Keeping in touch.

[joe]

I would like to keep in touch with Bill Palumbo but don't have his latest address or email to contact him.

Would someone forward me his contact information.
jcrumley1@cox.net

Here's one of my latest projects. There are two of these at the ranch entrance.

Joe

[scottp55]

Really Nice Joe,
What really caught my non-sign person eye was how Rugged it was, and next, How Thick the wood was and the extra attention(sand blasting?) on the top piece(especially the knot and fissure crack). But then again I'm a wood person.
Your "Gold" Gold up top? What about the bottom? Nice foundation and set up for it!
For the first time I "Get" the importance of Kerning/spacing/Font style you guys have been talking about. Before I got only the most glaring of the mistakes, but with contrasting inlay it hit me in the face. Never having painted anything here in the shop and only Vcarving with natural finishes, it never really stuck out as much. Thanks.
Top notch job from my unskilled eye. I'm sure the more I knew, the more I'd admire it. :)
scott

[steve_g]

Thanks for posting Joe… Fantastic as always! Your work gives me something to aspire to.
SG

[joe]

Thanks fellows. Aw Shucks it's all in a days chores.

For those interested the main panels is make from old wood. Sometimes it makes no since to labor over making new wood look old. On these panels I used both aged rough cedar and discarded yellow pine found around some old barns.

As a sandblast resist 1/4" PVC has become my favorite material. It's excellent from the standpoint a person can send the blasting out to any crude blasting company without the worry of mask failure. I look for the worst blasters in the business. They work cheap and fast.

The panels are soaked with Sikkens Dark Mahogany stain and the posts are coated with Sikkens natural cedar.

[kevin]

I've never thought about using reclaimed wood .Makes perfect sense the wood is proven exterior
Looks great the wood really adds a different element

[bleeth]

Check your e-mail Joe.

[scottp55]

Thanks for posting pictures of the process Joe, Totally different than I thought and nice to see the phases.
Have you ever used Eastern White "Cedar" (I know its not cedar, but abundant and available here in Maine) in any exterior signs? I know to use as close to vertical grain as I can get, and to try for all heartwood, But nothing about which Sikkens I should try first. Wondering how they held up over the years?
Thanks again for all the tips and fine examples of premium signs over the years.
scott

[t_vandemark]

Joe, that is a really nice sign. I love the rustic look. Did you do the stone work as well? I'm just curious, have you ever tried the Sikkens Cetol SRD Waterborne exterior finish? I'm curious as to how well it holds up compared to the oil based finishes.

[Stockbub4]

I want to make a sign for my place. What did you sandblast? Are all the letters cut out different and then stacked? Do you hand paint. Sorry all the questions, but in my defense, you inadvertently screwed me over when I showed my wife and she said that's what I want you to make us.

[gc3]

I want to make a sign for my place. What did you sandblast? Are all the letters cut out different and then stacked? Do you hand paint. Sorry all the questions, but in my defense, you inadvertently screwed me over when I showed my wife and she said that's what I want you to make us.

here's a link for you Martin...http://www.normansignco.com/


...the hobby group users. They've come out of the walls with no intent of ever making a living and only want to play around. There's lots of retirees who need to find something to do with their spare time. So they buy or make a router. http://www.3dsignforum.com/index.php?topic=1150.0

[scottp55]

Sorry Gene and Joe,
Correct!! I'm sorry,trying to "Pump the Pro's" while you are polite enough to show your stuff, and we haven't done our homework and tests like you have:o
Sometime shoot off the cuff and irreverantly, instead of treating this as a professional resource , as I should.
Scott Plaisted

[joe]

You're Ok Scott,

I know it must be vexing to not have a resource for learning and sharing techniques. After all where does one go to learn all the interesting methods, materials and skills to support a business?

All the pro's with whom I rub shoulders don't have the time and inclination to open up a dialogue with part-timers. It's not that we are trying to keep secrets. Whats' the incentive? For years I was assuming there would be "Bot Heads" who would open up sign businesses and return to share their knowledge. Obviously that's not the case.

While I'm willing to visit from time to time and show a few samples, I can not, nor can any other pro, spend the time and energy answering the postings. Gene put his finger directly on the issue at hand, what is the motivation from the experts? Perhaps we shouldn't post at all.

Now to answer your question about gold. On these panels I've used two kind of gold. Both are 23K but the top logo is done with glass gold. The reason, loose leaf will drape over round surfaces and is much faster to apply than patent gold. I feel the application of a little gold is like lipstick on a beautiful lady who's going out. I use it every chance I get.

The only woods that I use are Cypress, Western Red Cedar and yellow pine. There may be other good woods but I don't know. Vertical grain isn't very important with these crude pieces
Tyler,

I don't know anything about the latest Water Born Sikkens. They're such a good company I may give them a try. It seems to me oil based stains soak in better and last longer. You know, the watery thin stuff like deck stains won't last a year.

I'm just about to give up on traditional colored stains. Here's the issue; Old wood isn't as difficult to maintain a rich luster as new wood. That's because the wood is so starved it soaks up just about anything. What I'm thinking is why not use a natural gray weathering stain. That is to say make it look like what it already is, Gray. Then as it ages there's not as much maintenance. Also, before I forget, all my clients are promised these sign will have a natural tendency to warp, crack and split. This makes them look even better. Mother nature helps when she can.

My guarantee: "At my age everyone get a Lifetime Warranty."

Joe Crumley

[scottp55]

Thanks Joe.

[Stockbub4]

I've been using my not mainly for my cabinets. Some carving and a few other little things. My uncle reminds me constantly that I am not utilizing my machine to the fullest. To be able to.do.something different is always a blessing. I have seen Joe's amazing signs and have said for years I wanted to try one.

I know I am so appreciative when someone shares their wisdom. There is still a learning curve, but it is so encouraging that your wealth of knowledge may stop me from experiencing total failure.

I made one sign out of oak. 3d carved the whole project. Not near.as.impressive as building it in layers.

Bubba

[kevin]

I remember when I joined this form the attitude there was never a stupid questions
But it if you click on post started by Joe you can start a sign business that way not asking same question
There use to be other craftsman that published who have a different spin
This site has the most information to my knowledge

[bleeth]

Kevin is right. At some point or other Joe has posted tons of info on how he does things. If anyone really wants to know they just need to search for it. Make sure you dig into the archives. Much of the best is not in the current issue.

[joe]

Thumbs up to SB by opening up this forum by the inclusion of their search engine. We should be taken advantage of this book shelf as there's lots of good information to be used. Like Dave suggests you will need to dig to get what you want since the search department isn't set very well. If you don't find what you want, keep searching.

About postings; Over the years many of us have moved on to other equipment. The sign shops, we once enjoyed reading about, have bought other brands of CNC's and refrain from showing us what there doing. I for one have not owned SB equipment for at least eight years but enjoy dropping by for a chat.

Joe Crumley

[joe]

Thumbs up to SB by opening up the forum with a search engine. This should be taken advantage of since there's lots of good information to be used. Like Dave suggests you will need to dig to get what you want since the search department isn't set up as good as it should be.

About postings; Over the years many of us have moved on to other equipment and don't feel comfortable discussing. For that reason many of the pro's we once enjoyed have moved on. I for one have not owned SB equipment for at least eight years but they allow my postings.

Joe Crumley

[Call-Tech]

Beautiful work Joe as always. I haven't been on the forums for long time but always enjoy reading your posts.