Rogers : My own CNC wood effect lettering

[David Rogers]

Not been a real tree for 300 million years…

The wall is in a sorry state, but they didn’t want to paint it before we installed.

Client designed logo shape…

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[Robert Lambie]

That looks really good David, well done!

My only gripe with mounting vinyl to flat cut is the edge finish up close due to it being mounted and trimmed. It can also lead to the media curling back slightly. I prefer to leave a very small inline rather than cutting flush to the edge but admittedly, in this case it wouldn’t have looked as good, so as you have done would give the best finish.

I remember some years ago having a similar type job and I thought about mounting a melamine rigid board 1mm thick to a composite or similar but never got round to trying it. Still wonder if it would have worked.

3M Dinoc have hundreds of finishes and I think include various wood grain finishes also.

All that said, yours is probably the most cost effective method and keeps everything in house. thanks for taking the time to post up your work… much appreciated.

[Warren Beard]

Looks good but I would have gone one step further and laminated with a wood grain textured vinyl, I can’t remember who showed me samples but it looked really good and would have really made this job exceptional.

[Simon Worrall]

David I like this finish.

I cant quite make out how you have edged it. Is that painted after?

Rob I have done quite a few jobs that are laminated acrylic with vinyl to the edge, but we apply the vinyl to the sheet before routing, then we CNC through both the vinyl and the acrylic using a downward spiral router bit. I have never had the vinyl peel back.

Simon.

[Robert Lambie]

thanks for the tip simon. havent tried it that way because i thought the soft vinyl may snag or fray at edges.
ive also seen some cheap composites that the aluminium skin curls back after its been flat cut. (several months down the line)
my understanding is that this happens due to surface tension change.

the shrinkage i mention with the vinyl would be down to the media used, ink coverage and over a period time mate.
even cut vinyl lettering on a vehicle flat panels can shrink some. i mention it in this instance because if it shrunk very slightly it may expose a white or whatever media colour used below.
i have done this in the past and have saw it happen which is why i try leave a slight outline of space to help prevent or at least make it look on purpose "should it happen". it also gives a cleaner finish than trimmed. but as said, this way wouldnt work in this instance.

ill have to give your method a go and see how it looks… cheers! 😀

[David Rogers]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I’ve done a few coated 10/19mm PVC letters – some with single colour vinyl, others reflective and others with digi print.

SO far not suffered any edge lift or shrinkage that’s noticeable – and on past occasions I’ve been back to the signs up to 2 years later to relocate businesses. (flood coated black, painted black edges)

Edges were painted off with a mixed acrylic paint (brown, red, yellow) to get the right shade. It’s water proof when dry and easily applied with a sponge to rub it on like wood stain rather than a thick painted on coating…overspill wipes off when wet so really easy although a bit time consuming.

The signs are between 8 and 16 feet off the ground so a textured laminate effect probably wouldn’t make any more or less difference to the job.

Finished it off when it was pitch black (working by the lights on the drills) and no mains power as client when home, so the other side that’s got a lot more going on will have to wait for a photo.

I think it may be a product I’ll be pushing a bit more of – especially for indoor use (kid’s rooms / offices).

Dave

[Mike Grant]

Nice looking job there.
My only gripe would be that the grain on the small lettering would have looked better if it went in the same direction as the main lettering.

[David Rogers]

quote Mike Grant:

Nice looking job there.
My only gripe would be that the grain on the small lettering would have looked better if it went in the same direction as the main lettering.

The customer specifically reqested that it didn’t look like it was all from the same piece of wood where possible and to not grain match.

[NeilRoss]

quote DavidRogers:

quote Mike Grant:

Nice looking job there.
My only gripe would be that the grain on the small lettering would have looked better if it went in the same direction as the main lettering.

The customer specifically reqested that it didn’t look like it was all from the same piece of wood where possible and to not grain match.

I note what you say about your customer’s instructions David, but I’d have to agree with Mike – I think it spoils a good job. The customer may have a valid reason for requesting it but it’s not obvious, and I think may reflect on you more so than on him, for anybody who doesn’t know the reason.

[David Rogers]

quote NeilRoss:

quote DavidRogers:

quote Mike Grant:

Nice looking job there.
My only gripe would be that the grain on the small lettering would have looked better if it went in the same direction as the main lettering.

The customer specifically reqested that it didn’t look like it was all from the same piece of wood where possible and to not grain match.

I note what you say about your customer’s instructions David, but I’d have to agree with Mike – I think it spoils a good job. The customer may have a valid reason for requesting it but it’s not obvious, and I think may reflect on you more so than on him, for anybody who doesn’t know the reason.

The average person seeing it thinks it’s great and only a signmaker or the person paying for it will take note of the grain direction. If it ruins my reputation for my ability to produce fake wooden letters I suppose I’ll have to take solace from the couple of grand in my pocket 😀