sandblasting question

[Stockbub4]

Can someone please explain why someone sandblast signs. Is sandblasting used to add texture? Why not just carve the texture with CNC. Are there different type of sandblasting one can do? Does sandblasting give you the distressed look? Just some of the picks I saw looked like something that could be carved. Most pics I saw were not really detailed.

Thanks
Bubba

[dmidkiff]

I think the pros can tell the difference, and maybe anyone could side by side.
Sandblasting is adding texture and cnc can be used to apply similar texture.
I think most of the pros still use sandblasting because of the time difference,
but certainly you can use your cnc to make most any texture you want. If you own Aspire, you might look for a tutorial on texture.

[joe]

Martin,

Dave is probably correct with sandblasting being left for the pro's. At one time blasting redwood was popular but with the advent of the router and HDU it lost ground.

That is not to say it doesn't have it's own superior qualities. Please review my posting on "Keeping in Touch" which shows a look that can be had. While this panel was intended to look rough, rather crude, that by no means describes the limits of blasting. These techniques comes from the monument industry.

The equipment isn't cheap. Blasting needs to be done with a heavy duty compressor. A 15hp unit will take too long and won't get enough depth in the wood or HDU to make the impressive look it should give. Another requirement is a good breathing filter. Silicosis is a terrible disease which comes inhalation of sand.

All that said I'm still making sandblasted signs but farm out the blasting.

[scottp55]

Joe, AFS sign is STRIKING:) Thanks for pictures.
scott

[joe]

Scott,

That was a stage blasted double faced sign. It was quiet easy to do. Once the blasting was completed, I pealed off the secondary mask and gave it a second blasting. This has become one of my favorite techniques. I came about the technique while watching some Letterhead guys stage blasting glass. As you know, this is a technique often used with glass.

[scottp55]

Thanks Joe. Not something I'll be doing, just loved the Look! I'd have to read up to understand 1/2 what you said:)
Only thing I ever sandblasted in my life was my 1,000SF (24' tall brick walls-old Kesslen Shoe Mill) when I "Black Beautied" it with a commercial rig for two days, and swore an oath never to do THAT again!!:)
Beautiful work, though I can see why you farm it out.

[joe]

Here's stage blasting on glass.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXVa9ZOxvlo

[scottp55]

Thanks Joe, Looks a lot like what some of the master gem carvers do that I've always wanted to to try, but my hand isn't steady enough with those size bits.:)
Wonder if I could miniaturize that technique for quartz or Iceland Spar?? Hmm.

[Stockbub4]

Joe, I have a client who could sand blast, but I'm just thinking for a guy like me, it might be easier to Start off with creating a texture and just carving it. Do you ever carve or you just like sandblasting? I was just thinking for me how much time it would take to load sign, take it to the shipyard, watch him do it and if it sucks, start over, then back home. I do not know what textures artcam has.

I was just thinking if it was something I did over and over, if it would be easier to drop a texture down. Now a person in your position, there are expectations that you have from yourself and your customers have of you. I can see how the cnc machines could change this.

I am making a present for my wife and also for my parents. Can you apply the texture to pine. One sign is going to be made from cypress and I was thinking pine for the other. I figure if I am going to screw something up, pine would be less expensive to learn on.

Thanks
Bubba

[joe]

Sandblasting should left to the pro's. This process doesn't lend itself to the occasional application. If you have a CNC go with that.

[MichaelB]

Sandblasting is still very popular in our area. We use our ShopBot to cut the stencil, then change bits and cut out the shape of the sign. All we have left to do is weed and sandblast. The equipment needed is relatively inexpensive. For 25 years we have been using a 5 hrs power, two stage, 80 gal tank compressor that today costs about $1,500. A pressure pot with a foot peddle that sells for $700 and if you want to add wood grain texture to HDU, a Grain Fraim runs $500. With this equipment we are able to sandblast a 4'x8' sign in about one hour.

You should avoid using silica sand at all costs. It causes a fatal lung disease called silicosis. 35 grit aluminum oxide blasts aggressively and is chemically inert and has no health hazards associated with its use. It can be recycled over and over again as long as it is used only to blast HDU. It is not a good idea to recycle sandblast medium if it is used to sandblast wood because the wood dust is fibrous and absorbs moisture which will clog the blaster.

If you would like to see some good tutorials on sandblasting go to www.signfoam.com

[joe]

Michael,

Glad to see your posting.

Compressor size seems to be an issue for two reasons. First off a 5hp takes way too long to complete a 4X8 sign. Then there's the most important reason the depth of cut. And that's what gives a sign it's impressive, jaw dropping, look. Signs which have shallow depth are more difficult to paint as the detail isn't standing away from it's background.

Lets, both of us, start posting some photo's of our blasting techniques. I'm sure everyone will enjoy seeing the effects.

[scottp55]

Joe, Curious how you finished the double-arrow flourish under "Herndon"?
You're correct about the depth. Once again, that "Herndon" one "Grabbed" my eye(and I hate dentists:)
Thanks,
scott

[GeneMpls]

Hi Joe- I would love to see the far right sign after painting. (Davis)
Interesting pocketing for the prismatic letters. Gene

[joe]

The letters are gilded EXTIRA.

[t28c34]

Hey Joe,
The background of the dentistry sign, is that your own program? or did you find that somewhere?

[joe]

Terry,

Excellent question. My routing files are photo's made from sandblasted wood planks. By carefully selecting eight 2"X12"X10' yellow pine boards and blasting them I ended up with the patterns for all my woodgrain.

The reason I choose yellow pine was the dramatic effect this wood renders.
Because this wood is extremely hard and difficult to blast, I paid a commercial blasting company. Their usual work was heavy duty rust removal from oil field equipment. The blasting took a short time and cost $150.

Joe

[t28c34]

Wow I didn't think of blasting it. I took pictures of wood also, but you don't get that good of detail. Ill give that a shot next time. I like how the knots come out.
Thanks Joe

[joe]

Terry,

Keep in mind you'll need to blast panels to size. The sample I sent wouldn't enlarge for a larger sign. For that reason I used 10' boards.

Blasting deep gives lots of detail for the camera to pick up. I've never been too happy with shallow blasts any way. With that in mind a smaller compressor doesn't have the beans for deep carving.

Joe

[Chuck Keysor]

Wow Joe, that Daniel Davis sign is downright impressive! Based on the sign alone Davis can command a higher price for his legal services! Thanks, Chuck

[joe]

Chuck,

Dan D. is one of those bigger than life personalities. Once I met him it was obvious he needed an over the top sign to go with his aggressive business. My way into this work was through the website. This is my only advertising method.

Joe