posted October 20, 2002 12:21 PM
We're looking for the formula for a marbling process using gum tragacanth, allowing paint to float on water. You can swirl the paint to your liking then dip the sign blank & lift the pattern. Does anyone know ingredients, quanities, etc?
Thanks
Abbott Signs Berryville, AR
-------------------- Rita and James Abbott Abbott Signs 111 Clark Rd, Berryville, AR 72616 abbott@hbeark.com 870-423-6885 Posts: 3 | From: 111 Clark Rd. Berryville, AR 72616 | Registered: Sep 2001
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posted October 20, 2002 12:34 PM
I used to have several Dover Books on the subject for marbling paper and fabric. Try doverpublications.com and/or amazon.com. Maybe your library will have something on marbling paper?
I've seen ppl use the water floating method just using One Shot and it makes a marble-like pattern, but also a very thick texture of paint.
Posts: 1859 | From: / | Registered: Nov 1998
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I have seen a method where you mix One Shot and linseed oil to thin it out and float it on water. This can make some cool effects but it is very messy.
I have also seen a "marble" technigue of dabbing colors on a background with a fitch. Then lightly mottle the colors with wadded newspapers and mist with mineral spirits. Let dry and then coat with clear.
Have a great one!
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6466 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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I think these are the directions for the imitation marble that you are looking for. I found it in the Atkinson Sign Painting book (1915) edition.
"Prepare a water tank larger than the sign surface. Fill with water, add two ounces of gum tragacanth for every gallon of water, and cover surface of water with colors mixed with equal parts of oil, Copal varnish and turpentine. Colors should be of a thin brushing consistancy to enable one to readily pour them on the water from bottles. When the surface of water is covered, form the color film into pleasing design in imitation of marble, using a stick for this purpose. When ready carefully lay face of sign upon the water surface and lift it immediately. Lay sign flat on trestles to dry. Should dry in thirty hours."
I hope this helps. Please post a picture when you are done, it would be great to see how it turns out.
posted October 21, 2002 10:23 PM
When working on St. Patricks Cathedral in Decatur Illinois, (which our work was featured in Sign Builder Illustrated) we used acrylic latex paints (house paints) for every bit of decorative faux marble.
We didn't have 30 hours for paint to dry! hahahaha
You should be able to achieve high end results with latex, but if this is an outdoor project, then you will need to get a 20 to 25 year 100% acrylic latex enamel.
And, just a thought extra, Sherwin Williams Paint Stores have in stock or will order commercial grade premixed marble faux paints that can be brushed on or sprayed on. Several flavors of faux are abvailable. Commercial decorative artists and painters use these paints on huge wood entry way pillars and other applications to make boring wood lookreally exciting.
posted October 23, 2002 12:26 AM
I used to do this only to shirts tennis shoes, etc. I'll have to dig out the recipe but I know that I used to take Borax and add to water. Then I would take my different colors of paints and dribble onto the water. The paint would float on the surface. So before dipping tennis shoes, I would take a toothpick and swirl the paints to make neat designs. Then I would dip the shoes and of course they would come out with this neat pattern.
Its been so many years - I had forgotten all about this.
-------------------- Laura Butler Vision Graphics & Sign 4479 Welch Rd Attica, Mi 48412 Posts: 2855 | From: Attica, Mi, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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posted October 23, 2002 08:45 AM
I don't remember why we used to add some bleach to the water. We used to build a frame of 2x4's on edge and set it inside a large plastic garbage bag. Put this assembly on a stable table and fill most of the way with water and bleach. The colors mixed with oil would be thinned and floated. The swirls could be somewhat controlled with a brush handle.
We did this one time at a letterhead meet at our shop and the kids went nuts! They were doing theri shirts, shoes and jackets. Someone did a lunch pail and someone did their sign kit. The objects can be rolled and rotated on the surface to maintain the continuity of the pattern.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6833 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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