WELCOME!

It is hard to believe that it was almost ten years ago I witnessed a CNC router in action for the very first time. I was fascinated and simply had to have one! Although I had been in the creative end of the three dimensional sign business for most of my life I didn't really know what I would do with one of these machines - but I just knew it could do fantastic stuff.

Along with the CNC router I discovered the wonderful material called Precision Board and the glues, primers and other companion products they offer. Since then we have gone through many tons of the material using it in most signs and projects we tackle. This journal will chronicle our many adventures both past, present and future. I'll talk from the perspective of someone who pushes these products to the creative limit on a daily basis. I'll be adding to the stories two or three times each week. -dan

Monday, February 7, 2011

Flat Sonbuilt logo

The flat (in my terms) Sonbuilt logo was routed in two copies. One measured 24" across and will be inserted in a door as part of a trade show display. Ot was routed from a piece of 2" thick 30 lb Precision Board. I did a rough pass with  3/8" bit and a final with a 1/8" tapered ball nose bit.


The 3D logo was routed as one piece. The top round trim piece was routed separately and glued on with epoxy. this will allow the logo to just pop into the door nice and clean.


It took minimal sanding to get things ready for paint. I then applied a thing layer of sculpting epoxy to the tree. For the bark texture I used crumpled up tinfoil and then used a sharp stick to scribe in the vertical lines. It only took a few minutes.


The second version of the 3D logo was as part of a 20" tall x 48" wide sign. The round emblem measured about 15" across. I created the final tree texture by hand sculpting it as well. This sign face was routed from 2" HDU leaving a final thickness of about 1.5" on the sign. I laminated another 1" piece of Precision Board behind it to give the sign substantial look.


The final two small signs for this project are two builder's association logos. They were routed from 1" 30 lb Precision Board and then glued up with some 1.5" board to make them a similar thickness as the sign pictured above.


Next will come primer and the final coats of paint - just in time for the fast approaching deadline.

-grampa dan