signs

[stan kern]

The solid surface material is very good to work with
makes very permanent signs

http://youtu.be/iqjG8Fdzuus welcome sign
http://youtu.be/dD6J8XRrLi0 301 house number
http://youtu.be/sgjKlnAHCB0 301 house ID number fancy

[Cliff Land]

those look fantastic.
for the black back fill, did you mask, machine, paint, de-mask ?

[Art Mann]

Nice work Stan. I see your chip/dust collection works just as well as mine. As a lower cost option, I also use 3/4 and 1 inch PVC sheets for the same application. The PVC is formulated to be painted so you have more options if a customer wants to match colors with some other object. It can be carved very fast and holds detail really well.

I liked the welcome sign from reclaimed wood especially well. It has more character then new material.

[stan kern]

these signs are machined out ,sealed, then the letters painted and sanded, buffed and re-sealed

[Ross Moshinsky]

Nice work Stan. I see your chip/dust collection works just as well as mine. As a lower cost option, I also use 3/4 and 1 inch PVC sheets for the same application. The PVC is formulated to be painted so you have more options if a customer wants to match colors with some other object. It can be carved very fast and holds detail really well.

I liked the welcome sign from reclaimed wood especially well. It has more character then new material.

After doing a few projects with PVC at this point, I think it's important to mention when V-carving PVC, you will need to do manual cleanup in the letters. I've tried lots of different settings, bits, ect and all resulted in needing cleanup. On most signs it's probably only a few minutes worth of work but I did one with a lot of smaller letters and it was a huge waste of time cleaning everything up.

Not my work but here is an example: http://www.3dsignforum.com/media/kun.../Bumpy%20F.jpg

[Art Mann]

After doing a few projects with PVC at this point, I think it's important to mention when V-carving PVC, you will need to do manual cleanup in the letters. I've tried lots of different settings, bits, ect and all resulted in needing cleanup. On most signs it's probably only a few minutes worth of work but I did one with a lot of smaller letters and it was a huge waste of time cleaning everything up.

Not my work but here is an example: http://www.3dsignforum.com/media/kun.../Bumpy%20F.jpg

I haven't seen much of that problem. Maybe I hit upon just the right combination of bit speed and spindle travel speed. I use a single flute O-flute or sometimes a straight bit. Seldom spiral. If it is, I use a down cut because it makes the bottom of the carve more smooth and flat. I cut it fairly fast. Maybe its the material. I prefer Versatex brand. Azek also works well but I don't have a convenient supplier. I tried Lowes store brand trim board. It is more porous, more coarse grained and doesn't finish as nice. I have made lots of PVC signs like the one below (18 inches square) and I usually don't do much to it other than blow it off with compressed air and paint it. I will say the chips are difficult to capture and wind up all over the floor and stuck to things.

Georgia Tech.jpg

[Bruce Page]

What font did you use for the welcome sign?

[Ross Moshinsky]

I haven't seen much of that problem. Maybe I hit upon just the right combination of bit speed and spindle travel speed. I use a single flute O-flute or sometimes a straight bit. Seldom spiral. If it is, I use a down cut because it makes the bottom of the carve more smooth and flat. I cut it fairly fast. Maybe its the material. I prefer Versatex brand. Azek also works well but I don't have a convenient supplier. I tried Lowes store brand trim board. It is more porous, more coarse grained and doesn't finish as nice. I have made lots of PVC signs like the one below (18 inches square) and I usually don't do much to it other than blow it off with compressed air and paint it. I will say the chips are difficult to capture and wind up all over the floor and stuck to things.

Georgia Tech.jpg

I'm talking about v-carving. With endmill/straight bits, I've had no problem.

[Art Mann]

Okay, how about this one? I don't like to post it because the design was adapted from a business card and I am not fond of it (although the customer was pleased). However, I didn't have any trouble v-carving it and very little cleanup was necessary. I actually carved it through Oramask 813 masking to make the painting easier and more precision. Sorry but i just don't seem to have your problems.

1-Drlynsey-001.jpg

[Bill Munroe]

Art, Buzz looks GREAT! THWG