a few signs... it was inevitable!

[Ajcoholic]

Today I was working on pricing some cabinet work... started thinking about the bot' so I turned on the computer and fired off a few simple signs.

#1 is for my neighbors. My shop is out in the country, and the next property over live a nice couple. I wanted to make them something simple they can hang out at the end of their drive.

Western red cedar, painted the background black and gave the sign a coat of Sikens finish.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0833.jpg

#2 is taken from my shop logo (which is an old wooden handplane with my company name on it).

I just grabbed a piece of white pine, and stained it after it was cut. Yes, it is rough - but after a few days with the new machine it was inevitable that I try and whack out a few signs :)

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0835.jpg

I actually plan to try and make some nicer samples - and show them around to some of my clients (that I have done furniture and cabinet work for). You never know - there may be a demand around here for some wooden Vcarved signage! :)

AJC

[Rick W]

Andrew,

I have been watching your posts and you are a born natural. I never cut anything but styrofoam for the longest time, chicken I guess. You know about a year ago I was in your position, waiting for my buddy, I could feel your suspence.
I had the same only after the truck left I opened the crate and it was the wrong buddy (unbelieveable!!!) Had to wait another month for my real one!!!!
Anyhow, just wanted to say keep up the good work, I enjoy seeing your work and progress.

Rik

[Ajcoholic]

Rick, I think having gotten Aspire the day I paid for my machine, and then working with it almost daily (well, at least 5 nights a week) for the 5 weeks I had to wait both allowed me to get a grasp on what I was going to be doing, and also think of some projects to work on when I received the machine.

I looked at some of the videos and worked through the tutorials as well. And of course, I lurked here for months previous to actually buying the machine and there is a ton of info to be had from the various posters.

I first saw a Shopbot in real life last summer, at the Las Vegas AWFS woodworking show (I went specifically to talk to someone from Shopbot and see the machines, and software - and spent an hour talking to one of the guys there). I was hooked...

But, I have to say having the machine for less than a week, and only running it for a few hours... it has exceeded my expectations in terms of ease of use, and how I have been able to make usable stuff right off the bat.

Now, if they sent the wrong machine all the way to Northern Ontario... :) I guess I would have been a little miffed! Unless it was a big one with the tool changer - I'd have just kept my mouth shut! ;)

AJC

[Rick W]

Hey Andrew,

They sent the wrong machine all the way to B.C., and yes it was better than my machine. I have a router, the one they sent was a spindle ( 3 phase though ).
About 10 min after I realized they had sent the wrong machine shopbot phoned me and said don't open the crate (too late). The people at shopbot handled the whole thing great. My biggest problem was getting those huge crates off and on the trucks without a forklift (not fun).

Rik

[David Iannone]

Andrew,
Great job with your new tool. You are by far doing more than most (or at least me) in your first week with your bot. It took me many weeks to get cutting usable stuff, and lots of wasted MDF test material. But that was back in 2001. Vectric is available now and makes a great product with great tutorials. I have V-Carve Pro, but cant spring for the Aspire upgrade yet. Good for you for doing your homework and setting your goals for when your Bot rolled into your shop. Keep up the great work and keep posting.

Dave

[Ajcoholic]

Well, after several weeks I am trying to revisit signs. I have a trade show (for my furniture products) coming up and I have decided I will make up some sample wood signs just to fill my booth, and show people what is possibly available vs the vinyl stuff everyone else is doing.

NO ONE around here is cutting wood signage, and there are tons of lakes & cottage/homes, as well as a lot of rural homes all around the city.

Please be gentle, I am just trying this stuff and I am also brand new to the design of signs. I hope to learn a lot of things by trying different types of cuts, and shapes, etc.

Here is one, for the show. I will be painting the lettering. Cut from a 24" by 48" by 1.4" white pine slab I laminated...

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0880.jpg

[Ajcoholic]

This one I just was fooling with Aspire, trying to create a 3D domed shape on an ellipse.

Also 1.4" depth, about 38" by 12"

I will paint this up, but will cut out the ellipse and mount it onto another board I plan to make up. A work in progress...

It is hard to see the 3D shape on the computer. Looks pretty cool in real life.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0877.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0879.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0878.jpg

AJC

PS I had a chip in the "I" so I glued a piece of pine and reshaped it by hand

[Ajcoholic]

PS I cut the last sign first (roughing) with a 1/4" endmill, and did the finish cut with an extended length 1/4" ball end mill.

Took about 1 hour and 40 minutes.

AJC

[chiloquinruss]

Andrew, great signs! A couple of comments about signs if you ask Ted he will tell you at some point in time all Botters are in the sign biz! :) One of the recurring comments in most of the sign related posts is that most customers have no idea what cnc is and frankly don't care. So the one sign with cnc on it would serve your custom business better is the custom made was bigger and the cnc went away. Just my observations from being on the forum for awhile. My customers only find out about the tools in the shop if they care to visit it. Please keep up your entusiastic postings some of us need that shot in the arm on occasion! :) Russ

[Ajcoholic]

Andrew, great signs! A couple of comments about signs if you ask Ted he will tell you at some point in time all Botters are in the sign biz! :) One of the recurring comments in most of the sign related posts is that most customers have no idea what cnc is and frankly don't care. So the one sign with cnc on it would serve your custom business better is the custom made was bigger and the cnc went away. Just my observations from being on the forum for awhile. My customers only find out about the tools in the shop if they care to visit it. Please keep up your entusiastic postings some of us need that shot in the arm on occasion! :) Russ

Russ, I see your point... I was just fooling around late last night :)

One thing - I do NOT want to be a "sign maker" per say, I have my hands full with my custom woodworking business. That being said, I love to offer any wood product that I can to my customers, and many I work for live in areas that cry out for a nice sign... And I am always looking for ways to bring an extra dollar or two into my shop.

I always listen to advice... and appreciate it!

AJC

[blackhawk]

Andrew - Let us know how your signs do at the trade show. I tried this at a local lake festival and had pretty poor results. I only sold two signs over the entire day.

[Ajcoholic]

Andrew - Let us know how your signs do at the trade show. I tried this at a local lake festival and had pretty poor results. I only sold two signs over the entire day.

Well, remember I am not "pushing" the signs - my main business is custom furniture, cabinet/case goods and millwork. And, that will always be the case. I purchased the shopbot to assist me in my furniture. However, like any good businessman, I am always looking for ways to expand my product line and make a few extra $$'s...

I am makign a few signs for some local businesses, and a few friend's of mine who live on nearby lakes. Just to see if there is any referals. 100% of my business is by word of mouth and my customer's friends seeing the work, etc.

I will report back, for sure. It will be interesting to see what the feedback is.

Here is a sign I was fooling with for my mom and dad's place. I actually designed this in Aspire long before my machine arrived, but I just set it up to cut today.

1.5" African mahogany (khaya). About 16" long. Cut with an extended length 1/4" ball nose

AJC

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0885.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0884.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0883.jpg

[chiloquinruss]

"bring an extra dollar or two into my shop" Yeah I know what you mean. I got my machine for my retirement "toy". Then the word got out and so on the side I do 'some' signs. Nothing like Joe or any of the super-botters, but I made enough side money to pay for my machine, Aspire, and propane for the heater. So the bottomline is - It isn't what I got the Bot to do, but the extra cash keeps it running! :)

In the ShopBot postings have you seen the ones about doing inlays using the prismatic cuts loke your last sign? It is a very cool technique.

Please keep posting, I like your work. Russ

[Ajcoholic]

"bring an extra dollar or two into my shop" Yeah I know what you mean. I got my machine for my retirement "toy". Then the word got out and so on the side I do 'some' signs. Nothing like Joe or any of the super-botters, but I made enough side money to pay for my machine, Aspire, and propane for the heater. So the bottomline is - It isn't what I got the Bot to do, but the extra cash keeps it running! :)

In the ShopBot postings have you seen the ones about doing inlays using the prismatic cuts loke your last sign? It is a very cool technique.

Please keep posting, I like your work. Russ

Russ, I have seen that technique, and also in a past issue of "American Woodworker" which seems to showcase some cnc stuff each issue... never had any time to try it but I am sure I will.

Thanks for the compliment - I appreciate it! :)

AJC

[Ajcoholic]

This one I just was fooling with Aspire, trying to create a 3D domed shape on an ellipse.

Also 1.4" depth, about 38" by 12"

I will paint this up, but will cut out the ellipse and mount it onto another board I plan to make up. A work in progress...

It is hard to see the 3D shape on the computer. Looks pretty cool in real life.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0877.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0879.jpg


AJC

PS I had a chip in the "I" so I glued a piece of pine and reshaped it by hand

Today I made a sign incorporating the above 3D oval I made. It is from a 38" by 28" plank of 4/4 white pine (1&2 common grade, nothing fancy).

Just painted the letters black, and stained/glazed the wood. Will give it 3 or 4 coats of clear lacquer.

Remember I am no sign man, yet ;) But I am trying to learn!

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0048.jpg

[myxpykalix]

Is it Al or Joe? I like the different elements in your sign showing the vcarving and the relief carving. I also like the hand rubbed finish. I looks like you purposely did not go into every nook and corner to rub it out. I bet if you put that out in the sun it will look like its been around for a hundred years.

I like your finish alot, good work!:D

[Ajcoholic]

Is it Al or Joe? I like the different elements in your sign showing the vcarving and the relief carving. I also like the hand rubbed finish. I looks like you purposely did not go into every nook and corner to rub it out. I bet if you put that out in the sun it will look like its been around for a hundred years.

I like your finish alot, good work!:D

Jack,
I wanted the sign to look like a furniture finish... when it gets sprayed the colours will look even sharper.

My company is named after my father, Joe. We incorporated back in the 1970s and when I took over, I kept the same name. My name is Andrew, glad to say there are no "Al's" in the Coholic family... :) No one has THAT mean a sense of humor! ;)

My son is named Joe (Joseph) after my dad. Maybe some day he'll take over.. who knows!

AJC

[myxpykalix]

Andrew,
Don't you think that was a subliminal "jab" at you...although thats probably not the first time you heard that i'm sure;)

If your boy is only 1 now you have plenty time to give him a sawdust transfusion so he gets the urge to want to work in the shop. I started adding sawdust to my sons babyfood so he would get the taste for woodworking:D

One thing you can say about Joe is, he seems to have taught you well!:)

btw if the son grows up to take over the business he won't have to change the name!

[joe]

Andrew

Congrats on your sign work. You've definantely developed the technical skills. Now, it seems to me, you are into the fun part which is creative design. If I could make a suggestion, you could use your name as a signature. Much like the Eddie Bauer branding.

Joe Crumley

[Ajcoholic]

fooling more with the 3D stuff... its very neat!

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0050-1.jpg

[joe]

Andrew,

Congratulations on your new postings. They are excellent.

Did you build the attached 3D files are they available on line?
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e115/jcrumley1/coholic1.jpg

Joe Crumley

[Ajcoholic]

Andrew,

Congratulations on your new postings. They are excellent.

Did you build the attached 3D files are they available on line?
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e115/jcrumley1/coholic1.jpg

Joe Crumley

Joe,
The banner, cat tails, maple leaf and others were on the Aspire 3.5 disk. You get a bunch of free stuff on the 2 disk set, along with the software and tutorials.

I think everything is also available for purchase. But you get something like 50 included models/art.

I just started fooling with the carving... hope to do more soon!

AJC

[joe]

Thanks Andrew,

I'll have to pull those disks out and take a look. Thanks for the reply,

Joe

[Ajcoholic]

Andrew - Let us know how your signs do at the trade show. I tried this at a local lake festival and had pretty poor results. I only sold two signs over the entire day.

Well, after 20 hours at the local home and trade show this past Friday, Saturday and today... the signs were a hit!

As expected, people who live all around the city on several lakes, and rural properties were very interested in the V carved cedar and white pine signs I had on display. I got some firm orders, and several dozen families who are supposed to get back to me shortly with what they would like in terms of names/grapics/etc.

Certainly a lot of interest but again there is no one around here for at least a few hundred miles doing anything similar.

Will be interesting to see how many people get back to me this summer... up here, people are just now starting to open up camps and we just had substantial snow fall last week. Most get to their cottages mid May.

AJC

[Ajcoholic]

Here is something I whipped up in Aspire pretty quick. It is for a local tool dealer who I do a lot of business with for my shop.

I scanned the logo off of a business card so I had to clean it up in Aspire and try my best to make a decent vector out of it. A little rough around the edges but its OK.

On my way home from work today I dropped it off for the guys. They loved it! Told them I whittled it with my Case pocket knife ;) but they werent buying that...

Its just a 1.375" white knotty pine board. The "Gord's" stands .625" off the background while the "Rentals and the lower text are .375" tall. The sign is about 26" by 13".

Thye provide really great service so I was glad to make them a little something they can hang in the store.

Roughed it out with a 1/4" ball end bit, finished with a 1/8" tapered bit.

AJC

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0152-1.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0153.jpg

[Ajcoholic]

here is their logo I used to make the file...

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0140.jpg

[pappybaynes]

Awesome Andrew!

[Ajcoholic]

Thanks! I know Its nothing compared to some of the pros here, but I'm learning with each one, and it's a lot of fun.

[steve_g]

They provide really great service so I was glad to make them a little something they can hang in the store

A great marketing Idea... You gave them something nice and they will forever remember where it came from!

SG

[whittlinshed]

I'm super new to shopbotting. I have been a Shopbot owner for a couple weeks now, and I was wondering how you guys price your sign work...after drawing it up, do you just try to figure an hourly rate, and if so, what is a fair rate?...

[Ajcoholic]

I'm super new to shopbotting. I have been a Shopbot owner for a couple weeks now, and I was wondering how you guys price your sign work...after drawing it up, do you just try to figure an hourly rate, and if so, what is a fair rate?...

I basically charge out my time (whether I am actually doing work,like preparing the blank, finishing, etc - or the CNC machine time) at $60 per hour, plus my materials (wood, finish/paint, any sundries like sandpapers, adhesives, etc).

AJC

[Ajcoholic]

Todfay I was working on a sign for a guy's camp. He wanted to incorporate a moose, and some trees along with the family name.

I bought the moose file from Vector Art 3D. The tree I found the file for on line for free.

The sign is 24" by 14", and is 1" thick Western Red Cedar. I just took it off the table as I was getting ready to leave work for the day. The moose took just over 2 hrs to cut with a 1/8" tapered ball nose.

Tomorrow I will do a light paint job, and give it a few coats of Siken's finish.

The customer will be mounting it between two posts already there in the driveway.

I hope the moose will show up nicely, I will try and use some glaze to enhance the detail.

AJC

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0229.jpg
And my Buddy... sorry for the mess ;) The Kent CNC shoe makes keeping things clean easy!
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0228.jpg

[Ajcoholic]

another angle...

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0230-2.jpg

more after its finished.
AJC

[danhamm]

Gorgeous hunk of cedar, Minwax tongue oil, to pop the grain out..then sealed, and some stain around the Moose and bottom of letters..just saying...lol...anyway....WOW...

[Ajcoholic]

I use artists acrylic thinned in water to paint (as I do with my carvings). Seems to hold up when dry, even out doors. Although, once the Siken's finish is applied, Cedar is tough as nails out in the elements for years.

Here is a shot after finishing this morning.

Back to making cabinets now! :)

AJC

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0921.jpg

[myxpykalix]

hmmm....the last moose i saw was brown and his name was bullwinkle!:D
the painting really makes it stand out nicely

[Ajcoholic]

Jack,
It is brown... dark brown :) Its actually burnt umber with some black to highlight the curves.

Remember it is going to be in someone's drive and I want it to be clearly visible. The antlers are a mix of gray & black and some brown.

The Siken's is a darker colour (not their natural) so it adds a lot of colour as well to everything.

AJC

ps here is one with a flash..
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0928.jpg

[kevin]

AJ

There is the new sign form thats amazing for tip and idea ,Not to put my foot in my mouth Read my first post and you'll see what I mean

It look good I know thats what they like up the same tastes as here

[Ajcoholic]

Here is another I just finished today for a family here...

Western red cedar, 1" thick and about 30" by 18" overall. Sikens Cetol finish.

AJC

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0238-1.jpg

[B. Pile]

Andrew , I like it nice clean sign great job!

Buster

[David Iannone]

Very nice sign, You have very good design skills

[Ajcoholic]

Thanks guys! The customer seems to like it - I sent him an email photo. He picks it up tomorrow.

JFYI I priced this one at $190, plus tax.

AJC