jwrass Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 I have been working a tutorial on how to apply leaf, I need to edit it and take a few more pictures. I will be posting it sometime this week! This will be my first post of any pictures or tutorial on this site. It is my hope that you find it interesting and that it can be added to your arsenal. I'll be honest!!!! I'm a bit nervous about it!!!!(I don't know why) I just want it to be worthy of the fine talent on this site Respectfully Submitted, jwrass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyjim Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 Anxiously waiting to see your tutorial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbowser Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 No reason to be nervous . Anything that simulates metal is a good tip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mooneyzs Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 James... I would love to learn how to use silver leaf and use in graphics in models Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brett Barrow Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 I used silver leaf once to detail a bunch of bolt heads on a 1/12th motorcycle engine. Was easy, the leaf only sticks where you've applied the size. Just brushed a dot on each bolt head, let it tack up for a few minutes and applied the leaf. I've yet to find another application for it, but it's there in my toolbox for when I need it. Wish I had a picture, but I sold the model soon after completing it and didn't have a camera to document it at the time. One of these days I'd like to try making race car lettering with actual leaf. I've also thought about using it on scripts but haven't tried it so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skip Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 James, Not sure what size you are using to stick the Leaf or Foil. If you are using "One Shot" Size try this, it may work with other brands of size as well. (I've only used this with One Shot because that's what I was shown the trick with and all I use anyway.) Mix a small amount of un-thinned yellow or orange One Shot into the size you have paletted out until the size has just a slight tint to it. Doing so makes the size visible on the surface it is being applied to. (Can't take credit for that, it's an old Signwritter's trick passed among each other.) The other hint I would add is to never work out of the container, lessons the risk of contamination to the material in the can; I use a flat 3 inch long clean palette knife to transfer from can to palette. Seems to lesson the contamination by dust and other crud that can make its way into size (paint too), if the size becomes contaminated its junk the leaf will flake away from the dust / particles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwrass Posted June 24, 2014 Author Share Posted June 24, 2014 Skip, I too swing the brush and push the paint around! I do all the things you mentioned as well. I do use One Shots size on occasion but mostly Luco and Kurz-Hastings for oil size. I have been using some Wonda water based size that John Hanukanne turned me on to at a panel jam that he had a few year ago and it's great. I do some gilding on glass and do the gelatin hot pot process for that. I love doing leaf, especially engine turned on race cars and fire trucks. Do you subscribe to Signcraft? I know the McIltrot gang fairly well, great family. Not that it is a big deal but I was one of their first subscribers and have every issue since 1978 when they started the magazine, it's fun to pull out those old issues as it was all brush work back them. I wish One Shot would get it together with their paint since they took the lead out and that's been like 20 years ago. I use allot of DuPont Hot Hues striping and lettering urethanes and love them. Not a big Fan of their other products but the Hot Hues is killer. Great to hear from a paint pusher, Cheers Jimmy "RASS" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brett Barrow Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 James, Not sure what size you are using to stick the Leaf or Foil. If you are using "One Shot" Size try this, it may work with other brands of size as well. (I've only used this with One Shot because that's what I was shown the trick with and all I use anyway.) Mix a small amount of un-thinned yellow or orange One Shot into the size you have paletted out until the size has just a slight tint to it. Doing so makes the size visible on the surface it is being applied to. (Can't take credit for that, it's an old Signwritter's trick passed among each other.) The other hint I would add is to never work out of the container, lessons the risk of contamination to the material in the can; I use a flat 3 inch long clean palette knife to transfer from can to palette. Seems to lesson the contamination by dust and other crud that can make its way into size (paint too), if the size becomes contaminated its junk the leaf will flake away from the dust / particles. You can also mix in a little bit of the leftover leaf dust/flakes into the size to make it visible, especially on dark surfaces. Learned that from furniture restoration (my first experience working with gold leaf). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
futurattraction Posted June 27, 2014 Share Posted June 27, 2014 I'm very curious to see the process, Jimmy. Anxiously waiting... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skip Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Jimmy, Used to subscribe to Signcraft for quite a few years, I've been subscribing to Bob Bond's "Autoart" magazine for a long time as it fits the stuff that I do a lot more. John's shop is about 45 minutes away, I stop by when I'm in his neck of the woods, super nice guy, about as humble as they come. The last Airbrush Action Getaway that my nephew and I attended in Vegas John was there. Nephew took the four day Pinstriping class from Gary Jensen, Tramp Warner showed up too. We had a great time panel jamming after the classes were done for the day. We hung out until hey literally kicked us out every night. Mentioned One Shot Size as I was not sure of your experience level, Luco and One Shot probably being the two favorites that I use on a frequent basis. One Shot is probably easier for a non-trade person to get anyway. I've tried the water based size, not sure I like them yet, they have a different "Feel" to me. Learned the Sign Trade in the late 60's early 70's as a pesky kid hanging around a sign shop, one day they got tired on me hanging around they handed me a used sign blank a brush, can of One Shot and an easy alphabet to copy. Then told me not to come back until I could do the copy; I showed up two days later proud of my effort, only to be ragged on hard! Took me a couple more days to produce acceptable copy. I got another to copy and practice the first, then another and another... Within a couple months I was doing easy copy with one caveat I had to keep up my grades in school or no sign work. Must have worked, I worked sign shops on and off through college ending up as a Civil Engineer. Still have my Sign Kit and keep my brushes "Wet" on occasion Striping and Signwritting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwrass Posted July 1, 2014 Author Share Posted July 1, 2014 Skip, Your journey is much like mine. I know all the people you mentioned (and many more) except Gary but I know of his work. I met John in 2001 at a Pinstriping, Lettering, Airbrush class that he had at his shop with Mike Lavalle. I have been to three Getaways over the last 10 years, I hope to go to Glenns in the fall as I used to follow most everything he did when he was at Circus Paint with Mr J. Many of the people you mentioned come to The Milwaukee World of Wheels Car Show to participate in our Pinstriping Legends Charity as we were one of the first if not the first to have a event like that in the country. We have a huge Paint Pit and much fun is had by all! John one of the nicest man I have ever met! When I went to his class is was a intro on Friday night for all who could attend and classes were Sat & Sun wrapping up Sunday afternoon. On Sat we stayed at the shop until like 2 am we had a blast!!!! I couldn't get a flight back to Wisconsin until Monday evening which turned out to be a stroke of luck for me as John told me to stop by the shop on Monday and hang out which I did, that's when he turned me on to the wonda size. He was doing a late model pick up with graphics and part of the graphics was engine turned silver leaf. It is different to work with for sure but you can put it on, gild and spin really fast without any holidays. If you want to do some bench painting P.M. Me and I will give you my email address. It's always nice to hear from a old school guy! "Keep it Wet" Jimmy 'Rass" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwrass Posted July 1, 2014 Author Share Posted July 1, 2014 To All: It's coming, It's coming!!!!! I got busy with some sign work for a Forth Float and a couple of other projects that pay the bills $$$$$ plus a annual forth party. I'm up to my butt in alligators and trying to drain the swamp. ( plus I spend way to much time on this site) process and pictures are done. I need to work on the text and it will be done.To be truthful I under estimated the time it was going to take to do it right!! In hindsight I should have done the work and then posted it. Lesson learned, However I think you will find it interesting. Respectfully jwrass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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