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I have to match gold leaf work on a repaired firetruck it's real 23k applied by hand with real engine turning by hand.all this was done on yellow vinyl then applied to truck, then aGerber edge print on clear vinyl with shadow & outline was put over top any suggestions on how this was done?
-------------------- Dom Smart Signs & Designs 140-15 Keyland Ct Bohemia,NY dawndom1@optonline.net Posts: 1 | From: Suffolk County New York | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
Dom without sounding like a smart ass you just described how it might have been done. not seeing it with my own eyes it is hard to describe how to replace what your looking at.
Can you give better description or a photo?
-------------------- Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA 508-865-7330
"Life is Like an Echo, what you put out, comes back to you." Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
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What you just said is how they do it. I did an install for a Boars Head Brand box truck. Boars head has a contract with some outfit who produces all the gold leaf vinyl. They will let other sign shops install it. I'm sorry I don't recall the name of the company who makes this stuff but they may have done your truck in question. I believe you just lay your gold on your vinyl, then you cut and weed. You will waste some gold with this process as you need to cover the whole piece of vinyl. Give it a shot.
-------------------- Rob Larkham Sign Techniques Inc. Chicopee, Ma Posts: 607 | From: Chester, Ma. | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
if you search the member database & locate Barb Schilling, she has done several fire engine graphics with gold leaf pre-applied to vinyl & has been very helpful with detailed information of the step she has refines to do this.
posted
I am curious as to how you pick up the gilded vinyl without damaging the leaf? Do you place the clear print over the gilded vinyl before you take the gilded vinyl off the backer paper?? Woudn't that leave an unsightly ridge or bubble between the clear layer and the gilded layer?
posted
I found my post where Barb had some advice for me. Check out the entire thread or here is her comments:
quote: This does not have to be so hard. I have been gilding since my first Letterheads meet in 1982, and doing it on vinyl for more than 10 years, primarily for the Fire Truck market. Contrary to some of the comments here, they hold up GREAT, much better than the varnish coated gold leaf work done directly on the rigs.
1. I print the design on clear vinyl on the edge, without pretreating the vinyl with anything other than a damp rag if absolutely necessary.
2. Hand gild in the normal way (brush on without mask) The comments about the mask leaving a buildup that would drag size into the gold while burnishing is 100% correct, even if you pull the mask right away (although that helps a little). I prefer a mixture of 1/3 Chrome yellow lettering enamel in 2/3 Slow size. I HATE quick size. The mixture I use gives me a 12 hour size with another 5 or 6 hours open time.
3. After laying gold, gently pick up loose gold with soft nylon or polyester material, such as a ladies slip or nightgown is made from. Also at that time lightly burnish the gold to "blend" seams. Patch any holidays. Don't worry about excess gold outside of the design at this time.
4. Decorative burnish such as stripe, engine turn, plaid, or whatever.
5. Topcoat with Chromatic clear overcoat varnish or quick rubbing varnish. QR is faster dry but not as tough.
6. Clean excess gold from areas outside of letters. Use VERY WET cake Bon Ami on a paper towel, being gentle, let the wet Bon Ami do the work. Gently wipe away the Bon Ami residue with damp paper towel, and dry. Qtip is good for small spots if you want to avoid scrubbing the whole graphic.
7. Touch up (with lettering enamel, or DEKA if you're in a hurry) any areas of the outline or shadow where the gold exceeds it's planned area. This includes straightening the bottoms and corners, and generally cleaning up the letter style.
8. Add any glazes or embellishments to the gilded areas. (more brush work)
8. Top coat with a layer of clear Tedlar. I have also used another layer of clear vinyl before I found Tedlar.
9. If you want and you have left enough leader on the piece, you can now insert into plotter and cut out the graphic. I usually just hand cut, leaving a 1/10 inch (approx.) 'glowline' of clear vinyl.
10. Mask and apply to substrate.
Check out my web site if you want to see a few examples. (Very few - have not updated site in a long time.)
Call me if you want further discussion. 763-753-4633
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