...."The Straits of Juan De Fuca in my front yard and Olympic National Park in my backyard...
"Living on Earth is expensive...but it does include a free trip around the Sun" Posts: 1002 | From: Port Angeles, Washington | Registered: Jan 1999
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