wouldwurker Posted October 13, 2014 Report Share Posted October 13, 2014 Commissioned by my wife to make this 'ruler' growth chart. With stained 'watermarks' for each foot of height. http://www.pinterest.com/pin/112871534382793140/ I don't much care for using stain, and the ones I've seen in person were not well executed, so I turned it up a notch by recessing the large 'watermarked' numbers instead. Used the Broadway font in MS Word (Empire State Building font) and knifed the outline into my board. Colored in with pencil and hogged out freehand with a straight bit. Edges and sharp corners still need a little cleanup with a chisel. I'll use a paint pen for the actual ruler marks after cleaning up, sanding, and seal-coat'ing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted October 13, 2014 Report Share Posted October 13, 2014 Very cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted October 13, 2014 Report Share Posted October 13, 2014 You could knife mark every 1/4" and cut a bevel with a sharp chisel before you paint the measurements. Interesting choice of font. Very classy results ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted October 13, 2014 Report Share Posted October 13, 2014 Great work Vin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vyrolan Posted October 13, 2014 Report Share Posted October 13, 2014 This is awesome and a great idea. I might have to steal it (and credit random guy on the interweb when asked about it). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wouldwurker Posted October 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2014 Ha. Right now I set up a test board to see how different finishes work with a paint pen or maybe even a sharpie. I am concerned that an oil will really make any rougher edges of my letters look inconsistent and dark. And I don't want to sand too much and round them over or I'll get bubble letters. Seal coat should work fine,but won't exactly pop any grain. Without sealing it first, the paint pen really runs across the grain even when sanded to 320 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted October 14, 2014 Report Share Posted October 14, 2014 I recently did a welcom sign using the same technique. I applied sanding sealer, then hand painted the recesses, then hit the surface with my ROS to clean up the edges. Works quite well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted October 14, 2014 Report Share Posted October 14, 2014 Pop the grain, seal the surface, paint the recesses lightly sand to clean up, add a second coat. That's where chiseling a bevel to the line will come in handy with the paint pen and the measurements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wouldwurker Posted October 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2014 Not sure what you mean by chiseling a bevel to the line - can I ask? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted October 14, 2014 Report Share Posted October 14, 2014 Score a line that gets deeper at the edge and stops maybe 3/8 in at the surface, then cut a bevel down to the line and pop a triangular chip out. Seal and paint the bevel. You don't even have to be super careful w the paint, a quick sand will clean it up. Probably more time to lay out the measurements than to cut the bevels. Practice on scrap ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wouldwurker Posted October 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2014 Arrrgh....really appreciate the help, but I just can't picture how this looks for some reason. I'll fiddle with some scrap tonight and post a few pics to see if I'm on/off base. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wouldwurker Posted October 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 Wdwrker, is this what you mean? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 Sort of , try shaving the angle much shallower. All you need is a very slight recess. 1/16 deep is enough to paint and sand without touching the color. With a razor sharp chisel it should be effortless. Maybe if you make a pencil mark about an 1/8 from your knife mark it would give you more consistent bevel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wouldwurker Posted October 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 Three coats of seal coat with light sanding in between. Finally got to a point whew the paint doesn't bleed into the grain. Few snafu's (hey Zinssser, how about a warning that says DO NOT USE OVER PAINT). I tried putting a coat of shellac over the paint and it all smeared and dissolved. re sanded. Resealed. Repainted. Just needs the numbers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 Looking good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wouldwurker Posted October 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 Done. Now if only I could find a finish that doesn't dissolve paint, and I can still write over with pencil. Danish oil - out. Shellac - out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 Try some Minwax Polycrylic . If it's hard to mark on the surface after finishing you could use a grease pencil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wouldwurker Posted October 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 Luckily I have lots on hand. Will give it a shot on a my test board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 Oh that really makes me feel good, you went instantly to the test board ! That's one of the key ways to do anything with finishes, test first . I always finish scraps along with the parts for a project, then if a repair is needed I can test on the scrap pieces ! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 Vinny, what paint did you use? I have used shellac over acrylic paint before, with no such bleeding. Of course, I also usee it to seal UNDER the paint to prevent said bleeding.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wouldwurker Posted October 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 This sounds crazy, but nowhere on the package does it mention what type of paint this is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 I tried digging for you. Craftsmart hosts MSDS on a site labeled Chemquest. The pens are not listed there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wouldwurker Posted October 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 No worries and thanks. Minwax polyacrylic has no effect on it. Thinking of how to hang it. It's pretty light weight. A picture hanger might do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 Double face tape? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 I thought every wall hanging object mentioned in this forum was REQUIRED to use a french cleat ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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