V-Carved Sign Painting

[tri4sale]

I am running a GoFundMe drive for my neighborhood (no HOA) to replace our missing entrance signs.

First I am making a quick sign to put at entrance to let everyone know. Here it is:



This is my thought on painting:

Step 1) Paint the wood a solid color (day 1)
Step 2) Lacquer the sign (day 2)
Step 3) Put painters tape (Frog tape is what I have on hand) over sign (day 3)
Step 4) V-Carve out the letters (day 3)
Step 5) Paint the letters (day 3)
Step 6) Remove the painters tape (day 4)
Step 7) Lacquer the letters (day 4)
Step 8) Install sign (day 5)

Any thoughts / hints / input is greatly appreciated.

[scottp55]

Don't forget step 4.5
Seal the letters after carving with perhaps a couple coats de-waxed shellac to prevent bleeding.

[bobmoore]

If this is an outdoor sign I would not use lacquer or any clear coat. The paint will hold up better than any clear.

[dmidkiff]

What Scott said, but instead use the paint in step 1 and what Bob said.

[phil_o]

I've made many signs for local hiking trails. I use Azek (PVC) for the material. Paint the sign the desired color, dark colors work well for this application. Carve out the lettering and you are done. The white PVC lettering stands out very well. PVC holds paint very well.

Phil

[tri4sale]

I've made many signs for local hiking trails. I use Azek (PVC) for the material. Paint the sign the desired color, dark colors work well for this application. Carve out the lettering and you are done. The white PVC lettering stands out very well. PVC holds paint very well.

Phil

Phil

I have some of this: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Veranda-H...AWS6/205309788

I played with it some, but when I used it for a monogram sign it did warp. Using it would really cut down on paint time, but any recommendations for mounting so it doesn't warp? For this sign I'm just placing at the entrance, no place to mount it to.

[Alex Naumenko]

https://www.facebook.com/SignProPlus...7561543696663/
Solid surface acrylic panel painted with Matthews paint.

[cnc_works]

As far as your painter's tape masking, it really has a tendency to fuz up badly and pull off some sections. Save yourself headaches and get some Gerber Mask II or equivalent.

[RossMosh]

Everyone has their own process that works well for them. Generally speaking with house paint (especially latex)

Sand, Prep, Clean, and then paint. I strongly recommend sanding, but rolling should be okay. Wait 24 hours. Coat 2. Wait 6-8 hours. Coat 3. Wait 24 hours. Mask with paint mask. Carve.

Now many people recommend painting the letters the panel color. I've never had any luck doing it so I go straight to my fill color. Spray 2-3 coats of that on. Since you're using wood, I'd likely prime the letters with my primer of choice and then paint. Peel back the vinyl and pray it all works out. Good spray paint should be satisfactory for the letters.

Picking the paint is very important. If you pick the wrong stuff, your masking will peel up and bleed. Generally speaking you want as simple and pure of paint as you can get. Any additives and silicone **** will give you headaches. Acrylic DTM is a very good choice. It's like a hybrid between an enamel and standard latex paint. Dries flat and has very good adhesion qualities.

[tri4sale]

I've made many signs for local hiking trails. I use Azek (PVC) for the material. Paint the sign the desired color, dark colors work well for this application. Carve out the lettering and you are done. The white PVC lettering stands out very well. PVC holds paint very well.

Phil

Decided to go this method as it was fastest to get the sign done. This is temp sign, so just wanted to get it done quickly.

Couple of mistakes, some letters are too close together when v-carved, but overall I'm not unhappy with my first try at a sign like this.