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

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Last week of construction for Cultus Lake Adventure project

The Cultus Lake Adventure project is massive by most shop standards. The project started back in the middle of September of last year. Now we are in the final week of production with the gates to swing open to the public next Saturday. That leaves five working days to complete our work. While we have been putting in about an hour of overtime per day and two saturdays of pure overtime the pace in the last weeks has been steady - not rushed. We are actually ahead of where I thought we would be at this point. And that is a good thing!

The signs we have been working on over the last year are now pretty much all in place and looking mighty fine with all of the supporting theme work around them. In the next week we have plenty of painting to do while the owner's crews add soil to the planters, water to the creeks and ponds and even some sidewalks to pour. It is going to be a week of high energy. This will be combined with the operational crew also coming on site for their training to run the rides and handle the expected crowds. Excitement builds.

I thought I would share a few pictures of the project as it finally comes together. This is the very same vision I imagined back before the first shovels hit the dirt.

The carousel and balloon ride are now fully functional and ready for our guests.



The saloon is ready for the operational crew to move in and start serving guests.


The western themed trading post got it's last paint on Thursday


The rides are being tested, sometimes with our crew as eager volunteers. I snapped this picture from the top of the Windmill Drop.


We finished the paint on the western gate on Friday. I'll install the entrance sign on the upper cross beam tomorrow.


Bucky's Bumper Boat area was finished on Thursday. I was at the site today for a planning walk through and the pool is full and ready for the bumper boats.


This will be the last week I am out of the studio and I am looking forward to getting back into the swing of things there. As the current worksite is cleaned and polished in preparation for the opening I'll be taking plenty more pictures of the project and I'll be sure to post them here. Stay tuned...

-dan