In 2020 I was ask to take the logo for a friends ranch and make a wall hanging with the logo. Their daughter ask me to do this about 2 weeks before christmas and it was to be a Christmas present. 

 

Well I finished it on Christmas morning and it was delivered unstained.

 

They brought it back to me after Christmas thrilled with it but wanted to make a tray out of it instead of a wall hanging. Since I had removed material, it couldn't be a tray or things would turn over when placed on it.

 

So the decision was made to pour it with epoxy.

 

 

So we got it poured and all seemed good.

 

 

So I was waiting for it to dry and I went out to check on it and it had rolled like a potato chip. Anyway that created lots of work. I had to sand it off and start over and pour the back first and then pour the front. So long story short after pouring it that way it stayed flat and they were excited to have it as a tray.

 

I couldn't find the picture with the handles on it. But it was an interesting project that took a lot of time but worked out in the end and made them happy and that's what counts.

 

 

What a story John! I would have melted to return back and see that beautiful panel bowed like a chip! Nice save though! Hey it's been awhile, I can't remember what you ended up with for a CNC?

Cool logo, and a great looking project.  I've not heard of epoxy pours causing problems like this, is this a common issue or was there something specific about this project that contributed to the warping/cupping?

15 minutes ago, Cal said:

Cool logo, and a great looking project.  I've not heard of epoxy pours causing problems like this, is this a common issue or was there something specific about this project that contributed to the warping/cupping?

good question! That was my first experience  with that type thing happening. I called a fiend of mine that pours a lot and he came over and looked at it and he was the one that suggested I sand it down and pour the back first. The wood was dry, been in my shop for a long time, so I have no idea. 

1 hour ago, John Morris said:

 Hey it's been awhile, I can't remember what you ended up with for a CNC?

John, I have a SHARK HD4 that I purchased from Woodcraft. I also have a small one that is a Chinese CNC.

Awesome project and even more so on the logo. Appreciate the back story as especially the challenges you encountered and the successful fix. Glad the story had a happy ending. Thanks for sharing.

With wood that seem dry, CNCing  away the surface opens the core to the air and humidity changes. Not sure which way the panel curved up/down, but that is was likely the reason for it.  Sealing the front with epoxy but not the back I'll guess fresh room humidity expanded the back and curved up the front which was weakened by the carving on it. 

10 hours ago, 4DThinker said:

With wood that seem dry, CNCing  away the surface opens the core to the air and humidity changes. Not sure which way the panel curved up/down, but that is was likely the reason for it.  Sealing the front with epoxy but not the back I'll guess fresh room humidity expanded the back and curved up the front which was weakened by the carving on it. 

 

You are correct and yes it turned up. That was my belief at the time thus the reason to sand it down and finish the backside with expo first then re-pour the front side. I had decided that taking the material out would have change that side and caused it to roll up. I greatly appreciate your confirmation of what i believed had happened.

Thanks much!

Nice, John!   Did you build a new assembly bench?  It looks different.

I Like the graphic.  Hanging vertical the shadows of the carved recesses help show and define the details.

Once all covered in epoxy laying flat to me all that is lost.  There is a VCarve inlay technique out there that makes it fairly easy to inlay contrasting wood to bring out the pattern. I don't know what software you used, but with a Shark it is likely VCarve from vectric.   Something you might consider for the next tray you get asked to make with a logo on it. Upcoming version 12 I believe will have the Vcarve inlay technique built in to generate all the toolpaths needed. Youtube has several examples that show the steps needed and how it can be done with any version that has a VCarve option. 

4D

Nice job John! I like how crisp and clean your lines came out. I just a project that is about 80% complete and noticed it has a bow as well. I'm hoping with some sanding and finish on the back it will come out. 

 

Looks fantastic! 

On 3/21/2024 at 8:05 AM, Ron Dudelston said:

Nice, John!   Did you build a new assembly bench?  It looks different.

Nope, same old one I have been using. Same one I had when you were here.

On 3/21/2024 at 11:33 AM, 4DThinker said:

I Like the graphic.  Hanging vertical the shadows of the carved recesses help show and define the details.

Once all covered in epoxy laying flat to me all that is lost.  There is a VCarve inlay technique out there that makes it fairly easy to inlay contrasting wood to bring out the pattern. I don't know what software you used, but with a Shark it is likely VCarve from vectric.   Something you might consider for the next tray you get asked to make with a logo on it. Upcoming version 12 I believe will have the Vcarve inlay technique built in to generate all the toolpaths needed. Youtube has several examples that show the steps needed and how it can be done with any version that has a VCarve option. 

4D

Yes I am using VCarve and would have probably considered doing contrast woods have I have know if was going to be a tray. It was first meant to be a wall hanging and time was really short. They are good friends, maybe one day I'll do them another one and do a contrast inlay and see how it goes.

Thanks

 

11 minutes ago, John Moody said:

Nope, same old one I have been using. Same one I had when you were here.

Looks different

3 minutes ago, Ron Dudelston said:

Looks different

cleaned the glue off it!

8 minutes ago, John Moody said:

cleaned the glue off it!

I knew something had changed.