I just received what was listed on ebay as 6 camel hair brushes. When I opened up the package I found: 2 #14 and 4 #16 ArtSign quills minus the handles They appear to be unused in mint condidtion.
Being fairly new to sign painting, and embarked, on a steep learning curve ( Reading books and trying everthing that I can on anything that doesn't move fast enough. And trying to not use my airbrushes for everything. ) A couple of questions for the vast knowledge that resides here...
Does anybody know anything about this brand? Where can I find handles for the brushes? What would the best applications for these brushes?
posted
Put them back in the box, close it carefully, and send them to me... Seriously, those look like some fine old quills. Go buy some cheap artist brushes with wood handles. Take the hair and ferrulles off. Poke holes in a potato, and put the quills (the open end) in the potato for a day or so, that will soften them. Trim or sand your handles to fit, then carefully push them into the quills - don't force them, they ought to be snug but not so they will split. A drop of glue won't hurt. Before using the brushes, soak them in mineral oil for a day to soften them; if they are old they will be dry and brittle. Use these brushes to paint signs, that's what they're for.
-------------------- "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 know that ya can put handles on them as the natural ferrels are usually steamed so they can accept the handle. Then after it cools down, yhe handle remains firm on the ferrel and the painting begins.
Sorry, I didn't answer the first question though.
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
Times have changed! Not too long ago most quills were sold loose like that, and the handles came seperately (you paid for the quills, the handles were free) Artsign is OK as near as I can recall. I never used that many of them. What did you pay for them, if you don't mind my asking....
-------------------- Jeff Ogden 8727 NE 68 Terr. Gainesville FL, 32609 Posts: 2138 | From: 8827 NE 68 Terr Gainesville Fl 32609 | Registered: Aug 2002
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posted
When I sold artist's brushes in 1981, Artsign Quills was being discontinued. I am not absolutely sure, but I think Liquitex company made them.? Also, a few admired signpersons let me in on the scoop: these were as decent brushes as Grumbacher and others and the price was really very modest for the quality. And, at that time they weren't losing hair as easily as the Grumbachers. I bought out the last batch they had. I have seen a lot of quills sold without handles, but the handles were there and sold separately. After using this brand, I had no desire to spend twice the price on another and I miss them being on the market. I would save them, admire them and not hesitate to use them!
[ November 09, 2002, 12:08 AM: Message edited by: Deb Fowler ]
-------------------- Deb Fowler
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible - Walt Disney (1901-1966) Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
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Thanks for the info Cam, Joey and Jeff. As far as price I'm pretty sure that it would be considered stealing. I snagged all six for $16.50. It's amazing some of the deals you can find out there.
I'm glad to here that they are pretty good quality. I'm still learning which brushes work for sign painting. Going from airbrushing acrylics to brushing One-shot is quite a change, but if my lettering ever improves I may pull off this sign painting thing yet...
posted
Hi Jed.. you pretty much stole those quills....good find~! I use the potato thing too. when you get done with the brushes.... cut the potato up carefully into french fries.... you can create fries with holes in em!!!! work that mineral oil into the heel of the brush....before you ever use em... One more note...the photo is deceiving....the potato method will work only if the quill is a real ,natural part from a feather.If its plastic....which some are....you will have to shape a handle carefully to fit....then glue it in place...potatoes wont soften plastic
[ November 09, 2002, 06:20 PM: Message edited by: Michael Boone ]
posted
Another way to attach handles that is much faster and easier to do is to boil some water then let it sit for awhile,....not long then pour it into a coffee cup almost to the top. I then take the quill and put in two wooden clothes pins and rest the quill into the water with the hair pointing up and the weight of the quill on the clothes pins over the edge of the cup,making sure the the hair stays dry. This will soften the natural quill very fast and then you can thump the water out and insert a handle with some epoxy or superglue gel,...always be sure to have a handle that is prefitted to the quill as ya don't want it to small or it will fall off amd too large and it will split the quill making it useless.
-------------------- 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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Thanks for responding, The quills may be plastic, I don't have any with real quills to check them against. I'll try a burn test with a hot needle, see which one it smells like, and go from there.
posted
All Artsign quills were natural as they were manufactured pre-plastic. Even after soaking in a potato, warming the quill will help to keep it from splitting. These quills are over 25 years old so the hairs and quills will be brittle so heed the warnings about oiling. It is not a bad idea to put a drop of oil into the quill before putting it on the handle so the butt of the hair is oiled as well. Check pages 131-135 of my book for more ideas on brush care.
-------------------- Kent Smith Smith Sign Studio P.O.Box 2385, Estes Park, CO 80517-2385 kent@smithsignstudio.com Posts: 1025 | From: Estes Park, CO | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
I personally like to use wooden dowell rods to make my handles. I grew up using quills with handles made that way, by my Dad "Art". Since those are artsign quills you should send them to Art's Signs if you don't need them(LOL). Timi is right about boiling water, I never tried the potato thing, I save my potato's for gold leaf jobs. If you have a belt sander you can turn it upside down put it on on and fashion a nice tapered handle in 5 minutes or so. Taper it so it just barely fits inside of the outer part of the unsoftened quill. then after it is softened just moisten the wood too and ease it in with a twirling motion. after the quill dries it will be firmly in place. My dad used to use a piece of copper wire like they used on the hair end of the ferrule to hold them on a little better. but like they say a little glue will help hold it. Good find on those brushes. Back when they were new they cost about 6 to 12 bucks each. But that was when hamburgers were 19 cents at McDonalds. Bill
-------------------- Bill & Barbara Biggs Art's Sign Service, Inc. Clute, Texas, USA Home of The Great Texas Mosquito Festival Proud 10 year Supporter of the Letterheads Website www.artssigns.com "MrBill-" on the chat page MailTo:biggsbb@sbcglobal.net Posts: 1020 | From: Lake Jackson,Tx | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
This board is such a great source of information it's almost scary.
Kent, thanks for the info on the quills, I had allready tested one of them and it definately smelled like a burned bird. I'll make sure that I put a little oil on the base of the hairs, I would like to get a lifetime of use out of the brushes. It sounds like a new addition to the book shelf is in order. At the rate it is growing I'm going to have to anex another room in the house.
Bill, if I wasn't so greedy for information and the means to use it, I would gladly donate them to your cause. (LOL) I really like the idea of making my own handles, I need to go shopping for some good hardwood dowels and do it right. Thanks again for the assistance.
posted
rattler look for a traditional archery shop.. Gitcha some wooden arrow shafts. They come in ash,pine, spruce or......my favorite...port orford cedar(nice smell when you sand and its soft ...easy to sand) I bet if you called a wholesaler..you could buy enugh culls to last ya a lifetime fer pennies...try Rose City Archery ..its either Oregon or washington State
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