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I'm wanting to play with a sign idea and want to use black smaltz. But I must admit that I don't realy know anything about it. Educate me O great ones of this Bullboard.
Thanks in advance...
-------------------- David Otero Ace Signs 5445 Edith Blvd. NE - Unit B Albuquerque, NM Posts: 70 | From: Albuquerque, NM USA | Registered: Jul 2000
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Greetings and Salutations Mr. Otero! I have done a Smaltz Sign er two. I bought my Materials from Esoteric Supplies in California. Ask Rick for the color you want and how much you need, he'll square you away.
I did a background of a storefront with GREEN SmALTZ back in 1997. Still looks good today!
First.....determine your background...let's say it will be Black...You can have raised indiividual letters that will be mounted or you can do them flat-painted,or Surface Leafed BEFORE you Coat the background. Let's say you have lettered your word on the sign, it's had a day to dry. Now, mix your background with ...1) Linseed Oil..2)Turpentine...3)Penetrol and get it too a "Creamy" consistancy. First, I letter around the letters, then roll in the big parts. Don't be afraid to put it on! I wait about 15 20 minutes, then spread paper on the floor (To catch the excess Smaltz) and SIFT the smaltz on thru a coffee can with small holes punched in the bottom all around the outside. Shake the board around a little bit to "Even out" the smaltz. Then go away from it for 24 hours. When you return...dump it over and WELLAH! there it is! Give it a go! try with some fish aqurium sand as a practice. Then get the good stuff from Rick Glauson at Esoteric...If you have any further questions...Rick is the GUru who's done it all, ask him! Hey, they got then Brown bag lookin lights on top of those Adobe houses out there? I was passing thru there last year at this time...sure was pretty! Wish I'd a known ya, I'da a stopped! See you in Mazeppa in 2005!
-------------------- Mike Meyer Sign Painter 189 1st Ave n P.O. Box 3 Mazeppa, Mn 55956
We are not selling, we are staying here in Mazeppa....we cannot re-create what we have here....not in another lifetime! SO Here we are!!!!!!!
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I am by no means a smaltz expert but I have done some HDU signs with sandblasted/smaltz backgrounds, combined with some carving.
I have quite a few colors of smaltz from Rick Glawson. He told me about Black Beauty sandblasting media for black smaltz. It is something like crushed coal slag, it is jet black and cost only a few dollars for about a 90 lb. bag. I'm sure it would be available in Albuquerque. We painted with black background enamel, shook the Black Beauty onto the surface through a screen covered coffee can and let it sit 24 hours plus. Then, we turned it over and shook out the excess.
Those signs held up well almost a decade until a new owner changed the sign package. I may be predjudiced, but I think my old signs looked far better than his new ones.
I haven't tried posting pictures here. I'll try to post a link to the pics and see what happens.
Mike, the brown bag lights are called Luminarias. Just a brown lunch bag with a little sand in it to keep it from blowing away and a candle. I'll look into getting out there next year. Is it anywhere near Minneapolis? Whenever I'm in the minni apple I have to visit Britts down town.
Can I just use crushed glass for smaltz? What about using epoxy to hold it in place?
-------------------- David Otero Ace Signs 5445 Edith Blvd. NE - Unit B Albuquerque, NM Posts: 70 | From: Albuquerque, NM USA | Registered: Jul 2000
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David - that is what smaltz is made of...ground glass. I have several different colors that I got from Rick and it makes a striking looking background. Colored sand is also used but it fades quickly and doesn't have the sparkle that smaltz does.
The epoxy might work but you need something to stay "open" a long time to be sure that the smaltz is embedded well. The epoxy might be too quick drying, especially if you are doing a large area. I use Smith's cream and lettering enamel - about a 50/50 ratio. The idea is to have something that can be put on rather heavily and evenly and will not dry out too fast.
Good luck.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Hello There Big "O"! Minneapolis? Yup you betcha yah I'm aboat 1 hour south near Rochester. Swing on by when yur in da neighburhood and we'll have a hot dish an I buy you a Grain Belt! (I quit drinkin' and they go under! ha) I like those sacks with candles..yah
-------------------- Mike Meyer Sign Painter 189 1st Ave n P.O. Box 3 Mazeppa, Mn 55956
We are not selling, we are staying here in Mazeppa....we cannot re-create what we have here....not in another lifetime! SO Here we are!!!!!!!
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