Thread: Freehand routing a sign

Thanks for posting the excellent pictures and work-in-progress write-up. That's a great job, Harry - well done!

Ray

Thank you kind sir. I do have a large number of projects all with similar photo-shoots but at this stage most are in zip files that many people seem to have difficulty in opening so, when time permits I'll turn them into pdf's.

Yes, thanks Harry, really appreciate your work at posting these WIP's.

My only issue with this one is the use of that lovely piece of WA Sheoak which I have seen used to make some really nice projects. Just jealous you could use it I guess it is a beautiful timber, not readily available here.

Cheers, Ian

All is not what it seems Ian, that slab of Sheoak had many flaws, making it unsuitable for most other projects. I have a couple more in a similar state, even after making two smaller signs with pieces salvaged from one slab. I've just made this pdf showing the sign after three HOT summers later.

Oh, I see what you mean.

Nice refurb though, hopefully we will both be around in 3 to see how it fares this time.

Cheers, Ian

Congratulations mate for doing such an excellent routing job,- on both occasions. Although I do admit the original timber finish looks heaps better, but even the up-grade to black all over with the letters in white makes your piece of artwork stand out even more. It will be interesting to see how many summers you can achieve with your sign this time round.

** I plan to be doing some signwork during 2012 using Yorke Peninsula, ( S.A. ), Sheoak, as have a mate who has about fifty acres, ( or more ), of Sheoaks of varying sizes, & heights, some of which have been blown over during recent winter gales. Have used some sheoak on previous occasions, but never for wooden signs, so it will be an interesting experience for me. Also I will be able to choose from complete trees,- stumps, roots, & all,- AND Stumps have a habit of having a very nice grain pattern to them. Come to think of it, I think the same guy has some Red, & White Mallee stumps, & logs on his property too,- and I also know of another guy who owns a large, ( old ) firewood sawbench, which could come in quite useful.
Roger

I really do love working with Sheoak and since retirement in 2000 have relied on donations of all kinds of wood, it was a case of advising all my friends and rellies that I was now retired and pass the word around that I'm in the market for donations of FREE wood.
Here are shots of two quite different Sheoak projects.

Nice work Harry, the ring box is superb.

Just out of curiosity did you stain the clock or is that a darker variety of timber.

Cheers, Ian

Originally Posted by Nanigai

Nice work Harry, the ring box is superb.

Just out of curiosity did you stain the clock or is that a darker variety of timber.

Cheers, Ian

No stain used Ian,Like Jarrah, the colour of Sheoak varies greatly as do photographs! That first shot of the clock was pretty poor, here are two more before the laser engraving after which two coats of clear lacquer were applied from a rattle can. The jewellery stand that I copied from one of many made by a clever friend of mine was the lightest colour Sheoak that I've ever seen, again, it was GIVEN to me. The shot of the finished stand was emailed to me by my daughter-in-law for whom I made it and the shot was taken with a camera phone and makes it look heaps darker than it is.
Thanks for your kind comments regarding the ring box that I was asked to make for my granddaughter's wedding. When I find my way around this forum I'll turn all the photographs, I think there are more than 40, and into a pdf and post it in a suitable place, I'm sure there must be a box section.

Thanks for that Harry. I have an idea one of those would be a nice accessory for my middle son's wedding in July next year. He's finally doing the right thing after 10 years together with his girl.

If you could let me know when you post the other pics it would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers, Ian

Ian, I assume you mean the ring box for which I've just posted the full photo-shoot as a pdf in the box making section. If anything isn't clear, don't hesitate to ask, that applies of course to all members.

Yes I did Harry, thanks for the heads up and a Happy New Year to all.

Nice work Harry and an excellent WIP. Just one little word of advice if you don't mind.. when you do a WIP as in your PDF yellow text is not a great colour to use on some backgrounds and difficult to read. Red, Dark Blues or Black shows up really well on light backgrounds where yellow doesn't. You did such a great job and I know it takes a big effort to put something like that together, I think it is worth mentioning about the colour.. Hope you dont mind and think I am being picky, I think you did an excellent job.

I appreciate all of your remarks John. Threads that I'm posting on this forum are early ones and I have I think become more selective in choice of colours depending on the predominant colour of the background, some photos with a dark top half will be yellow and a very light bottom half change to black. Does this forum have a "lobby" where things that don't really fit into any of the designated areas can be posted. As an example, I have a photo-shoot showing how I made an illuminated base for one of my Makita routers, where would such a thread be posted so as to attract members who could be interested in such a device.