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surface gilding on a vehichle, what would you use for a "silver leaf" aluminium? silver? or white gold?
-------------------- Ken McTague, Concept Signs 57 Bridge St. (route 107) Salem MA 01970 1-978-745-5800 conceptsign@yahoo.com http://www.pinheadlounge.com/CaptainKen
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"A wise man once said that, or was it a wise guy?" Posts: 2425 | From: Salem, MA | Registered: Apr 1999
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White gold. I think also a combo of white and yellow gold could look good. Isn't aluminum going to tarnish were it has been touched even under a protective clear? Most corrosive metals will even under the clears. I have used acetone to clean the contaminations on several metals that I clear coat, but that will release the size immediately.
-------------------- "Don't change horses in midstream, unless you spot one with longer legs" bronzeo oti Jack Davis 1410 Main St Joplin, MO 64801 www.imagemakerart.com jack@imagemakerart.com Posts: 1549 | From: Joplin, MO | Registered: Mar 2000
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It depends on the color of the vehicle,...white gold has a yellowish tint to it so it would go good with a warm colored vehicle,..where as aluminum leaf is more of a blueish tint for cooler colors.
-------------------- 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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Aluminum leaf varies a lot in weight; the heavier stuff is almost like foil. White gold will tarnish, slowly over time (because of the silver content) but a good clearcoat would help, and being a truck, you are likely going to clear anyway. I'd use aluminum, on size with a fairly strong tack, then outline to clean up any raggedy edges, and a good hard clearcoat.
Aluminum will tarnish slowly over time, but the tarnish is white, and not as noticeable as the brown-grey tarnish of white gold. On a truck its not likely to be an issue.
-------------------- "A wise man concerns himself with the truth, not with what people believe." - Aristotle
Cam Bortz Finest Kind Signs Pondside Iron works 256 S. Broad St. Pawcatuck, Ct. 06379 "Award winning Signs since 1988"
Posts: 3051 | From: Pawcatuck,Connecticut USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I have used aluminium leaf a few times and noticed its thick nature. Am I going to be able to turn it?
-------------------- Ken McTague, Concept Signs 57 Bridge St. (route 107) Salem MA 01970 1-978-745-5800 conceptsign@yahoo.com http://www.pinheadlounge.com/CaptainKen
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"A wise man once said that, or was it a wise guy?" Posts: 2425 | From: Salem, MA | Registered: Apr 1999
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I sugges using "Silver Leaf" when water gilding on glass. I use Aluminum for all truck lettering, and I like to use the One Shot fast size, with a few drops of La Franc, it helps reduce the surface cracks. Then we follow up with 2 straight coats of frog juice. We've tried using thinner while paddle slapping, and the clear ends up cracking or buckling.
-------------------- Ron Percell Percell Signs 707-769-0639 Petaluma, California
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Ken, Aluminum leaf is by far the better choice for trucks and outdoor stuff, and yes, you can turn it. I don't think there is anything prettier than engine turned aluminum leaf numbers on a sprint car or midget under the lights of a night track.
-------------------- Jerry Mathel Retired Grants Pass, Oregon signs@grantspass.com Posts: 916 | From: Grants Pass, OR USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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Aluminum leaf can be turned, although not as easily as true gold. The key is the state of the tack. If you're late it won't take a good turn. The spinning has to be pretty aggressive. I use the spinnit attachments in a power drill and hammer the heck out of it If at all possible try to avoid seams, a little preplanning as far as covering the letters goes a long way, if you can't avoid seams pay close attention to "patting the leaf down where the leaf overlaps.
-------------------- George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@bigriver.net
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
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Since we now all agree that Aluminum leaf was the way to go I will go abit further.
I think Aluminum leaf acts great as a base for Candies and whether it be fades or just a color change, Aluminum can be a great alternative to Gold and way less expensive even adding the candies.
Custom painters have done this in the past on real race cars and also on customs. Aluminum leaf is made for vehicles just like most any other custom coating available. When you stop experimenting, everything looks the same!
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
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Hey Joey, thats the only time I used aluminium on surface before was a base for a candy, I have also done some on glass which came out nice. I have never turned it though, I might need to do a test panel to see how it spins!
-------------------- Ken McTague, Concept Signs 57 Bridge St. (route 107) Salem MA 01970 1-978-745-5800 conceptsign@yahoo.com http://www.pinheadlounge.com/CaptainKen
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"A wise man once said that, or was it a wise guy?" Posts: 2425 | From: Salem, MA | Registered: Apr 1999
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I have used aluminum, silver and white gold. I finally got turned on to WHITE PALLADIUM by Sepp Leaf. This is by far the best choice. It is mostly 12k white gold that is absolutely pure silver in color. Like gold, it will not tarnish like the silver or aluminum.
Oh, it is available from most gold suppliers: Personally, I use New York Central Art Supply, Inc. 800-950-6111. They have an enormus catalog for the asking.
-------------------- John Smith Kings Bay Signs (Retired) Kissimmee, Florida
Posts: 822 | From: Central Florida - The Sunshine State | Registered: Jan 2000
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I agree with Jerry, engine turned aluminum looks great under the lights. I've done several sprint cars that run with the SCRA in Calif. using aluminum leaf. I usually clear the leaf using automotive catylized polyurathane brushed over the leaf (this dries to the touch fairly quickly), allowing the outlines to be done right away. If it's in the budget and I'm painting a complete car, I clear over everything, which lasts a lot longer, considering these cars run dirt tracks exclusively. I use a 1-1/2" foam pad covered with velvet in a drill motor to turn.
-------------------- Jerry Hudson J.R.Design 4260 Green Ave. Los Alamitos, CA 90720 Posts: 103 | From: Los Alamitos, CA,USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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Ken; Some good advice here, particularily from George Perkins and John Smith. I have used both Aluminum and Palladium over the last 40 years, with Palladium having an advantage over the Aluninum on smaller letters. The particians from leaf overlap is not as noticable with Palladium being softer than Aluminum, and is easier to burnish and spin. I make sure that both sides of the vehicle have equal temperature, humidity, and air currents before I adjust the quick size with boiled lindseed oil to accomodate the above. Palladium needs a higher tack than Aluminum.
J.G. Kurtzman
-------------------- John Kurtzman J.G. Kurtzman Sign Shop 97 Taylor Ave. Norwalk, Ct. 06854
----------------------------------- Creative communication since 1959 Posts: 213 | From: So. Norwalk, Ct. USA | Registered: Sep 2000
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