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Location: Upper Left USA | Here's an open post to Cliff and any other graphicologists. I am looking to locate some gold or silver, metallic letters similar to the cursive "LX" units placed on the LX TRCs.
I have checked Ebay, dogpile, Google, etc. and I can't find anything near the quality needed.
Any suggestions or hints would be welcome.
These will be used to adorn Ebony and Walnut TRCs! I even have a line on some Teak from the deck of the USS Missouri (sh-h-h-h-h-h). |
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Location: NJ | I know of a couple sources, but they're more along the lines of larger, architectural signage, etc.
For something as SMALL as what you're looking for, do a Yahoo/Google Search for "Laser Cut Metal Letters" (or variations, thereof).
Also, if you're going that small, y'might not have any luck with someone doing it in a cursive/script style. Too fragile. You might have to go with a different font.
You can also do a local YellowPages search of local sign shops or trophy/engraving shops, and ask if they can do "Laser-Cutting". The cost of such equipment has started to come down, and has become increasingly popular with such establishments.
(Wish I had one). |
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Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | A cheaper version than something engraved would be to have a local sign shop cut it out of gold vinyl. Computer vinyl cut lettering is used on most signs these days, including the lettering on the bottom of racing boats (it can withstand THAT kind of abuse). As long as someone doesn't come at it with the intention of removing it, it would probably last a good long time on a headstock TRC. The gold that I've seen has a pretty good shiny-reflective look like real metal letters. It's an alternative idea.
The nice thing about having a sign shop cut it out of vinyl is that you can probably get a good number at the TRC size on one 18"x 24" sheet pretty cheap-$10-20 depending on the place, and in whatever font you want. If they 'weed' the excess away it will cost a little more, but then they will put the applicator sheet on top...you won't have to fuss with lining letters up individually, just apply-press-peel away the applicator sheet-and you're done.
I occassionally get our duo's logo made into small decals 2"x3" size to give away at gigs. It usually costs like $10 for 20 of 'em.
If your local sign shop won't do it, there are plenty of dealers of decals on ebay. Do a search for 'decal', and then open a listing and contact the seller. Most of them create their own decals on a home computer vinyl cutter and most will take custom orders. I've dealt with a few of them as well and gotten very good deals.
Hope that's a help. |
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Location: NJ | Woodster;
e-mail me "specifics" (cap. height, quantity, color, etc.) - I'll see what I can come up with . . . |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Omaha's company prints binders, maybe he knows a source. |
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Location: NJ | Wood;
Another avenue y'might wanna persue are "Auto Accessories" websites.
I seem to remember seeing pressure-sensitive metallic letters for auto door "monograms".
(I got the specs. that you PM'd me, but you're talking REALLY small for our vinyl-cutters to effectively "cut" (and THEN have them "stick").
I'll see what I can do . . . .
Another though:
Transfer a tracing of the letters (carbon paper or similar) onto the TRC, router it out with a dremel (armed with a dental bit) fill it in with white epoxy, and then sand the surface flush . . . |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Ahh, a little sweet talk and use of the appropriate listening skills have already netted a pocket full of dental bits for my Dremel! They are quite useful!
"The chase is afoot!" |
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Location: San Bernardino, California | Would dry transfers work? |
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Location: Orlando, FL | Woody, If you can find an actual decent sign painter (a dying breed) he should be able to do both script with a small brush and gold leaf, which is just the combination you're looking for. Might be kinda pricey though. Good luck! |
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Location: NJ | Y'know Zilla, it's really funny that you mentioned this!
I used to be (like to think I still AM) one of the "dying breed" of sign painters (who also did gold leaf). I was thinking of this last night as an alternative for Woody, and went out to my old lettering box. Several years ago my daughter raided it and used some of my lettering quills for various school art projects, and rendered 'em unuseable for lettering. My can of gold sizing has dried-up, and the two sheets of gold that I had in there were reduced to a little pile of the stuff that you find floating in the bottom of a bottle of Goldschlagger. Shit.
It's been a bunch of years since I used this stuff (damn computers!).
Replacing this stuff'd be a pretty substantial investment. I'd have to buy a whole "book" of gold (25 leaves - 3.375" x 3.375"), the cost of which would depend upon the current market value . . .
Send me an e-mail Woody, when y'get a chance . . . |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I have huge respect for sign painters. I used to date a women who was a sign painter. I was in awe watching her work...
This of course makes me conflicted about Cliff. |
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Location: NJ | One of these days, when my daughter finishes school, and I can get out of this alimony situation (when?When?WHEN??), I hope to escape to some sunny, seaside resort community, letter boats during the day and sing/play guitar in bars at night . . .
Ah . . . it's nice t'Dream :rolleyes: |
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| You'd be in good company cliff - apart from being one of the 10 best guitar players who ever lived Tal Farlow was a sign writer by profession and several times in his life just walked away from the jazz world and went back to sign-painting for a few years and just played the local bars for beer money to keep his hand in.
Sounds like a good plan cliff. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Dry transfers (rub on) would be good but not the same as the adhesive ones that Ovation uses.
I considered gold leaf or a solid medium caligraphy but there is considerable learning curve there. I also believe that hand painting is a "gift" and not one of mine! |
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Location: Madison, Wisconsin | I used to watch a 1 armed guy in Northern Idaho do signs. I used to love seeing him do backward store windows. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Was he all right? |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | argh |
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Location: SoCal | My dad used to tell of a pinstriper of cars that they used to watch when they were kids. It was all done by hand, and the more the guy drank, the steadier his hand got.... |
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Location: NJ | I could kick myself in the ass (ShutUpWitko!) for not learning pinstriping when I was young . . . . |
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Location: Orlando, FL | Cliff, funny the direction this thread took. A few decades ago I worked as a signpainter too. I got by OK but I was never really that good with a brush, I was a much better calligrapher and lettering artist using speedball pens and rapiographs. I still love type and letters though. These days my lettering and Calligraphy design starts out on paper then goes to the computer to be finished.
Still got my showcard brushes somewhere. Still got a variety of speedball pens too. But I sure don't miss cleaning those rapiograph pens. |
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Location: NJ | Ever use a "ruling pen"?? |
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Location: Orlando, FL | Yep used a ruling pen. How about a ruling compass. What a mess! I'm glad I learned on a drawing board, but I don't miss a lot of the tools! |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Ever use Illudium PU:36 Explosive Space Modulator?
 |
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Location: Orlando, FL | Jeff, I'm going to have to disintegrate you now! |
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Location: NJ | Beat him with a mahl stick. |
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Location: Orlando, FL | :) |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | you have done it now |
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Location: Orlando, FL | Jeff,
One more time - with feeling! |
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metal stick on letters - Hey Cliff!