The county has asked me to re paint an old courthouse sign that was sandblasted about 5 years ago. The paint is chipping off in some areas. The sign is about 4x8 so I would like to do the work in place if possable. I would remove the sign but it is bolted from some end posts and the bolts were countersunk into the wood and then covered with putty. Will I need a special stripper for redwood? Any tips would be helpful. Thanks!
------------------ Robert Davis Sticky Sam's Signs mttropic@dnet.net The Great Smoky Mountains Bryson City, N.C.
Posted by Nevman (Member # 332) on :
It has been mentioned on this board before by someone els (sorry - can't remember) to bring the sign to a furniture stripper to get the old paint off. They have big vats that the can just dip the sign in. I've never tried it, but it sounds feasable.
Another opion would be to beltsand the raised portion, re-mask with sandblast resist and then have it quickly sandblasted.
Paint stripper seems like it would be awfully messy as well as time consuming.
Good luck!
------------------ Pat Neve, Jr. Sign Man, Inc. 4580 N. US 1 Melbourne, FL 32935 321-259-1703 signman@signmaninc.com Capt. Sign Letterville Constituent constituent: "One of the individual entities contributing to a whole"
Posted by Pierre St.Marie (Member # 1462) on :
Hi, Pat.......actually "Aircraft Stripper" works VERY well. The problem with the "vat" dip method is that it also attacks the adhesives bonding the boards to each other. He may end up with another dowel and glue proceedure. BTW......if you coat the finished sign face with Pelucid you'll never do another rennovation.
------------------ St.Marie Graphics & Makin' Tracks Sound Studio Kalispell, Montana stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com 800 735-8026 We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
Robert, Is the background peeling also? In my opinion, stripping would be a last resort because it will be a real mess. Without seeing the sign, I would sand it down with a random orbital sander. You shouldn't need to sand to bare wood, just remove all loose paint. Where the paint chips out, "feather" the edges around these faults. Is the background painted or stained? Remove the loose paint or stain from the background with a soft bristle wire brush being careful not to damage the "fins".
If you can take it to the shop, spray the WHOLE SIGN, after sanding and removing all dust, with about two even coats of solid color acrylic latex stain of the desired color. This will serve as your primer and coat out your background as well leaving a nice smooth surface for top coating your graphics.
After scuffing with some 220 grit paper, you're ready to paint your raised areas with either bulletin colors or acrylic latex enamels. We prefer the latter.
Works for us.
------------------ Wayne Webb Webb Sign Studio,Inc. creators of "woodesigns" "autograph your work with excellence" webbsignstudio@digitalexp.com
[This message has been edited by Wayne Webb (edited August 04, 2000).]
[This message has been edited by Wayne Webb (edited August 04, 2000).]
Posted by Michael Boone (Member # 308) on :
Reblast the whole sign...then sand the raised portions....this will save the step of remasking..... I bet removing the sign and taking it to your shop will be easier in the end...all your tools at arms reach....lay flat to sand is more convenient.... My brother in law is in furniture biz...we have done stripping of signs..it works well...caustic solution used in his shop...make sure you get all the stripper off..no matter what kind if you use it...and let it dry well before refinishing...
Both the raised and the background are peeling and painted. I would guess the sander and wire brush would do the job with the least amount of mess. The whole sign was not blasted very deep. (It was done in-house by the county) They want the job done for $300.00 so I dont have alot of choices. Thanks,
------------------ Robert Davis Sticky Sam's Signs mttropic@dnet.net The Great Smoky Mountains Bryson City, N.C.
Posted by Monte Jumper (Member # 1106) on :
In over 20 years of messing with redwood I have never had to strip one.
Here's my method,use a pressure washer and a wire brush,brush and blow off any loose paint and dirt residues.
Let it dry a couple of days then sand all the smooth areas and then paint it like you would if it were new.
It is a lot easier to do laying down than in an upright position but ya gotta do what ya gotta do.
Now my way aint the only way but "if it werks fer me it'll werk fer you".
------------------ Monte Jumper SIGNLanguage/Norman.Okla.
Posted by Larry Elliott (Member # 263) on :
Taking the sign down would be a better way to refinish it, if the county only 'wants' to pay a certain amount then let them have their maintainance crew remove the sign and re-install when you're finished. Painting a blasted background in a vertical position takes MUCH longer than when laying flat so if they're concerned with price let them furnish some valuable labor and make it easier on you so you can keep the price within their budget, after all the maintainance crew is on the payroll even when they're sitting at the county shop.
------------------ Larry
Elliott Design McLemoresville, Tn.
If you can't find the time to do it right, where gonna find the time to do it over?
