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Steve & Barb Shortreed
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Fergus, ON, Canada
N1M 1G9

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» The Letterville BullBoard » Letterhead/Pinstriper Talk » Grain Frame

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Author Topic: Grain Frame
Eric McDowell
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Member # 6857

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I see that a lot of people build their own grain frames for blasting. I was wondering if I could see some close up's and have some details on their construction, such as wire diameter and tension. Thanks in advance for any input.

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Eric McDowell
McDowell's Signworks/Performance Graphics
Wellsville,NY

Posts: 17 | From: Wellsville, NY | Registered: Oct 2006  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Dan Sawatzky
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I don't use a grain frame... but welcome to Letterville!

-grampa dan

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Dan Sawatzky
Imagination Corporation
Yarrow, British Columbia
dan@imaginationcorporation.com
http://www.imaginationcorporation.com

Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!!

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Raymond Chapman
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Like Dan said...welcome. Since you are new here, you will see his photo a lot - and be prepared to hear a bunch of stories about his granddaughter.

We bought a Grain Fraim, wore it out, and bought another one. I thought about building my own, but would have spent a lot more in time than I spent in money just buying one outright.

There are some really neat ones that folks here have built. I'm sure they will chime in with photos of what they have done.

Good luck.

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Chapman Sign Studio
Temple, Texas
chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net

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Steve Thomas Greer
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why buy a grain frame use some smooth a create some funky textures?

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Steve Thomas Greer
ABRACADABRA SIGNS & DESIGNS
102 Stanley St. Ayr, Ont. Canada

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Raymond Chapman
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Eric - since you have only one post here you might as well get used to the list of "characters" that hang out here.

Steve is one of them. He's trying to sell you something. And don't let him scare you. He's about 9 feet tall but is harmless in person.

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Chapman Sign Studio
Temple, Texas
chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net

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Steve Thomas Greer
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Hey Chapman.....

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Steve Thomas Greer
ABRACADABRA SIGNS & DESIGNS
102 Stanley St. Ayr, Ont. Canada

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Bobbie Rochow
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I know you can make your own Grain Frame, but I have layed lines of hot glue across the front, & even making some broken, then (lay them on after you lay the mask on) blast it. Peel the mask & glue off, & there you are! Try it on a practice piece, you might like it!

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The Word in Signs
Bobbie Rochow
Jamestown, PA 16134

724-927-6471

thewordinsigns@alltel.net

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Mark M. Kottwitz
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Cool idea, Bobbie.

I have a neighbor that wants a small sign, and I thought about doing a sandblasted sign for her. I think I am going to give that a shot.

I had thought about some square tubing and stretch some steel wire across to create the grain, but my luck, I would make it and then have someone that wants a sign 6" larger than I make it.

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Mark Kottwitz
Kottwitz Graphics
Ridgely, MD
www.SeeMySignWork.com
--------------------------
Imagination is more important than knowledge. -- Albert Einstein

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Eric McDowell
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In the step by step section of the website there is a picture of the "redneck homemade grain frame" under Blasting pre painted HDU panels, I am hoping for some close up pictures and details on the construction. I will have to try the hot glue trick sometime. Hoping to do some expirementing on extira. Any input on that?

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Eric McDowell
McDowell's Signworks/Performance Graphics
Wellsville,NY

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Ken Holden
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Mark, wrap nylon string around the sign, the kind
that doesn't stretch. blast and remove.

Although I use a homemade grain frame, my cousin
uses this method successfully.

Ken

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Ken Holden
7 Oaks Signs
18457 Hwy 22
Ponchatoula, LA 70454

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Todd Gill
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Here's how I built mine...it's at my buddy's shop, so I drew one quickly instead of taking a photo....hope this makes sense.

 -


And a close-up of the "floater" tensioner piece at the top:
 -

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Todd Gill
Outside The Lines
Potterville, MI

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David Harding
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Welcome to Letterville, Eric. Greer isn't really nine feet tall, but since Chapman is only about two feet eight, he appears that big to him. Greer's still big enough that you definitely want him on your side. Wellsville is 150 miles from Ayr, Ontario, which is about a half dozen steps for Mr. Greer... so you'd better pony up for a 5 gallon tub of his magic sculpt.

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David Harding
A Sign of Excellence
Carrollton, TX

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Eric McDowell
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Thanks for the illustration Todd it's exactly what I am looking for. What is the diameter of the wire that you are using? Is it regular steel wire.

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Eric McDowell
McDowell's Signworks/Performance Graphics
Wellsville,NY

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Todd Gill
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I don't remember exactly....my dad had a bunch of spools of wire...I think they might have been for electrical fences - you know, for cow enclosures or something. But they can take some stretching without breaking.

Something fairly heavy because you need to have some girth there to resist the blast to get the effect.

Maybe I can get a picture of the unit itself in the next few days if I get over that way (where it's been stored).

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Todd Gill
Outside The Lines
Potterville, MI

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Deri Russell
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Hi Eric- we just used regular electrical wire we bought from the local hardware store (or you can get it from an electrician). It's covered in plastic. And you do eventually blast through the covering plastic. But I have only had to replace the wire twice and I have been blasting with it for 8 years or better. I also use different weights of wire, makes it look a "little" more realistic. It sits outside in the rain and the snow and the weather. And rusts. But that doesn't matter it does it's job. I also cut 2 or 3" pieces and wrap it around the wires here and there, generally in a stratigic spot so it doesn't interupt (gosh I'm horrible at spelling) any type lines too badly, to make "knots". And it does look just like Todd's illustration, (but rustier). My frame is 4 ft wide by 30" or so high. If I am blasting something larger I block out the one end with a piece of old tin that sits out beside the blaster and move the frame over to the next spot.

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Deri Russell
Wildwood Signs
Hanover, Ontario

You're just jealous 'cause the little voices only talk to me.

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Todd Gill
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Deri - That's awesome! I never thought about knotting some wire or wrapping small sections of wire with another wire for a more uneven, knotty look.

I'm going to try that on my next piece, which is upcoming...thanks for the tip. [Big Grin]

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Todd Gill
Outside The Lines
Potterville, MI

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Mike Faig
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Extira works fine as far as I've seen. I blasted some smaller signs for a customera couple of weeks ago. The particles are of uneven size and texture so they do leave an uneven surface. I liked the effect. If it weren't so heavy...

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Mike
gatlinburg Sign Crafters

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Wayne Webb
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Wow Todd!
Nice!!

I used stainless steel MIG welding wire on my first one. Tried to use "wearing out the wire" as an excuse, to build a bigger/better frame, but the cottonpicking wire would not wear out. I've blasted bookoodles of signs with it and it won' wear out...
But I finally built an 8'x2.5' one anyway, for doing big signs. I will most likely retire before the wire wears out on either of them.

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Wayne Webb
Webb Signworks
Chipley, FL
850.638.9329
wayne@webbsignworks.com

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Checkers
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I didn't want to say anything negative about Todd's design, but that type of frame gives the blast a somewhat mechanical look. Using Deri's approach gives a much more natural look.
If you can find an old metal spring bed frame, half the battle of fabricating the frame is done. All you have to do is wire it up. [Smile]

Havin' fun,

Checkers

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a.k.a. Brian Born
www.CheckersCustom.com
Harrisburg, Pa
Work Smart, Play Hard

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Todd Gill
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Thanks Wayne...actually, I wish I had an 8 foot one....the one I made is maybe 4 foot long...I think. I haven't used it in quite a while...but will be real soon.

I have to do some blasting and then scootch the frame sideways to get the bigger stuff done....an 8 footer would be nicer for sure.

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Todd Gill
Outside The Lines
Potterville, MI

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Todd Gill
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Checkers...no offense taken. [Smile]

One thing the mechanical illustration doesn't show...my wires are all bent and kinked up...so it does end up giving a varied grain look.

They aren't all straight lines in other-words..

I went along and physically bent the wires randomly to get a more natural look....still, I like Deri's idea....

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Todd Gill
Outside The Lines
Potterville, MI

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Blake Koehn
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If it wasn't for Sawatsky, Chapman, and Greer I would get bored now and then. lol

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Art that sells.


There is joy in the journey.

Blake Koehn
www.prodigitalsupply.com
Macon, MS 39341
662.788.1741
admin@prodigitalsupply.com

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Ricky Jackson
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Heck, I've got one of the big ones from Grain Fraim that I'll *give* to the first person that asks that's coming to the Dixie meet. Just make sure you're not flying home! I never use it and it needs re-stringing. A little WD-40 and it'll be servicable.

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Ricky Jackson
Signs Now
614 Russell Parkway
Warner Robins, GA
(478) 923-7722
signpimp50@hotmail.com

"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Sir Issac Newton

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Jon Jantz
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I'll take it Ricky if I can fit on top of my SUV, hehe. Working on the City Clerk for a couple of 4'x8' sandblasted Welcome signs, so might could use it soon...

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Jon Jantz
Snappysign.com
jjantz21@gmail.com
http://www.allcw.com

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Eric McDowell
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Well I have started building my grain frame. The frame work was the easy part. 1 and a half inch light box steel 6' x 32". That took about an hour for the frame and adjuster assembly. The stringing on the other hand is not so simple. I have made it about halfway down in two hours. Good thing my time is worth nothing( just ask some of my customers). Thanks for all the tips.

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Eric McDowell
McDowell's Signworks/Performance Graphics
Wellsville,NY

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Todd Gill
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That's cool Eric...take some pics and post them or have us post them...when you're done. I want to see how it turned out...

Yeah...stringing it is the worst part....

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Todd Gill
Outside The Lines
Potterville, MI

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