Sign help.

[gundog]

I would like to make a sign for the end of my driveway using my logo. I am not very creative. I have been playing with it and doing previews V carving it but it is just not grabbing me. Any suggestions would be great. I will attach a DXF of my logo. I am allowed a 2' x 2' sign. My logo is my avatar.

Thanks Mike

[bob_reda]

I am not getting anything when I download the dxf file.

Bob

[genek]

Mr. Miller the sign you want is it the one you use at your office. if so here is what I would do. I would have the fish, all letters, and the splash and out line be level with the top I would v carve all of the rest out to a dept of 1/2 of the thickness of the wood. I would also v carve the image in the fish down to about a 1/4 depth and if possible would have it to go deep then shallow as it got closer to the tail.

[scottp55]

Got same thing as Bob, nothing. VCarvePro only. importing,opening with,open existing......... What am I doing wrong. Happened to Jacks chicken coop also, so must be me. Watched tutorial and must have missed something. Sorry James.:confused:

[genek]

it is not you.. something wrong with file. I could not open it either. send pm to get him to resend also went to his site and sent message.

[scottp55]

Michael, reload?

[gundog]

Hi Guys I work nights so I have been sleeping. Let me try and save it again it was transferred from my old computer that might have screwed up the DXF file.

I just re-saved it the problem is it is too large to upload on the forum. I will have to work on it later I have a guy coming to work in a few minutes.

[genek]

If I lived where You do I would work nights also that way I could step outside and see the northern lights... just joking have a good evening sent you a e-mail

:)

[waterwheelman]

Eugene, I live a few miles from Mike. We seldom if ever see the northern lights. How far north do you think we live. This is Vancouver Washington, USA not Vancouver BC, Canada. :)
Mike I couldn't open the DXF file either.

[genek]

Thanks David for the info... How far is that from Seattle, I have family that live just out side of Seattle, think it is called Olympia. not sure... This year you may get to see the northern lights anyway supposed to be a good year for them.

Mike e-mailed me the file, I did a set up for him not sure if he is going to use it or not. I did ask him to allow me to post it so others might learn from it, but have not heard back from him if he liked it or if I could post the drawing.

[gundog]

By all means post the drawing you made Eugene thanks. I have been working on my shop we just put on a new roof on because the old one leaked. I am having new gutters put on and I had to strip the fatia board because the paint was peeling off so I needed to fix the boards so they can attach new gutters.

I have been very busy on my days off from my regular job which is operating a portion of the electric grid for the utility company I have been working for, for the last 20 years. I have 2 years left before I retire and run my business full time.

I just came off night shifts and start day shifts Friday. I work a rotating 12 hour shift schedule. The good part is I am off for 7 days every 5 weeks. My business started very small but has now grown to the point I have a hard time keeping up on my days off. I am starting a new guy to help me out. I hope to carve out a little more time for life soon.

I posted this on night shift the other night but I am on a couple days off so I have been busy outside trying to prepare for winter getting the last few things done before the constant rain sets in her in the NW.

I have been wanting to make sign for the end of my driveway I work on the files usually on night shift because I have hours of down time at night and take my lap top to work with me to help pass the time.

I am not trying to give my life story just explaining why sometimes it takes me a while to respond.

Thanks Mike

[genek]

Here is what I suggested to Mr. Miller for his sign. The sign was already designed I just gave Mr. Miller Suggestions on how I would carve the Sign out. some of the lines around object showed up not sure why. (thin lines)

[genek]

I would like to see some comments on what I suggested to Mr. Miller. The More that comment the better His sign will be. Mr. Miller normally Makes things for boats not signs so let all pitch in with our suggestions and comments or even questions.

[scottp55]

.pdf was pretty small, only stretched it to fit desktop and still lost a lot of definition. Using Eugene's ratio's this is what I got, except salmon? belly is vcarved .03 deeper than body instead of 1/2 depth of black. Letters vcarved as well. Using a laptop that is slower than heck and didn't want to change my defaults cause I'm drawing my stuff today so it's only on 3/4" board. I was having problems visualizing so did a "down and dirty". Lots of stuff I would change if I had a bigger drawing. I could see using a plunge ogee or pointed roundover in places. Back to my stuff and don't kick me to hard. Please!

[scottp55]

Rushing to much today, forgot pics. Had to resize and convert to .jpg, Pain

[steve_g]

Since Mikes Logo is well established, there wasn't much room for the creative process here...

Eugene... I had a hard time envisioning your concept from your drawing but anything I tried with V-carving, I thought took away from the clean original lines. I thought a simple pocket stayed closest to the original idea.

BTW I created my vectors from Mikes logo on his web page and didn't spend any time cleaning it up.

SG

[scottp55]

Nice Steve.

[scottp55]

Just noticed I imported the .pdf at 25% size. I think I'll quit now while I'm behind. Duh.

[genek]

Both look good. This has achieved the goal I set out to have happen. You used your mind to create what you saw and thought looked good. Now Mr. Miller can chose which style he wants or if he wants to blend both together.
I like projects like this where several get involved and create something different but use the same pattern. It is a good learning lesson for all of us.

I commend both of you for taking time out and submitting your idea.

thank you.

[waterwheelman]

Eugene, Seattle is about 2 1/2 hours north of here. We are on the Washington and Oregon State boarder across the Columbia river from Portland Oregon. We have a famous mountain in our back yard, named Mount ST Helens. It lost it's top a few years ago. You may have heard about it. Mike is right, that the rainy season is about to start, but that's what makes it the Evergreen State.:)

[gundog]

Thanks I like what you did by adding the bottom piece. I can envision the sigh hanging from a post.

I need to pick some brains a little more for proper V bits I only have 1 from the starter kit. I was under the impression the V bit dictated the depth but since I have only played a couple times with a V bit I really don't know.

Mike

[Bob Eustace]

It could pay you to get some 3/4 diameter 90 degree bits as the 60 degree ones do cut pretty deep. V carving is certainly easy peasey!

[genek]

I would go with the 90. However you can set the flat dept to be as deep as you want it.. Mr. Miller i recommend you get some cheap blue foam insulation and try it first. Also the dept i quoted can be less or more... But would go a little less.

[scottp55]

Michael, just for visual, 3'x3'x2" walnut(closest I've got to cedar). font, carbon block bold capitals. starter kit vbit .5 90degree. top 3 rows 3" letters, bottom 6". top row no flat depth set(.608" depth of cut). Second, .5" flat depth, no clearance tool. Third .25" flat clearance with .125" straight clearance tool. Bottom, no flat depth set (.868" depth)

[gundog]

Since Mikes Logo is well established, there wasn't much room for the creative process here...

Eugene... I had a hard time envisioning your concept from your drawing but anything I tried with V-carving, I thought took away from the clean original lines. I thought a simple pocket stayed closest to the original idea.

BTW I created my vectors from Mikes logo on his web page and didn't spend any time cleaning it up.

SG

I like what you did Steve I think it looks better without the V carving. I also like the shape of the sign Eugene created for my added text at the bottom. You guys are a lot of help thanks. I now need to figure out what material to use for the sign. I think I will hang it like they do from those wood posts you see some realestate signs hanging from. I saw a nice cedar sign post at Home Depot the other day that would work or I could just make my own.

Thanks again Mike.

[genek]

I like what you did Steve I think it looks better without the V carving. I also like the shape of the sign Eugene created for my added text at the bottom. You guys are a lot of help thanks. I now need to figure out what material to use for the sign. I think I will hang it like they do from those wood posts you see some realestate signs hanging from. I saw a nice cedar sign post at Home Depot the other day that would work or I could just make my own.

Thanks again Mike.

Mike that is what Friends are for, This is why shop bot has a forum. For all of us to learn and to help each other. I agree with what Steve suggested. I suggested the v carve to get a response other than just agreeing with me.

Not sure how your drive is laid out but think on the line of two post with the sign hanging between them on a nice chain. If it was my choice and since you have nice red wood there I would go with some red wood. use sikkens stain, go to my post on sign help and read Joe Crumbly's post to me,, then go look at his post and learn how to do that..

thanks for letting all of us be part of your sign.

[tappsman]

Mike

With your experience in cutting plastics, if I were you I would look into making the sign using color core plastic sign material. It is easy to cut, no painting or finishing is involved, and it should stand up to our rainy winters. If I had Joe's painting skills I would probably have a different opinion but very few of us have those skills.

I would suggest that you pocket cut around the letters rather than trying a v carve, it will make the letters stand out. However, removing that much material from one side will cause the color core to warp and you'll need to use a backing material.

I'm looking forward to the camp shopbot in a few weeks and seeing your new shop.

Dennis

[bleeth]

Mike:

I would do this one out of White PVC and paint with Acrylic. For light pocket cutting, and I agree it looks best, you could get 2 or more out of one full sheet of 1/2" and make a double-sided quite easily with an aluminum square tube spacer that also is what you would hang it from.
Of course, If you wanted to make it look more Northwest with your Orca Logo like much NW Indian art, Natural cedar just with some Sikkens and the letters and logo done in deep red and black would look cool too.