Texturing, Nova, Gold

[joe]

There are dozens of ways to gain textures on letters and backgrounds. For example this panel which is 3'X8' has textures on all surfaces. Let me say first that the deep red is Nova Color. It's a dreamboat material for those rich colors.

I added this texturing material directly to the paint on the first coat. Then followed up with a regular coat of paint. The gold letters were also textured using Zinsser primer. The technique was to dab the primer on in a jabbing motion. When dry it's sanded a little with a sanding sponge. This is a HDU panel and as usual you need to stiffen it up by adding a surface hard coat. I'll never use only paint, by it's self, as the only finish.

The amount of texture with this material is altered with the kind of roller knap. Sanding is easy.

[WMNH]

What kind of hard coat do you use to stiffen the HDU?

[joe]

There have been times when loading up a HDU sign when it bumps against the doorway or edge of the truck. It always leaves a mark or knocks off a corner. I've learned my lesson with HDU. Ground signs, at street level are often subject to children playing around them. I think you can see my point.

There are dozens of hardening materials and techniques that range from heavy textures like "ThinSet" to smooth epoxies. The photograph is only one example and I'm showing medium and heavy hard coats.

Don't count out concrete hardners like Thinset. It's cheap and easy to use. But no matter what material you end up with it takes experiments to perfect the technique. Very, very few router people do enough finishing experiments. That's the step were you put your best foot forward. Routing alone won't do it!

Joe Crumley

[joe]

Here are some textures in the process of hardening off a HDU panel. The lighter version is the Zinsser paint material. The outside border is being hardened off with Thinset concrete.

Once the Thinset has hardened up, overnight, it's sanded almost smooth, then another coat is applied. The net effect is a rock hard surface.

Epoxy is also a good alternative but it takes way too long to get a thick enough coat and then you're into giving it some kind of texture.

Joe Crumley

[bleeth]

Joe:
If you mix your epoxy with cotton fibers (West System sells it and probably others) you can have it pretty darn thick. It also ends up rock hard, and is probably the most difficult standard additive for sanding, but you can texture right off the bat using palette knife, rasp, toothed trowel, etc.
You may be able to get similar results from wood flour, like System 3 sells for less $ but I personally haven't tried it.

[joe]

Dave,

Good point. Epoxy is often enhanced with additives. Wood dust, nylon clippings, or just about anything that has strands makes it tougher. Like you say, it's a bugger to sand, so down in the coves and around the little corners it's a no go. Another wonderful formula is the combination of Fiberglas Resin & Bondo. 50/50 mix. But it's used as a crack filler and not good for texturing. I should do a little video showing how that works.

I'm looking for speed in finishing. Which is to say the least of effort it takes to make the sign look good and to hold up. Some of my experiments have included, Durhams Rock Hard Putty, Gorilla Glue, PB Hard Coat, PB texture coat, and a host of others. I'm probably long over due to start a Blog in order to register some of these techniques. That will allow the newbee a chance at review.

I don't know anywhere a person can go to get the information in a single place.

We'll see. It takes time.

Joe