Painted advertisements on the sides of old barns are an important part of the history of signage in America. At one time, thousands of barns were painted with ads for tobacco or animal feed. Today, very few of these barn advertisements exist. Most of these old barns have been demolished or fallen into disrepair. Read more »
Using Relief Cuts in Woodcarving
For most chip carving projects, you are typically cutting very small chips in a soft wood, such as basswood, butternut or pine. By combining just few basic incised shapes, you can create an array of intricate and beautiful decorative patterns. Read more »
Sealing Basswood Carvings
Some woods are very absorbent. Basswood is one of those woods. Because of its absorbency, it should be sealed before staining. If you don’t seal it, don’t be surprised if some parts of the carving absorb more stain than other parts, resulting in a blotchy appearance. Read more »
Spot Varnish in Sign Design
Commercial printers use a printing technique called spot varnish. It’s a technique that they have used forever. The term refers to a printing a coating of varnish onto selects parts of a design. Usually the varnish is glossy. But it doesn’t have to be. Spot varnish can also be matte or satin. Whether the varnish […] Read more »
Removing Vinyl Graphics
Tips For Strippers I would love to tell you that I had an easy way to remove vinyl and adhesive, along with a sure fire formula to make millions in graphics removal. Although I have a few tips to make the removal jobs more trouble-free, they are never easy or fun, rarely profitable and frequently […] Read more »
Painting Acrylic Signs
The extraordinary clarity of acrylic sheet makes it an excellent substrate for backlit signs, which is why it remains the product of choice. Acrylic is typically painted in reverse on the second surface of the sheet. Acrylic provides tremendous protection from the degrading effects of UV light. A number of different paints are available for […] Read more »
Rotator Tape Dispenser
If you regularly use several different types or sizes of application tape, a tape dispenser called the Rotator could be the perfect addition to your shop. As the name implies, the Rotator is a rotating tape dispenser. Read more »
Screen Printing Acrylic Sheet
Painting is not the only solution for decorating plastic signfaces. For high-volume jobs, screen printing with either solvent or UV curable inks is an economical solution. In selecting an ink system, ask your screen print supply distributor for a recommendation. The ink manufacturers’ technical bulletins will give you printing specifications. The type of mesh, squeegee, […] Read more »
Mold Growth on Application Tape
Mold spores are everywhere. You can’t see them. They just float around in the air, whether you are indoors or outside. When these invisible spores land on a wet or moist material, they can begin to grow. In nature, mold serves the function of breaking down dead organic matter, such as leaves or fallen trees. […] Read more »
Accentuating Contrast in Your Chip Carving
Woodcarvers use several different techniques in staining their chip carving. Many will take a small brush, such as a #8 quill, to stain the entire panel with a very light colored stain, wiping the excess stain from the wood with paper toweling. After the lighter stain dries, the next step is to apply a darker stain. […] Read more »
