19 minutes ago, Cal said:

Looks great Kev!  With 3/4" MDF & cedar on the bottom you may have to beef up the floor wherever it ends up!

Thanks Cal….

8 hours ago, KevTN said:

Hmmmm Jack Daniels IS just a couples away

Best hold off on that until after the power tools are put away...just saying

3 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Best hold off on that until after the power tools are put away...just saying

Very much so…though right now slowly working on a bottle I picked in Montana

Just got this back...I am going to put it on the toy box....I didn't expect the grain to be so prevalent...I would like to enhance the name but also let the graining show through. What would you guys suggest? 

paint the letters

6 minutes ago, DAB said:

paint the letters

I thought about that but with that grain I wasn't sure I wanted to cover it up but make it stand out more. if that makes sense.

Depending on the type of paint or ink, you could thin it Kevin making more like a white-wash versus full cover if that makes sense?

Maybe @kmealyor @Smallpatchcould weigh in with some suggestions to enhance the lettering but not distract from the grain.

That's gonna look great on the toy-box regardless which path you take.

Thank you Grandpad! I won't be able to work on it until the weekend so I will keep my eyes peeled. 

Another idea might be to "outline" either at the bottom on the outside &/or inside of each letter with a very fine artist brush, paint marker or permanent marker or perhaps outline the top inside edge around the letter using same method?? Hope it makes sense??? I know I couldn't do anything like this anymore. It would take a steady hand and good eye.

 

In the "old days" I watched in awe at the guys & gals who did hand lettering for signs, on doors of trucks or other equipment, walls, etc. They were amazing as well as those who did hand pin-striping on vehicles. Another lost art and trade.

Kevin if you had an air brush you could mist in just enough color to make the letter stand out better and at the same time the grain could still be showing and to take a little longer but maybe look better for some younguns you could make each letter a different color...and if need be could mask off the raised area.

Spray it with the sealer of your choice, Shellac or poly. Let it dry, then paint your color(s) on. Rattle can would be fastest but, if you want the letters different colors, you could hand paint them. 

Next, sand off the over spray...the reason for the seal coat. Blow it off and hit it with the final coat(s) of finish.

 

Some great ideas from you guys. Thanks. 

 

Not to sound sappy but I appreciate all of yalls knowledge and experience you are willing to share.

1 hour ago, KevTN said:

Some great ideas from you guys. Thanks. 

 

Not to sound sappy but I appreciate all of yalls knowledge and experience you are willing to share.

Kind words Kevin. That's what we are here to do. We all share a common passion for creating through using tools and techniques we likely learned from someone else. I'd speculate all of us (yourself included) enjoy not only sharing what we know, but also derive equal satisfaction as new folks pick up the bug.

 

IMO, it's also safe to say, none of us always has the best or correct solution, but collectively we surely will give at least a couple solutions to every problem (well woodworking related anyway). Appreciate your enthusiasm and participation here.

 

Now, philosophy class over...back to work...Christmas is coming and that grandson needs his present.

Edited December 9, 20214 yr by Grandpadave52
Typos

17 hours ago, Gene Howe said:

Spray it with the sealer of your choice, Shellac or poly. Let it dry, then paint your color(s) on. Rattle can would be fastest but, if you want the letters different colors, you could hand paint them. 

Next, sand off the over spray...the reason for the seal coat. Blow it off and hit it with the final coat(s) of finish.

 

That is how I would do it.

Danl

Years ago at the state fair I bought a redwood sign with my last names engraved on it. The guy simply sprayed the thing black, then sanded the surface to show the redwood, leaving the letters....it's a variation of what Gene described....and probably what I would do (Gene's method).

Not exclusively my method. Most router sign carvers do it that way. 

53 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

Not exclusively my method. Most router sign carvers do it that way. 

The purpose of the shellac or poly is to prevent the paint from getting into the pores or grain of the wood.

Danl

1 hour ago, Danl said:

The purpose of the shellac or poly is to prevent the paint from getting into the pores or grain of the wood.

Danl

Perzackly!

Lid is now complete…tomorrow finish sanding and start finishing…