Routing or Blasting

[joe]

It's a fair question and sometimes not well understood even by experienced sign artists. Each of these techniques has it's own qualities.

Sandblast on wood offers exceptional beauty. While the router can wood grain textures, it lacks finished details.

I'm in no way suggesting anyone leap off into blasting. On the contrary. To do the work properly it's expensive and time consuming. But, hold on there-there's an opportunity to dabble around with a 5hp compressor and do some serious work. That is if you have a CNC. Here's what I've been doing for years. Works like a charm.

1st. Roll out the sandblast mask on a clean, dust free, panel. Burnish it down.
2nd. With a small brad point bit score the pattern in the mask and weed.
3rd. Route the image Z-.40 using a .25" bit.
4th. Now your ready to blast.

The net effect is depth and you only need to lightly blast to get the grain pattern up. Historically we had to blast all that material away. Another neat thing about this technique is you'll not have to worry about basting away the mask.

Here's an example of a sign at the blasting stage. O by the way, this panel has been out on property for five years and looks like new. The wood is cheap, cheap, very cheap yellow pine.

[joe]

Perhaps a couple of photo's will help.

[bobmoore]

Looks great Joe;
So .4 deep with a .25 end mill or vbit?
Bob

[joe]

Bob,

Either would work fine. I've often thought of using a V bit but haven't gotten there. Most of my work has outlines. That would need to be figured into the profiles. Good idea.

Joe

[bobmoore]

I like it. BTW are you planning another clinic for sign companies this winter? You thought you might include some wood in the next one.
Bob

[joe]

I've kind of been thinking about it. But not sure what direction to go. So few guys are working in wood I'm not sure it would be of interest.

There's some interest in my aged wood products. I've started a proposal for Doug Milholland's horse ranch. They called after seeing the Wetherell sign wanting that look. It's probably up to their budget.

O, by the way, I'm back at the "Bob Moore" ranch re-painting one of the 20 year old signs. They don't seem to want to die.

Joe

[Stockbub4]

You said that the pine was cheap. How does the price in signfoam compare to wood. I am not having much luck finding someone who sales signfoam or hdu where I am. Houston, which is 1 1/2 hours away is the closes place to purchase anything.

Bubba

[scottp55]

Thanks Joe! Pictures certainly DO help:)