Thanks guys. I've seen many of the videos, too, and really haven't given it much of a shot yet -- just a simple couple of tries with what was immediately to hand. Three factors are: that the actual size of brass I have is 3.25" x 4.25" so the letters are necessarily fine lined, I don't own a laminator (though do have a model aircraft shrinking iron), and most likely, I wasn't getting the piece hot enough. My only try was on sheet aluminum actually, as a test, since I only have one piece of brass sheet.
To get enough heat and uniform temp, I have seen one person in a video use a skillet on a gas stovetop doing the transfer, heating the metal under, and pressing the paper down with a Teflon scraper.
I haven't tried anything further because I think I should not get sidetracked on that, rather I should finish the ELS and test it first. The lathe is 5 years in the making now. It would be good to finish it operationally while the iron is hot......wait, no, wrong expression....
