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I should have taken a picture but it was raining too hard today. There is a VERY large redwood sign for a housing plan nearby. It has to be at least 8'x12', with raised letters and a large tree. The letters are gilded, the tree is painted gold with Ronan Aqua Leaf. The sign background is painted with Sherwin Williams exterior latex.
I know this because even tho I did not make the sign, I repainted it about 4 years ago. The sign was bought out of state, and is in nice shape.
The problem is that the tree, which has a flat raised surface, is beginning to delaminate on the top edge. I think it's been applied to the sign itself as a second layer to give the effect of a really deep blast. The tree is roundish, in full flower, about 2' high by 4' across.
I was thinking I could chip off the loose wood with a scraper, then put some sort of putty into the crater, then sand out the edges to feather onto the good parts, then prime and repaint.
What should I use for putty? It must be smooth. I was thinking my EZ Sculpt might work, but then again it has a rough texture. Should I just use standard Elmer's exterior wood putty or is there some sort of an epoxy that can be sanded smooth?
Also, what to charge? This is 10 miles one way and I know will take two days due to drying time. The entire area that needs repaired is about as big as a pizza pan. I'll probably have at least 4 or 5 hours in it.
Any input would be most helpful. Thanks! Love....Jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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DON'T use wood putty. Unles you want to be fixing again in a year or two. Epoxy works. But if you can talk the "Jolly Magic Giant" into getting you a small kit of Magic Smooth, it will fix it . I fixed the corner of a wood sign not long ago that had been smacked by a backhoe. Area was about 4"x5" by 2"deep. Used a little wood to stick in there (filler) and then built a "dam" out of coro. gooped it in, came back the next day and carved it out (it was a wood grain border) painted and done. You can get the smooth slick if you need to with water. Don't you remember the demo in Dixie ya goober? Women, i tell ya....
-------------------- Snow's Sign Works 865-908-0076 snowman@planetc.com www.snowsigns.com
I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message... Posts: 1640 | From: Sevierville, TN | Registered: Jul 2005
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I'm too busy painting to drive back out there for pix.
Just think of a solid 1½" thick gold tree shape about yo big with a huge about to pop looking zit thing on the top front face, going up to the edge. As big an area as a pizza pan. I think when I scrape off the skin of the bubble I will have about a ¼" or less divot to fill.
What kind of epoxy do I need to buy? It has to be able to be sanded smooth if that's possible. Also, what to charge? I'm leery of the Magic Goo because it's new and for all I know won't last any better than wood putty.
Jake, I was too busy painting at Dixie to listen to the Jolly Giant. Love....Jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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quote:Originally posted by Jillbeans: Just think of a solid 1½" thick gold tree shape about yo big with a huge about to pop looking zit thing on the top front face, going up to the edge. As big an area as a pizza pan. I think when I scrape off the skin of the bubble I will have about a ¼" or less divot to fill.
Clear as a bell.
-------------------- Mike gatlinburg Sign Crafters Posts: 1051 | From: Gatlinburg, TN | Registered: Oct 2005
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Is Bondo like body putty? I could maybe get my son the bodyman to help me. Love....Jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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Bondo is body putty. If your son is good with it, that could be the way to go.
Edit to add that bondo will require considerable sanding with a power sander to make it smooth once it has set up, so if you go this rout, make sure there's an electrical outlet close by.
[ April 26, 2007, 03:43 PM: Message edited by: Mark Tucker ]
posted
Bondo won't hold on wood on a depression less than 1/4" deep. It just won't expand the same way as wood in warmer weather and will eventually pop off. How about prepping a piece of HDU about the size you need, plop it over the repair area, fixing it with some Gorilla Glue and a few small stainless screws sunk into the HDU. Fill the screw holes with exterior putty, and while that's drying, sand to shape where you need to. When everything's good to go, prime, paint and gild as necessary. As for a charge, whatever your hourly rate is while you're actually going to, at, and coming from the job. Cover your materials - you've probably got lots of scrap around!
Rick
-------------------- Rick Tam Arte Design Studio Downingtown, PA milne2@msn.com Posts: 278 | From: Downingtown, PA | Registered: Apr 2004
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Check out west systems epoxy, they make several fillers, one is a fairing filler that's even red in color. I have a can if you want the number, a little tougher to sand than bondo but that's epoxy. A good woodworking supplier will carry it. Bondo is polyester resin with talc, absorbs moisture, permeable, meant to be sealed, not for wood. I wouldn't even use it on cars, low quality.
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Ms. Beans, if I could just see a pic, there's a small chance I might have the very same tree in my clip art collection. I could cut it to exact size out of 3/4" or 1" HDU on my CNC and ship it to you for a fair price. You paint it in your shop, go to the job site, knock off the delaminating area, sand smooth, attach new tree like what Rick is suggesting with countersunk screws, putty over screws, touch up paint, boom, you're done.
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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Maybe instead of trying to bring the recessed area up and sand it all smooth, could you make the whole tree more dimensional? Add lumps and bumps all over with your play dough stuff and then prime and paint. The added dimension might make it look better, and it would be alot more fun to do too!
Just a thought. Suelynn
-------------------- "It is never too late to be what you might have been." -George Eliot
Suelynn Sedor Sedor Signs Carnduff, SK Canada Posts: 2863 | From: Carnduff, SK Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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Now there's a thought. Then I could also charge them to re-do the other tree on the end of the development. And gilded or gold-painted dimensional would look nicer than the flat tree. I'm looking into Kelly's, Lee's, and Rick's suggestions as well. I'm sure glad I don't have to use Bondo...I can't even get my kid to mow the grass, let alone help me fix a sign! Thanks for the ideas folks. Love....Jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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Such an elegant idea and so simple. She's out of the box again.
-------------------- Joe Crumley Norman Sign Company 2200 Research Park Blvd. Norman, OK 73069 Posts: 1428 | From: 2200 Research Park Blvd. | Registered: Sep 2001
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Oh Jill Jill Jill...... Don't be leary of the Magic. I under stand the stuff you had didn't work properly whoever Jake is a wise man he knows what he is talking about! The product has been around for 30 years or so it is just new to you and me by myself introducing to the sign industry!
The Huge Baceball glove in San Diego Padres park was made of the stuff Trust me Jill if mixed properly it will work!
-------------------- Steve Thomas Greer ABRACADABRA SIGNS & DESIGNS 102 Stanley St. Ayr, Ont. Canada Posts: 602 | From: Ayr, Ontario. Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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