Routered Sign

[Foxfold]

 

I was asked to make a sign for a friend. Biggest thing I've ever attempted. It's 36" x 18", the letters are ¼" deep.

He wants the 'words' painted black with the background left as is. Well, I've done the first bit now to 'paint', I'm no Rembrandt so fingers crossed 

[scrollerpete]

So far it is quite impressive 

[meflick]

Beautiful piece Brenda. I admire your skills with a router. 

[oldhudson]

Looks great, was that freehand or with a template?

[barb.j.enders]

2 hours ago, Foxfold said:

He wants the 'words' painted black with the background left as is

I have seen other projects where they paint the whole thing and then sand the top to reveal the letters.  Yours will be a little more difficult.  I almost would have painted the whole board black and then routed the letters. 

[Scrappile]

That is pretty amazing piece of hand routing... Who need a laser when you can do it that clean by hand..

[Bill WIlson]

Nice.

What size bit did you use for that?  

[Foxfold]

3 hours ago, barb.j.enders said:

I have seen other projects where they paint the whole thing and then sand the top to reveal the letters.  Yours will be a little more difficult.  I almost would have painted the whole board black and then routed the letters. 

Yes, that would definitely been easier that way.  I did my own, lot smaller, gate sign that way

[Foxfold]

3 hours ago, oldhudson said:

Looks great, was that freehand or with a template?

I took a photo of his keyring and copied it into Inkscape and printed it off 'backwards'.  Used lacquer thinner to transfer ink to wood and then freehand router.

Edited August 11, 2022 by Foxfold

[Foxfold]

1 hour ago, Bill WIlson said:

Nice.

What size bit did you use for that?  

I used a cnc bit to cut out the letters, first to 1/8" deep and then cut again down to ¼" deep. A cnc milling bit to gently make myself a gap between the letters and the rest of the board and then a ¼"  flat bottomed normal router bit to take out the majority of wood.

[Dak0ta52]

Fantastic job, Brenda!

[Dan]

I saw a guy paint the whole board first, masked the whole board, applied the pattern/template, then route. The tape removed nicely leaving a finished sign. 

Great job with the router! 

[Freddie]

Simply amazing especially freehand. I couldn’t do one that well with a template   look forward to seeing the finished work and how you actually painted the letters. 

[don watson]

Excellent looking job Brenda. I hope it works out as well as would like.

[glenwood]

When I  made the daughter in law a load of Harry Potter signs I used a very dry foam roller, very little pressure to paint the top of the letters. If I can find photos I'll post them in this thread if you like.

[Foxfold]

7 hours ago, glenwood said:

When I  made the daughter in law a load of Harry Potter signs I used a very dry foam roller, very little pressure to paint the top of the letters. If I can find photos I'll post them in this thread if you like.

Ooh, yes please if you wouldn't mind. I'm absolutely clueless. 

[glenwood]

Hi Brenda, these are the only pictures of the signs I have, each one is made from 2 pieces of 1/4" ply. Two were painted all white then rolled over very lightly with black with an almost dry foam roller and 2 done the opposite, black all over and white rolled on. I hope this gives you the inspiration to complete your sign.

[rjweb]

Beautiful I can’t believe that you do this by hand, excellent work, you could be a surgeon with those steady hands, RJ