Did a couple 3 foot long signs for this local customer that is getting ready for the grand opening of a plant nursery and garden center.
While he was here, he asked if I could route him a bunch of signs identifying each of several crops he though might be good sellers and a few he planned to use to identify the plants at his nursery. He ordered 10 each of 8 different signs, 3 x 7 inches in size and in eastern red cedar with high gloss finish. Each sign has a 1/4" hole drilled in them for insertion of a 12 inch long dowel. Completed all 80 signs in less than 4 hours start to finish, thanks to CNC machine and conveyor belt feed drum sander. I really like jobs like this.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/21313/signs_011.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/21313/signs_008.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/21313/signs_009.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/21313/signs_010.jpg)
Now THAT'S a sign! I really like them. I just had my son use a Sharpie on some sticks for our garden. :D
Thanks John. The CNC is quick. For example the Corn one took 35 seconds a piece to route and I could have gone faster than that if I wanted to push things. Would take almost that long to hand write it...lol
Well 2 things,one good one bad. Mighty nice looking signs.
I have a foot of snow over my garden. :(
Congrats on the whack. Each of those signs will be an advertisement for your business. ;D
So did you flip them over and run them through the laser and put your brand on them so everyone that wants a sign like that knows who to call? They look great.
I did a similar sign a couple weekends ago for a couple friends of mine. I used a new technique for coloring the letters. I routed the sign and then took the cutting torch and scorched the letters. I then sent it through the planer once to clean up around the letters and finished it with BLO. There are a few things I would do differently now that I have done it once but it came out pretty good!
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/25938/jon_n_steph.jpg)
They look great. BBL makes some very nice signs! smiley_thumbsup
That is also a nice one that you did Jake. :)
Nice order Fred!
Jake, how long did it take you to do the burn?
They look great Busy Beaver. I hope your orders for them keep coming. You should contact Baker Creek Seeds (rareseeds .com) and see if they have any interest in adding them to their catalog. Years ago I made some that were painted and used some pieces of 3/8 dia fiberglass electric fence poles from tractor supply for the posts to hold them because I was afraid dowels would rot and the fiberglass poles outlasted the signs.
thecfarm - thank you very much for the compliment. Still have a few piles of snow by the curb, but the are vanishing real quick.
Magicman - Thanks Lynn. I hope he sells a lot of them and comes back for more.
Farmerjw - I though about doing that, but it just did not feel like the right thing to do. I really want people that see them at his location to buy them from him so him and his family gets to eat well too. Now if they see them on my website and are from outside the are, I am fine with making that sale. The idea to do them was actually mine, but I do not want to ever compete with any of my customers. I am thankful enough to have their patronage and support
Hackberry - Very nice sign. I have tried the torch method too. The problem I had in doing it was that i could not get nice crisp edges on the lettering and graphics, plus you are limited to just the color black:D . Some of the signs I do people want upwards of 4 colors. Now i do like to use the torch to add coloring to bear carvings and the likes, where you darken, then selectively sand to add highlights. Try a can of Marsh black spray ink. I think you will like it. Send me PM or email and I will tell you where to get it cheap if you cant find it.
Jemclimber - thank you very much for the compliment....and whats better is I am having a ball doing them.
21incher - thanks for compliment and the idea. Will follow up with that suggestion. He is supplying the stakes. The customer of these gets something in the fiberglass family for his nursery and is cutting 10 inch sections of that material.
Quote from: kilgrosh on April 04, 2014, 10:54:55 AM
Nice order Fred!
Jake, how long did it take you to do the burn?
not long at all. I just adjusted the acetylene rich and the oxygen lean for a long point type flame and traced the letters. Ill have to try that spray ink bbl.
Quote from: hackberry jake on April 04, 2014, 04:33:38 PM
Quote from: kilgrosh on April 04, 2014, 10:54:55 AM
Nice order Fred!
Jake, how long did it take you to do the burn?
not long at all. I just adjusted the acetylene rich and the oxygen lean for a long point type flame and traced the letters. Ill have to try that spray ink bbl.
I think you will like the spray ink. It dries very fast. It does not migrate into the wood like regular spray paint does, so when you sand the ink off the face, you get a very crisp and clear edge. Not to bad on the odor side either and fairly reasonable in price ( about $5 a can ) and a can goes a long way. Used about half a can to do the 80 signs.
Great, great product. Hope that they sell well for the client ... they should.
This looks like a repeat business opportunity. ;D 8) 8) 8)