Router-carved Sign

[WoodWrangler]

Last week my neighbor came asking for a sign for his new beach house. As the story goes, he's been "planning" on getting a beach house for years but never made the final decision. Now that he has, everyone in his family has one reaction .... "It's about time!" ... so he requested that I create a sign to "label" the beach house with this saying.

Here's the results from today's progress. He's likely going to take it from here and paint the letters & border -- then hang it by the house.

The glue up ...

The sign design ...

Work in progress...

At the start ...

And the unfinished sign ..

Overall, it was a neat project. I've been planning on making a sign like this for my shop, so this just was practice that pays!

 

[Makinsawdust]

Jeremy,
That a great sign. Doing it by hand is a pretty tough undertaking. I seem to find a way to cut into something I didn't mean to cut when I do it.
Rob

 

[Jon]

Wow That looks great. I am impressed. What kind of bit did you use?

 

[WoodWrangler]

Wow That looks great. I am impressed. What kind of bit did you use?

I didn't know which bit to use ... so I went with a Freud Round Nose bit. It gave it a somewhat hand-carved look ... and kinda looks like water -- which goes well with the beach theme.

 

[Canuck]

Very, very impressive work, Jeremy!!!!:eusa_danc:eusa_danc:eusa_danc:eusa_danc:eusa_danc

Almost looks like it was carved with a CNC machine of some type!

Better be careful. The folks that live in neighboring beach houses may be preparing a long list of sign's for ya to carve!!!:wsmile:

I am sure that they will be egually impressed and pleased!:eusa_clap:eusa_clap

(Oh ya. I missed the type of wood you used?)

Wayne

 

[jerrye]

wow

 

[DaveO]

Jeremy, that's AWESOME!!! I really like how you raised the letters from the field. That's one top notched sign, you might be finding yourself much more work. Every beach-house community I've been to has every house named....that's a lot of sign work.
Only one suggestion I would make if it isn't too late, is to take a wide sweep carving gouge and "smooth" out the field a little bit. It looks not quite hand carved in texture. But dang good for router carved:eusa_clap

Also I would like to know how you did the computer print-out over several sheets like that :eusa_thin:icon_scra

Dave

 

[nelsone]

That came out great! Was he happy with the result?

 

[woodArtz]

Nice work Jeremy! I would have had a pile of practice attempts before I ever got close to that... great job! :eusa_clap:eusa_clap:eusa_clap:eusa_clap

 

[Gotcha6]

The sign looks great! :icon_thum What wood did you use? I think I'll make one like that for my shop, only I'll use a saw blade in place of the seashell. BTW, get you a stool before you throw your back out leaning over that table!:wink_smil

 

[cskipper]

Cool sign!

 

[McRabbet]

A super job, Jeremy! But I'll bet your back was a bit sore after leaning over that bench for what must have seemed like an eternity! I like the background as is -- I think it looks like sand ripples, which is appropriate. I'm guessing the wood is Cypress -- hope so, as it will last! Kudos! ccasion1

 

[WoodWrangler]

Thanks for the compliments... it was a first stab at this type of sign and was a success in my book.

The wood is 8/4 Cypress.

As for the need for a gouge, I completely agree. I don't know anything about carving, and went to WC today but didn't know which one I would need. Another fellow at work carves so I might take it to him on Monday to soften the router marks.

As for my neighbor, he about fell out of his seat. I don't know what he was expecting, but I think this surpassed it.

As for printing ... I just designed it in Illustrator then printed to my little inkjet printer. I told it to "overlap" the pages by 3/4" which helped line it up.

And on the back comment ... YES, SORE! This is why I want a bench than can "raise up" when I need it. I'm a taller guy and the lower benches KILL ME!

 

[Gotcha6]

I've got a copier that does 11 x 17 sheets & enlarges up to 200%. I suspect Jeremy did something like that. Right, Jeremy?

 

[WoodWrangler]

Here's a question for you guys ... what do you think I should charge for the sign? I figure I have about 3hrs into it and 8ft of 8/4 Cypress. I'd like to see what your figures look like in comparison to what I think.

 

[Mike Davis]

When I was in the sign business back in the 80s and 90s I would charge around $250-$300 for a sign like that. Of course that was painted and hung so deduct $50 -$75 for that.

I think you should do the painting though. I'd hate to see such great work ruined by a rank paint job.

 

[Jon]

160 plus cost of wood

 

[MikeL]

Very nice work Jeremy! My mother-in-law lives at the beach and she would love a sign like that. I'd be happy if mine tunred out half that good. :eusa_clap:eusa_clap:eusa_clap

 

[Badabing]

Hey Jeremy, glad you posted pics of this sign. It's awesome! after talking to you about it at WC today I was thinking along those lines but it looks a whole lot better than I imagined it. Nice job!

BTW, I saw you leaving WC and didn't get a chance to say bye. You had your hands full with Hailey though and seemed busy. I'll catch up with you next time!

 

[Dutchman]

Nice sign WoodWrangler. And good job with your safety gear!! (glasses, ear muffs and respirator:eusa_clap.