Paint suggestions?

[scottp55]

I have promised a 19 yr old boy with brain cancer(three surgeries since he was 10) that I would make this for him, it was one of my vetric demo's from before the Desktop got here. 60 degree vbit vcarve .15" flat depth. I do not want to paint all those fine lines. I am not a signmaker and would probably be buying paint at an Ace hardware unless you guys tell me different. I would like to paint the wood and let the cut reveal the sugar maple underneath. He wants wood. What type paint will give me a good crisp detail, how many coats, can I use my tung oil on the exposed wood? Total newbie but a promise is a promise. It would be next to his bed he say's. Will buy a special paint online if needed but have no spray equipment. Any advice appreciated, thanks,scott

[scottp55]

resized pic

[kevin]

I would say paint the wood first before you rotor color? After its painted and carved its easy to put tongue oil in the groves won't stain the paint

[Mayo]

Another method would be to apply clear sealer to the wood first.
Spray can polyurethane clear or brush on something similar.
I would not use the water based clear for this as I don't think it dries as hard or as fast as the solvent based clears.

The object of the clear is to prevent the paint you use later from staining or creeping into the wood where you don't want it.

Let the clear totally dry then machine the wolf.
After the carving is done, blow out any dust.

Then paint the carving with spray paint or watered down latex or acrylic paint or stain. Wipe off the excess paint or stain from the surface as you go so that it doesn't dry before you can wipe it off.

If the paint dries and refuses to come off you may have to use a sander so try and clean as you go.

[scottp55]

Thanks guys, I didn't think of a clear coat first and then painting grooves. The graphic looks better with grooves painted and I wanted the beauty of the wood to show through anyways. This will let me use a more exotic wood, Jatoba maybe and a hand rubbed finish after sanding clear off, may have to go deeper z to allow for sanding clear off. Thanks again I hate painting good wood.

[bobmoore]

Scott that is a noble project. May I suggest you do some test cuts first? I have a feeling you are going to need a start depth of maybe .020" or so to get more of the wolf fur detail. Best of luck.
Bob

[tomwillis]

Scott - I believe one of the other methods used is black shoe polish. You use a clear in advance of carving and then black afterwards and where it's clear protects the surrounding area and black fills in the details.
Tom

[scottp55]

Meliky is going to have to wait just a bit longer for his wolf as I just found out that every single .crv file I've drawn in the last 3 months on the demo vcarve has to be redrawn as anything drawn in demo on 1 computer cannot be opened as a .crv on a different computer. Stinks. Thanks for the help and I will be very cautious .

[jerry_stanek]

Just load your vectric program on that computer and it will open them. then you can transfer them to your other computer.

[joe]

Or simply print it out and scan & trace in Corel. Once that's done, you can export the file as EPS or DXF.

[scottp55]

Thanks Jerry and Joe, I thought that's how I did the Junk drive files, but I'll double check,may have downloaded from laptop(Demo version). No Corel. Just had a good visit with machinist Acquaintance with 25 yrs. experience, liked the desktop unimpressed with undersized onsrud spirals. Redoing database bits.

[Xray]

I got some of these wolf head arrows I made with a scroll saw some time back, if you think he might want one let me know, I'll send you one to give him.
Technically probably more of a husky than a wolf, but nice call of the wild theme, and they are cut out of exotic wood.

[scottp55]

Doug, thank you for the offer. He would love it as He is a very small part 1/8'th Mic-Mac and thinks a wolf is his spirit guide.He's had to grow up very fast in some ways. He always liked my pics of my old dog, which was a wolf-malamute hybrid. If you are serious e-mail mail me at scottkport@gmail.com Make sure you sign it and date it, I've taught him to respect artists. Thank you:)

[Xray]

Wouldn't make an offer like that without being serious, email sent.
Signing wouldn't be practice on these, not much room plus there is black velvet on the back.

[scottp55]

Doug, e-mail sent. Thanks. I'm sure he'll do what he has done for some of the small stones I've cut for him, make a little label stating what it is, who made it, and when it was made. He has a nice collection for someone his age. If you can tell him what inspired you to make them, he'll appreciate it more. Thanks again, scott

[Xray]

Sent today, he should have it later this coming week. hope all turns out well.

[scottp55]

Thanks Doug, He'll love it. If he doesn't send a thank you note, let me know and I'll put some tire tracks on his back(as I can't kick his b--t). scott

[Xray]

I agree with your point about teaching youngsters formalities & manners, but personally I don't require any thanks for something that was freely offered and not requested ,,, But I'll let you know. I'd like to hear from him just to know he received it, I rarely ever get tracking unless the item is worth over $40.

[scottp55]

He needs to, I know I sure as heck did when I was 19. :) Scott