Speaking from Experience: Getting twisted

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

Friday, November 28, 2014

Getting twisted

The next sign doesn't have any routed parts but features another of the gang of Gruffles. Like the other signs it will hang on a mast. The sign is for a ride called the Yardarm Twist. I welded up the armature and then tied on the lath. I used sculpting epoxy to create the character and the scroll.

It took a couple of days to finish the sculpting on the character and scroll. The lettering was hand done. Once the epoxy sculpting was done the mast and sail were sculpted from concrete. This is as far as we got before Peter and I left for our trip. The crew did the painting in our absence.

Like the rest of the signs we make it got the base coats and then a series of glazes to bring out the texture and add depth.

As always it was the last glaze that brought the sign to life. This sign is now ready to be loaded into the shipping container and make it's way down to Trinidad.

Stay tuned for many more...

-dan