Design, Carve and Finish a Sign

In my first Instructable, I like to show you how I make a Sign from beginning till the end. This sign I designed and carved for a Local Business.

It always starts with a short discussion with the client to bring their idea to reality. Then I usually make few different design variations, so they can have options to choose from.

The software I use to create the designs called Vectric Aspire 9.5, I don't like to get into too much of the design process, there are several tutorials on how to use the software, but you need to know that you can make all different settings for your cutting, for example, drill bits settings, your material piece, cutting depths and so on. But it's easy to use and it can translate the design into gcode, which I can upload to my CNC Machine and start to Carve..... well of cors I still have to choose a piece of timber.

Right so next I need to prep the timber to cut. I have chosen a nice piece of blank Teak wood after I had it planed on my table thicknesser/planer I was ready to secure it to the table, fitting the router with my desired drill bit, and check if all my settings are correct.

Carving is a laud but fun time. I like to see how a piece of wood becomes something else. On this sign, I use a fill-in technic basically, on the carved area I used black paint to highlight it. Some people before carving use some sort of tape so they will end up less cleaning after the fill-in color being applied. I prefer not, instead, I sand the overlapping paint.

As an Outside sign, it needed weatherproof protection. I used 5 coats of gloss yacht varnish. I hope you like the finished product.