Buried Treasure!!

I had the notion to see what kind of shape any of my sign lettering brushes were in so dug out the sign kit late last evening..16 years its been tucked away & so it's time I checked it..It's going to take a sit down & cleaning up because it looks pretty bad, but I think I can salvage a lot..besides the Mack pinstripers, what you see here are called quills, greyhounds, & fitches--also 2 gold leaf sizing brushes..so far we have 3 members that turn in beautiful pinstriping--Ultra Al, Fresnojohn, Patoche & now Don has shown an interest in learning..I need to know what you fellows are oiling your brushes with now?? I don't have any lard oil but I'll check our older hardware store for some neetsfoot oil today..the 4 of you may have stirred a little interest in me & I may miss the feel of 1Shot..I thought all that was long past me --we'll see how things clean up.. Do they even make tin Stabillo boxes anymore??..I rather doubt it, but I have two!!

[Vicar]

Looks like 'black gold' to me darla.
I had no idea how to work a striping brush back in australia when i was given one to outline a sign on a gym, but i think after watching a couple how to videos...
Looks like you are ready to get down and dirty.

[codepunk]

I have done a little bit of striping in the past, none recently but I really do need to improve my skills with it. Not sure what others use to preserve brushes but I clean mine then dip them in standard clean motor oil and then wrap them in a paper towel.

[fresnojohns]

Darla,
That is a great assortment of brushes. You can still get neetsfoot oil. As far
as what I use for brushes is Mineral Oil. You can get it at the drug store and its very good on brushes. I haven't been able to find Lard Oil in Arizona. Some
use automatic transmission oil too. You are very lucky to have learned sign painting from someone else. When I started getting into it, it was shifting to computers. But nothing, and I mean Nothing beats anything thats Pinstriped, Lettered, and Airbrushed by a set of human hands. Its good to see interest
in all of this hand applied technique again. Thanks for the photo.
Fresnojohns

Well, I saved every single one of them!! Wonders never cease..Now all I have to do is check how I stand with 1Shot & I'll be set to go..How are you faring Don?? It gets scary when it comes down to making a commitment & I'm not sure about that either..
Fresnojohns, it's nice to know you have such respect for hand lettering & signage & enjoy it so much..I have no idea how long it can hold on--so few care & one day it may reach a point that no one has viewed any..that will be a sad day..

two brushs and house of kolor arrived today
unforunately it will be next week before I can play with them

but I will get going on this than

[Ultra Al]

i have heard of people using motor oil, transmission oil, mineral oil and brush preservative like what Mr J and others sell. i use pure (not compound) Neatsfoot oil available at saddle and tack stores, because i read somewhere that it is made from animal byproducts like hooves and such and comes cloest to duplicating the natural oil the squirrel makes. Looks like you are loaded for bear, maybe a couple of Kafka's I still havent ordered my BOBBO brushes yet but will soon. The Kafka scrollers in #1 and #3 work well. AL

[chucktx]

if what you are looking for is squirrl oil, maybe somebody you know hunts and eats them....have them save the oil for you and render some for your self.....not a hard thing to do.....just a thought...

[rowie]

Squirrel Oil, OMG!

The poor buggers better be dead first or they could get right nasty when squeezing the oil out, but thats just EWWWW...

Now my arm is hurting again, better put on some Goanna oil to loosen it up.

rowie

[heartless]

Originally Posted by rowie

Squirrel Oil, OMG!

The poor buggers better be dead first or they could get right nasty when squeezing the oil out, but thats just EWWWW...

Now my arm is hurting again, better put on some Goanna oil to loosen it up.

rowie

i thought it was Emu oil that was supposed to be so good....

Darla, nice collection of brushes. would love to see them in action again.

You know heartless, you're half smart..I would imagine emu oil would be a great brush conditioner..& I think they have it just down the road at Wallyworld--I looked in all available places for neatsfoot oil & would have to make a trip to Corpus because only one man here even knew what it was..All the young clerks in Lowe's said "huh!!"..
I feel really good about cleaning my kit out--took me most of the day & now the better part of the brushes get put away once again..life seems to come in stages & I'm an airbrush artist now.. I'm glad you told me there were two types of neatsfoot Ultra Al--what would the compound type do (sounds gritty??)

[redneck]

Darla, if you need neatfoot oil why don't you try shoe-repair shops or saddle shops

[heartless]

You know heartless, you're half smart..

SHhhh, Darla - don't tell anyone!!! dont want to ruin my reputation!! LOL

as for the neetsfoot oil, i would think that any place that sells horse tack (saddles, bridles, other leather goods) would have it available.

hmmm, wonder about mink oil too...i have used mink oil on my old leather jacket to keep it soft & supple, also helps repel water...

[Soler]

hmm those are funny looking brushes


s'cuse my ignorance when it comes to the art of pinstriping. I always thought it was just parallel stripes like on cars or houses

[xzotic ink]

darla always seems to amaze me! pin stripping and signs? what else you got tucked away? lol !! lets start breakin those babies out!!