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A client has two sub-division entrance monument signs routed out of HDU. In need of refurbishment. Letters are gold...is there a paint or paint process that produces a high gloss gold similar to the brilliance of actual gold leaf on dimensional letters?
-------------------- Tony Lucero Eagle Graphics Waterford, MI www.eaglegph.com Posts: 305 | From: Waterford, MI, USA | Registered: Apr 2000
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NO! It's real gold or paint but paint does NOT look like real gold. Varigated is a little cheaper but you still have all the same labor cost. How old are the signs? Is there a reason they need to be redone? Well done gold leaf should last quite a while....
[ September 21, 2011, 03:55 PM: Message edited by: Jane Diaz ]
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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If they're not going to spring for the cash to do it right, you may want to consider using Ronan Aqua-Leaf. I've had good results, but Ray took the words right outta my mouth.....
-------------------- www.signcreations.net Sonny Franks Lilburn, GA 770-923-9933 Posts: 4115 | From: Lilburn, GA USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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another option is mica powders,..you can size the copy and then use the mica powders just like gold leaf with the exception that they are powders and you will need to clean off the excess and waste. I would like to think they are less expensive than gold leaf and they do not tarnish.I would assume you will need to add a protective clear coat if the sign is an exterior one.
[ September 21, 2011, 05:16 PM: Message edited by: Tim Barrow ]
-------------------- 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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Not exactly cheaper, but you might be able to paint the letterers with those custom paints that are used on show cars, especially Lowriders. You know, the heavy metal flake type of paint. Or maybe silver base with a Kandy Axtec gold, clear-coated. But overall' I'd re-guild and then clear the gold with Imron, maybe three coats. And now here's the cheapiest way to do it,,,,"Gold Kylon Paint!" Thousands of grafitti artists can't be wrong.
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3816 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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I have used mica powders. They are available from Letterhead Supply. They are a natural mineral and do offer a more brilliant luster than paint. I would not say as brilliant as real gold leaf. You will want to paint the letters with imitation gold or metallic gold first. then tint the size that you will use on top of the first coating. The mica powders are very shear and translucent. If you skip the first coat you will see through the powder to what ever is underneath. Apply the powder to the size with a blush makeup brush. I successfully coated mine with Clearshield without it drowning the luster much.I was told that natural mica will not tarnish and is very durable. You may not need the clear, Take your chances.
-------------------- Bob Sauls Sauls Signs & Designs Tallahassee, Fl
"Today I'll meet nice people and draw for them!" Posts: 765 | From: Tallahassee, Fl | Registered: Jun 2009
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Alicia,... the mica powders are commonly used to tint automotive paints both custom and normal automotive colors, thats why the bright golds do not fade,.. I sometimes buy them locally at my automotive paint supplier and or faux finish suppliers,.....
-------------------- 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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In my shop, Gold is first hands down, but if the budget does not allow for it than it is up to me to give them an alternative, after all they are still asking to have their sign refurbished.
Ronan's Aqua Leaf is my next choice and if I can get an answer from Jake Snow on a product he showed me this summer I will get it on here to.
As for the Aqua Leaf I have 5 year old signs with it but no later than that, but still as nice as day one.
I know that Jakes has been in the field for awhile to so I will give him a ring and respond.
-------------------- Sam Staffan Mackinaw Art & Sign 721 S. Nokomis St. Mackinaw City, MI dstaffan@sbcglobal.net Posts: 1694 | From: Mackinaw City, MI | Registered: Mar 2004
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Alsa used to make a mirror look-goldy coloured automotive urethane, I think.
HOwever therer is ther cost to sondeirtr, plus the preparation...gold might be better in the long run, but look up Alsa Corp special FX urethanes.
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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I would try to get them to spring for gold, but if they will not, then One Shot Metallic Brass is a fairly good looking paint. It is a lot better looking than the Metallic Gold one shot.
-------------------- Tom Rose 1938 Model Sign Dude T.Rose Signs Whitehall,PA Posts: 327 | From: Whitehall,PA,USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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There is no substitute for the real thing !! I once had some success by mixing One Shot Metalic Gold and One Shot Metalic Brass together, it gave a more realistic finish ?
Brian.
-------------------- Brian the Brush brian the brush uk Yorkshire, UK www.brianthebrushuk.com Posts: 123 | From: United Kingdom | Registered: Sep 2001
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I have used plenty of real gold in the past and usually had to administer CPR upon quoting it. Now, I have to add defibrillation to the mix. I have found Ronan Aqua Leaf Brass to be one of the nicer colors as an option. Also, Sophisticated Finishes has a couple Gold paints (Pharaoh's Gold and Iridescent Gold) that have a high quality look. The gold paints need to be applied over a white background and require many coats to cover.
Back to the five word poem my foreman coined twenty five years ago:
"Gold's gold... and paint ain't!"
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5084 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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-------------------- Len Mort Signmaker1.com 11 Juniper Drive Millbury, MA 508-865-2382 "A Good Business Sign, is A Sign of Good Business"(1957) Posts: 811 | From: Millbury, Ma | Registered: Dec 2006
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Not far from here is a 10 year old sign that was painted with Matthews paint- a metalic gold. Not as shiney as real gold, but still looks really nice.
I wouldn't clear coat the gold leaf. A different person did 5 large gold leafed signs, clear coated the whole sign (painted purple), and within 3 years the clear coating yellowed and was peeling terribly. The school district was not happy.
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I have seen paints thats close to gold as long as you dont wiew them side by side. I think it may be a electrolyted gilded alum flakes in it. Been seaching, but cant find it
-------------------- Stein Saether GullSkilt AS Trondheim Posts: 1183 | From: Trondheim Norway | Registered: Nov 1998
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Thanks for all the helpful replies...Gold paint is going to satisfy this client...I could sure impress the hell out of them by saying I imported some special "Electrolyted gilded aluminum flaked paint from Trondheim Norway." If that doesn't happen....I'm sure I can locate Ronan Aqua Leaf. Thanks again...this site rocks!
-------------------- Tony Lucero Eagle Graphics Waterford, MI www.eaglegph.com Posts: 305 | From: Waterford, MI, USA | Registered: Apr 2000
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Tony, the Aqua-Leaf is a good product. The application is a little funky - the first coat is almost translucent. Second coat looks much better, and I usually do a third. Dries quick, so 3 coats isn't a hassle. It helps if you prime or paint your surface white. Keep stirring the paint while using it - it tends to separate and get globby on the bottom. If you have any left over in the can, transfer it to a jar or can with tight lid so it doesn't dry up. I think you'll like this paint.....
-------------------- www.signcreations.net Sonny Franks Lilburn, GA 770-923-9933 Posts: 4115 | From: Lilburn, GA USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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I used ronan aqua leaf to refurb a sign on site about 7 years ago and it still looks good although the rest of the paint on the sign is beat. It was a vast imnprovement over the look of one shot metallic that had darkened on the sign but not a match for gilding.I usually use it over a similar base colour latex or enamel, yellow for gold, rusty shade for the copper etc.I also have used dry mica pigment overgold size or tacky paint and got a result that looks about 75% as good as a gild, messy process though
-------------------- Pete Payne Willowlake Design/Canadian Signcrafters Bayfield, ON
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Stein....Whoa...I thought that it was so cool that someone from Norway answered my question. As a small humble family owned and operated company that has the resources to get help as far away as Norway is amazing. Hearing from you made me feel great!...not upset in any way. Thanks Tony
-------------------- Tony Lucero Eagle Graphics Waterford, MI www.eaglegph.com Posts: 305 | From: Waterford, MI, USA | Registered: Apr 2000
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