[Woodcarver] Requesting advice for a carved residential sign

[Matt Kelley]

 From the List Owner -  The photos Denny attached to his reply to  
Susan's questions caused his reply to bounce.  I've removed them from  
his replay and will attempt to attach them to a 2nd message.

This reply, by the way, is illustrative of fact that if you ask 6  
carvers a question, you may get 6 completely different replies.   
Doesn't mean any of the six are wrong - just coming from 6 different  
perspectives!   That is one of the great things about carving and the  
Woodcarver List!

M Kelley


>

> From: denny at cedarstump.us

> Date: November 22, 2010 1:24:40 PM EST

> To: "[Woodcarver] [Woodcarver]" <woodcarver at carverscompanion.com>

> Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Requesting advice for a carved residential  

> sign

>

>

> Susan,

>

> I have made several signs for outdoors use, so I have a little  

> experience in their construction.

>

> 1-  The Butternut should be fine, especially with the protection of  

> the roof over it.  Mahogany is a good wood that will stand up well  

> also.  I usually use Cedar.  Although it is not the best carving  

> wood, it holds up well under the weather.

>

> 2-  The size of the sign should be proportionate to the size of the  

> lettering you will be putting on it.  The size of the lettering is  

> dependent on how far away you want it to be read and the font you  

> use.  It will probably have to be at least 12" high by 30" long.  A  

> sign this size may look funny next to a door... maybe it could be  

> mounted over it?

>

> 3-  I personally lean toward the oil base finishes like Danish Oil.   

> It will have to be reapplied periodically, but  you won't have the  

> peeling that you have with marine varnish or poly.  Be sure to seal  

> the back as well as the front and all edges to reduce splitting  

> possibilities.

>

> 4-  A minimum of two, but three would be better.

>

> 5-  This is always a tough question!  It would depend on the area it  

> is being sold in, the finished size and how much detail you end up  

> putting into it.  I would guess it would be at least $200 for a start.

>

> To attach it to the wall, I suggest using the keyhole hangers so  

> there are no screw heads or holes showing on the finished carving.

>

> If it is going to be under a roof, you may not want to put any  

> finish on it.  Rain is what makes the wood turn silver, so no  

> contact with rain should allow it to keep its natural color for  

> quite a while.

>

> Here are a couple of signs I have done to give you an idea of what  

> an unfinished sign would look like.  The "Frog Holler" sign is by  

> the road, so it will turn silver over time, but it will only accent  

> the lettering.

>

> The "River Road" sign is somewhat protected by the overhang on the  

> porch, si it doesn't see any severe weather either.  Both signs are  

> in Wisconsin, so they are exposed to all sorts of hell from Mother  

> Nature!

>

>

>

> Denny

>

>

>

>

> On Nov 21, 2010, at 8:03 PM, Susan Alexander wrote:

> Hello to all,

>

> The CEO of the company where I work has a home in Michigan, and has  

> asked me to carve an outside sign for their summer home. It will be  

> attached to the siding, next to the front door, outside but under  

> roof. They will attach it themselves, but I have a drill press and  

> can put holes into the corners of the wood (not to close to the  

> edges - I would assume).

>

> I have a 2" deep piece of butternut about 6 feet long (I can cut it  

> down) and 18 wide. But I don't think it is appropriate for outside  

> use. But maybe it is ...if I used a good outside finish?  Except for  

> deepening some shadows (using an oil paint - thanks Joe), I don't  

> expect to apply any paint to it.

>

> If you could tell me:

>

> 1. Can I use the butternut? If not, what wood do you suggest?

> 2. They want the carving to have their house in the background,  

> pier, lake and then a fish jumping out of the water, along with  

> "Welcome to our summer home" on the bottom. What size do you think I  

> should make the sign?

> 3. What outside finish would you suggest?

> 4. How many coats?

> 5. Can you give me some idea on what I should charge them? It sure  

> can't be the time it is going to take me.

>

> I have done relief carving in the past, but nothing that would ever  

> stay outside, and not a sign, and never any words. So this should be  

> a fun adventure. I'm really looking forward to learning a lot of new  

> carving methods. I have until Spring to complete it (working on it  

> in the evenings and weekends.)

>

> Right now, I'm gathering my forces, doing research, collecting  

> pictures, viewing the educational DVDs that are on my shelf, putting  

> sticky notes in all the important places in my carving books,  

> regularly drooling over Mr. Ramsey's website, and asking for advice  

> from you, my carving web friends, which I will print out and put in  

> a folder marked (optimistically) "First Carved Residential Sign."

>

> Thank you in advance for any advice you can offer.

> Sincerely,

> Susan

>


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