Speaking from Experience: Gnome pub sign step by step

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, October 7, 2016

Gnome pub sign step by step - part four

I had so much fun assembling and sculpting the gnome sign today I forgot to take pictures along the way. The sign assembled easily. The routed hole in the centre section allowed me to simply drop in the cut sections of tubing. It welded up in a couple of minutes. I drilled for the steel rods in three of the corners and then welded them onto the centre steel frame. I glued the sign around this steel framework.

Once the glue was dry I did the cleanup on the corners which would be impossible once the brackets were in place. I then tacked up the corner angle brackets and squared everything up using the curved scrolls as a guide. I tacked those in place as well. I then mounted everything to the back mounting plate and checked everything one last time to make sure it was square and level. Then I laid on some finish beads.

I then used the air powered die grinder to clean up the edges of the sign and add a little texture to the flat areas. Then it was time for some sculpting fun! The gnome took about three hours to complete. Half this time was spent mixing the epoxy as my helpers were all busy on other projects. I still have the two small corner mushrooms to sculpt as well as the bottom clover leaf but that will only take a few minutes at best. Then it is on to the painting department! Stay tuned...