Thread: Sign for the property !

I'd use a black stain on the letters. You may need to scrub up the grain a bit for the stain to get a good hold, but test it out first.

Hi Paul,
The only way I've seen it done is to Spray Paint each Letter a couple of times, then Run it through a Thicknesser or Planer to remove the over Spray of Paint.

I've done scores like that, freehand routed.

If it is going to be out of the weather, I'll sometimes take an oxy or a small gas burner and lightly char the leter bottoms, then varnish everything with several coats of UV clear varnish. You need some sanding in between the coats.

If it is going to be in the weather permanently, I find a longer life by using waterbased wood primer all over, then paint the letters & sides in a pale creamy colour of Duraguard type of acrylic paint, give it at least three coats, (with a brush), then roll a heritage red, or maroony rusty brown duraguard over the back, edges and face with a roller - give it at least three coats.

There are other ways, many of them, but this is the simplest for the non-signwriter, and longest-lasting. (and I am a signwriter, by the way!)

If the wood grain is worth seeing, I'd use (and have used) spar varnish. For contrast, sand the outer surface to remove saw marks and patina, and stain it before applying the spar varnish. Lightly re-sand and re-coat every few years.

Cheers,
Joe

Our property sign was free hand routed in a cypress slab. The letters were painted in oil base exterior house paint and then the whole slab was sanded to get rid of any 'slips'. Next both sides of the slab were given 6 coats of marine spar varnish with a light sand between coats.

Its anchored to the permapine post frame by four stainless steel 16mm bars driven through the verticle posts and into the ends of the slab. Trust me... it ain't gonna fall down anytime soon!

Hi Whittling,
Love the Cypress. Takes a lot of beating as a Wood, & also a very underrated Wood. That sure is a great Sign & the Model makes it quite a bit better.
I Turn a lot of Cypress, as it is so easy to come by, as there are always Branches laying on the Ground, Thank You Very Much.

I finished this on the weekend. I didn't prime coat for the lettering and only allowed minimal drying before marine varnishing over the blue oil paint. I want to get a crackle-like old time effect. If it doesn't work I can always redo it .

Thanks for the feedback guys. I want to keep the rough sawn look of the slab, and not varnish it so that it retains it grey weathered look. I have a 'spare' slab and will try out suggestion Movay 2008. I just want to ensure that I keep the crispness of the edges of the letters.

Rgds
Paul