Here is a 3' x 4' sign that we just installed Monday. It is several layers of Precision Board with letters, scroll, etc. cut from 30 # Precison Board and covered with gold leaf. The "Painter of Light" is hand carved convex letters with gold leaf.
This is my "yellow page ad" for the year since it is located in a very prominent place in the village of Salado, just south of me.
Posted by Kelly Thorson (Member # 2958) on :
That is incredibly beautiful!!!! It is probably one of most impressive signs I've seen. If it doesn't draw business, nothing will. Kel
Posted by Amy Brown (Member # 1963) on :
Hey Raymond! That's a great sign as usual.
What type of tools do you use to cutout such intricate letters? I have a job coming up where I will likely need to do something similar.
Thanks!
Posted by Mark Fair Signs (Member # 289) on :
beautiful sign raymond
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
Awesome, how about a close-up?
Posted by Jeff Ogden (Member # 3184) on :
Raymond....
It looks pretty good from where I'm standing. I'd like to see it in person...the picture doesn't capture the color too well, but I can tell it's got a nice rich look to it...
Posted by Jackson Smart (Member # 187) on :
.....beautiful Indeed!!! Posted by Joe Cieslowski (Member # 2429) on :
Great Job Ray! Bring some pics to Atlantic City.....I want to hear all the details! 30lb? How does that carve? I don't think I've ever touched the stuff.
Joe, Makin Chips and Havin Fun!
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
Thanks for the nice comments.
Amy - the small letters were cut from 30# Precision Board (3/4" thick) on a scroll saw. I draw off the letters on my plotter and then use 3M 77 Spray Adhesive to attatch the paper to the HDU - then it's just a process of really taking your time to make sure the letters are cut smoothly. The convex face was made with a Dremel grinding tool and then sanded smooth with various grits and shapes of emery boards that I picked up at a local beauty supply. 120 grit sandpaper was also used. Then I primed the letters with Coastal Enterprises FSC-88-WB filler and sanded that smooth. The letters were then spray painted with Krylon satin black (two coats). I used 12 hour LeFranc size on the surface of the letter and let it set overnight. The next morning I applied 23k Patent Gold.
The same procedure was used for the scroll work.
Needless to say, it's a time consuming process.
The script was carved into 30# Precision Board with a v-chisel, primed, sized, and then 23k gold (loose leaf window) was added with a soft brush.
Joe - 30# is very dense and doesn't carve very well for scrolls and such, but the inscised lettering was very nice. It dulls the chisels very quickly. They also make a 40# HDU which is just like a rock. I have a sample, but haven't done anything with it yet. Probably their 22# would be better for carving shapes.
I won't be in AC, but will be thinking about all of you having all that fun in the Bullpen. I thought that I was going to be invited back to do a workshop, but that didn't happen. After the mess I made of the computer workshop last year I can't very well blame them.
Posted by Joe Cieslowski (Member # 2429) on :
OOOOOOPS! I didn't realize you had so much fun last year....
Ray, what angle are you grinding on your gouges? I've carved some pretty hard stuff...but it's usually me that dulls the tools .
Have you tried a micro bevel?
Joe, Makin Chips and Havin Fun!
Posted by Henry Barker (Member # 174) on :
Hi Ray,
Great looking sign, I really like your work, interesting that you use much denser HDU's. I also tend to use much denser, which I think is better to work with, less "powdery", and we don't have so much choice with nobody interested in supplying Sign-Foam or PB here in Scandinavia, we use boards that are produced for prototype tooling instead.
Ray you mention Krylon , is the rest of it painted using Gary's paint?
We're just discussing the freight costs of his paint range to us, I am looking forward to using his paint instead of the Deka and One shot we use today.
Thanks for sharing.
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
Joe - the angle on my chisels is about 20 degress (more or less - I don't measure a lot) and I use a Tormek sharpening station. HDU dulls the chisels a lot faster than working in wood.
I don't know what a micro bevel is! That's not one of those short jokes, is it?
Henry - I like the more dense HDU for the same reasons: less dust and less chance to knock a corner off when handling the panels. Also, because of smaller cells it is easier to get a smooth finish. Most of the time I use 18# when sandblasting. The really heavy stuff is reserved for small lettering and other detailed add-ons.
I must admit that this entire job was painted with One-Shot (except for the letter returns which were Krylon). Since most people would be seeing this sign with their nose almost touching the letters I wanted a super slick, glass like appearance. (There are five coats on the background). It is under a porch and surrounded by large trees, so it will never be touched by sunlight. It will be interesting to see how it compares to the rest of the work in the area, which is all Rhino latex paints.
It would be interesting to see what others would have charged for this sign. Care to share?
Posted by cheryl nordby (Member # 1100) on :
It's a beauty indeed, Raymond
Posted by Joe Cieslowski (Member # 2429) on :
Ray, "Short Joke" hahahahahahahah, I didn't think of it like that LOL. Really, a micro bevel is a secondary bevel honed on the inside face of the gouge. The tormek gives you a hollow grind so with a bevel of 20* it's probably close to 15* at the edge. I have a flat grind system set at 15*. then I use a slip stone at about 15* for the micro bevel. That gives me 30* at the edge....VERY durable...try it, you'll like it! Oh, and I also true the edge to make sure there are no little inconsistences (sp)? before I put the micro bevel on. Also, when I need to touch up the edge, I hone the micro bevel, not the main bevel...which keeps it flatter, longer. Did that make sense?
My experience for the most part has been with 18lb on real signs.....at the meets I carve what they send me!
I'll price that sign but I need a lot more details....can you email the specifics or post em? Is ALL the lettering carved?, All the scrolls?etc.
Joe, Makin Chips and Havin Fun!
Posted by Sue Avery (Member # 686) on :
Just Beautiful, Mister C.
Sue
Posted by Shane French (Member # 2098) on :
Wow. I have wondered for a while if anybody used a scroll saw to do this kind of work. Thanks for the inspiration. Beautiful sign!
-shane
Posted by bronzeo (Member # 1408) on :
Very nice Raymond. I have a comment on the Tormek for carving chisels, but will make it on the regular bb so others can see. Again nice sign. Jack
Posted by Neil D. Butler (Member # 661) on :
Absolutely Beautiful Ray! I too would love to see a closeup. And I don't usually ask this but how much would someone expect to pay for a work of art like that... ball park.
Posted by Deb Fowler (Member # 1039) on :
Gorgeous sign, Raymond. To hear that you handcut these is so impressive since it's rare anymore. What a treat, thanks for posting. (sure generated a lot of questions on "how to"!
Posted by Kathy Joiner (Member # 1814) on :
Beautiful sign and worthy to be displayed with the work of Thomas Kincade.
Posted by Chris Elliott (Member # 1262) on :
Nice work Mr. Chapman!! Meanwhile, how about that price info? Anyone??
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How does that carve? I don't think I've ever touched the stuff.![[Wink]](wink.gif)
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