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

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Another and another and...

We are doing four versions and three sizes of the Fox & Hounds dimensional sign for various places in the project. Two are under way, while the last two await a sign permit. The smallest version of the  sign is inside at the end of the entry. We test fit this sign in place, in order to build the barrel underneath. in this shot the tile man is fitting the border around the base. This sign will be returned to the studio shortly to be finished.


The next largest dimensional sign is for above the outside entry, It measures six feet wide and is about the same height. The two large signs for the front and back of the property will measure eight feet wide and be double sided.Each sign involves a fair amount of hand work which is being done a little at a time. First comes the carving, taking away and shaping the 30 lb Precision Board. The first phase was done with the MultiCam router including the lettering and cutting the sign layers to shape. The rest of the shaping is to be done with the die grinder. I'm applying a subtle texture to the sign face and scroll by hand. The ends of the scroll and the woodgrain on the end of the barrel staves is done in the same fashion.

The flag is also shaped by hand as will be the rough form of the fox. All this work will take about 1-2 hours per sign. Then we'll mix up some Abracadabra Sculpting epoxy and add the dog faces and fox details.


The last stage will be primer, paint and glazing to bring them to their full glory. I'll be documenting that process here of course.

Stay tuned...

-dan