The steps in making a sign for a happy customer

[Frank Pellow]

I'm attaching a PDF file that describes a typical process that I use to make sure that my typical customer feels part of the project and likes the result.

By the way, my customers don't pay me directly.  Rather, I make things for them in return for them making an appropriate donation to 'Medicins Sans Frontieres' (Doctors Without Borders).  If the cost of materials and postage is less than $100, I eat the cost.  I ask to be reimbursed for any cost over $100.  I also suggest a minimum amount that they should donate (but, do not follow up on this). I've been doing this for about 6 months and, so far, all my customers have come to me by word of mouth.

Here is a photo of the sign that I made for my customer:

Life's Better on Canna.pdf

Edited February 7, 2022 by Frank Pellow

[heppnerguy]

  Thank you showing exactly all the steps you went through to come to your final results. It was well thought out and executed. I have never gone through a process like you just demonstrated and appreciated you taking the time to show the process you did and your thoughts on it as you eventually came to the decision your reached. I found it not only very informative but also quite interesting.

Dick

heppnerguy

[Frank Pellow]

4 hours ago, heppnerguy said:

  Thank you showing exactly all the steps you went through to come to your final results. It was well thought out and executed. I have never gone through a process like you just demonstrated and appreciated you taking the time to show the process you did and your thoughts on it as you eventually came to the decision your reached. I found it not only very informative but also quite interesting.

Dick

heppnerguy

Thanks Dick.  I guess that the PDF attachment worked. 

Edited February 5, 2022 by Frank Pellow

[heppnerguy]

4 hours ago, Frank Pellow said:

Thanks Dick.  I guess that the PDF attachment worked. 

It did very well. Thanks again for posting it

[don watson]

Thanks for this Frank. I will check it out later.

Don W

[Dan]

Cool story and good for you. Hope you get swamped with customers. 

[preprius]

deleted.... sketch.

Nice sign.  Good coloring.  

And yes as the PDF file shows keeping the customer engaged is good. 

Edited February 5, 2022 by preprius
miss understood the sign.

[Frank Pellow]

43 minutes ago, preprius said:

I just want to make sure I understand what you trying to teach is....See cartoon sketch...  Sorry for for bad drawing.  I had to get it down on paper fast. 

 

I guess the main thing I am stressing is to keep your customer informed and involved.  Make them feel that they own the project and this will make them proud and happy with the item produced by the project.

[preprius]

 

If I was wrong I will delete my sketch.

 

Edited February 5, 2022 by preprius
removed stupid comment.

[Frank Pellow]

1 hour ago, preprius said:

So I guees I missed what Canna is meaning.   

Canna is not Canada.

So I jumped to the conclusion the sign was refering to Canabus plant. 

If I was wrong I will delete my sketch.

 

Sorry, but you were wrong.  But, it is an interesting cartoon.

Canna is the name of an island in Georgian Bay (Lake Huron) and that has been the name of the island for a very long time.

Edited February 5, 2022 by Frank Pellow

[Wichman]

I have a question for you; how do you support the piece as you are cutting the very ends of the boards? It looks like you angle the piece to keep as much of the board on the table as possible, is that correct? 

[Frank Pellow]

12 hours ago, Wichman said:

I have a question for you; how do you support the piece as you are cutting the very ends of the boards? It looks like you angle the piece to keep as much of the board on the table as possible, is that correct? 

When cutting with a regular (that is, non spiral) blade near the end of a piece this long, sometimes you have no choice but to have most of the piece off the table.  I usually sit to scroll but, with this piece, I had the stand a lot of the time.

A few years ago, I made a temporary larger table table and, sometimes, I use that when cutting very large pieces.  Here is a photo of that table:

                                     

I did not need to use that table when cutting the Canna sign.

I have a infeed/outfeed adjustable roller stand that is mostly for use with my tablesaw and bandsaw.  Very rarely, I have also used the roller stand to support pieces that I am cutting with my scrollsaw.

 

Edited February 6, 2022 by Frank Pellow

[Roberta Moreton]

That was very informative!

[Millwab]

Frank, just curious. You chose white oak for its outside durability but you backed it with BB ply. Aren’t you afraid the ply will delaminate outside?

[Frank Pellow]

1 hour ago, Millwab said:

Frank, just curious. You chose white oak for its outside durability but you backed it with BB ply. Aren’t you afraid the ply will delaminate outside?

That was is a slight concern.  There are a couple of things that I hope will help.  First, being on the back, it's better protected.  Second, I drove several screws in through the back of the sign. 

Of, course, I also used glue that is good outside and I sprayed he whole sign including the back with an exterior grade clear finish.