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Joe, thanks so much for calling me today...what a treat, sorry i could not spend more time but next time. Here are pictures of my floppy old grain frame. i built out of angle and electric fence wire. now i have to say i didn't pay for the wire as the neighbor just took down a bunch when i was building it so no expense on that. well as you can see it is pretty rusted but still works great. the wires are all floppy and i bent them up a bit as well...i like your idea of the barb wire..going to have to try that to see how it works. also just a sample of a basic blast job to show the real wood like grain pattern that it makes. i know yours are probably much better made and i know i would do some things different on the next one...but would sure like to see how your is...oh and let me know how that project worked out for you. i want to see the how your solution works out...take some pictures along the way if you can.
Lovelady
-------------------- "We have been making house calls since 1992"
Chris Lovelady Vital Signs
NOW WITH 2 LOCATIONS! Tallahassee, Florida Thomasville, Ga.
posted
I salute this innovative idea! This is why we are all wasting our time on this website! Bravo!
-------------------- Preston McCall 112 Rim Road Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 text: 5056607370 Posts: 1552 | From: Santa Fe, New Mexico | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Diddo what Erik said. What would you change?
-------------------- Phil Steffen, 29 Van Rensselaer St City of Saratoga Springs DPW Saratoga Springs NY 12866 Posts: 563 | From: beautiful Saratoga Springs NY | Registered: Aug 2001
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Like you I've made several of these and it was fun and allowed me to do some creative work..
If anyone is entertaining the notion here are a couple of suggestions. You can use different types of wire side by side and most any kind will do. I've even used barbwire in some of mine. The thicker wire doesn't vibrate as much. My first frame was made from wood which was a mistake. It quickly warped out of shape. A 2'X5' steel frame has worked out best from me.
I moved my blasting indoors. A 10' cabinet which allowed for recovery of basting media and no blasting hood was a major change.. It's more comfortable and I don't have to wear a helmet.
[ July 29, 2010, 08:04 AM: Message edited by: Joe Crumley ]
-------------------- 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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Erik, over all i am pretty happy with the frame...maybe add some more wire...and i like the idea Joe had as to using different size wire. i have always wanted to be able to make knots so the barbed wire might be a good idea....i would have to work with it so see.
Lovelady
-------------------- "We have been making house calls since 1992"
Chris Lovelady Vital Signs
NOW WITH 2 LOCATIONS! Tallahassee, Florida Thomasville, Ga.
posted
I guess everyone knows, once the grain pattern has been set by blasting, it's there for good. Further blasting without any GF will degrade the shapness of the pattern however the grain will remain. So it's possible to use more than one GF to add extra texture. For example if you start out with tight grain, as per my photo, then change over to a more textured frame, like the one Chris has built, you get the best of both.
When a panel is to viewed from a long distance, a wider patters will show best. However when doing interior signage, or lets say, which might be used on a golf course tighter grain looks more refined.
[ July 29, 2010, 10:56 AM: Message edited by: Joe Crumley ]
-------------------- 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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posted
You need to have the wires closer together and more of them for a more realistic look... there's too much space in between the peaks and valleys.
But you're onto the right idea....
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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I'm in agreement with Todd...closer wires...Todd sent me some pics of his frame a while back for me to pattern after...I just took Todd's pics to my welder and told him what size...by the way...THANKS AGAIN TODD...I used a cheap roll of rebar wire and thought it worked just fine...here are pics of my first sign blasting through this frame.
I guess there's lots of different blasting techniques. I love the smooth regular blast Rusty is so good at however I prefer to have a little more wild wood look. On my old frames I use several different gauges of wire and bend them up a little.
To get extra depth I'm using a router and have given up on sandblast mask. I'm cutting good old 1/4” masonite instead.
-------------------- 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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Joe, so what your saying is that you are not using rubber but routing the masonite to block the sand? how are you securing it to the face of the HDU?
Rusty,Tod, after seeing your blasting i would have to agree about the more wire...and i like how you have the tension with the bolt pulling the wire tight. i would have to guess that the thinner wire would need more tension. does the other end of your frame have those teeth as well to hold the wire or does it still have the same tension bolts? the picture of the frame is a copy paste for me! i would like to see more of it. what kind of wire are you using.
see around here all i see is non grain blasting and who ever is blasting it is not doing it smooth, so it looks like oatmeal texture to me all lumpy and such. like they are blasting in a circle pattern rather than a sweeping motion.
i think i will look at making a new one....thanks for the posting!
Lovelady
one more question.. Rusty, in your pictures are you routing then blasting...how are you protecting the area that you have routed..i am not sure of your process
[ July 31, 2010, 11:31 AM: Message edited by: Chris Lovelady ]
-------------------- "We have been making house calls since 1992"
Chris Lovelady Vital Signs
NOW WITH 2 LOCATIONS! Tallahassee, Florida Thomasville, Ga.
The little holes are covered up with the Dibond copy.
-------------------- 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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posted
Chris...I'm guessing we blast the same way using the grain frame...I don't have a cnc router...I'm using Hartco stencil for my mask...then I blast down to my desired depth without the frame...next I lay the grain frame flush against the sign and make about 4 passes to create the grain depth I want...of course number of passes depend on the speed of pass...you can always lean the frame out to see if you want more depth on your grain...stuff you probably already know...I'l take some pics tomorrow of the whole frame...that should answer the other questions you have.
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