Lacquer?

[Michael]

When any of you make signs out of brass,slate or any materials that need infill, do you also lacquer them afterwards or is the cellulose weatherproof?

 

Still quite inexperienced in the sign making side of computerised engraving,but some of your work pictured here looks great and is very inspiring.

 

I will try some sample work to put in my window to hopefully encourage a few more sales.

 

Also , how do you work out pricing on your signs.I use my trophy company's price list for brass or laminate signs but then order materials and engrave myself for a much bigger profit margin.Signs like slate numbers I just order from house nameplate company but profit margins are not very good.

I would like to be cheaper than competition without cutting my own throat or guessing at prices and being caught out with the returning customer being told a different price, making me look very unproffesional,which I have to admit I have done a couple of times recently!! !!

[ironplanet uk900]

I never use Laquer on brass. It peels off and makes it very difficult to polish up again, as the remaining Laquer is a pig to get off.

I always advise the customer how to look after their brass signs to keep them in good condition.

 

 

 

Pricing: Charles Birch have a good price matrix if you want something to go by.

[Michael]

Thanks UK, what advice do you give? Doesn't polishing pull out the cellulose paint?

[ironplanet uk900]

Tell the customer that thier brass sign needs to be taken care of, A good metal polish should be used such as "Peek" then use a good bees wax polish to protect untill the next time it is cleaned.

Polishing will eventually ware the inlay away, but if the job has been done correctly this will take years or even decades.

[Forest Cobbler]

I have been asked to renovate some brass lift signs removing the old paint, polishing them up and repainting them. The customer has requested that they are then given a coat of lacquer.

I have explained all the reasons given in this strand for why that might not be the best idea, but I think he will still want us to do it anyway. At least they are going to be indoors, not open to the elements.

So, if you were to lacquer a brass plate for indoor use, what would you use?

Thanks, Valerie

[Michael]

This was the one I used to use.

[Forest Cobbler]

There are times when I feel completely brain dead. I've just had a cut material delivery from Mastergrave and didn't give it a thought to look at whether they had a lacquer 

[Tricolourblade]

Just a note, when you polish it , put a pet disc in the cloth and it’s stops the polish going in the infill .

old tip I know but thought I’d mention it