[bhogg@swbell.net]

Just finished my first sign for a friend on the East coast. The wood is Douglas Fir, 1 inch thick. The letters are hand carved, 4.5" inches high. This will be mounted to a tree and my first thought was to use a keyhole router bit and route a keyhole on the back of the sign (maybe two). What do you think? Is this a good way to hang it?

Sincerely,

Brian
Webster Groves, MO

[Eddy Smiles]

I would think that it depends greatly on the kind of weather your friend has. Here in Florida because of the wind that we get from storms I'd want to screw it down to ensure that it didn't go anywhere. It's probably too late but you could always use 2-1/2" deck screws countersunk into the sign and then plug the holes with wood plugs finished the same as the sign itself.

[AlArchie]

When you mount something on a tree, figure on having a way to adjust the mount on a regular basis. Most trees put on 1/8" to 1/4" new growth (diameter) each growing season. Depending on the strength of the wood you use for the sign, this will result in either the growth forcing the sign away from the tree as the mounting screws are encased in the new growth, or the sign itself slowly becoming imbedded into the bark and as time goes by, the new wood.

So. given that, I'd drill two 1/4" holes, top and bottom, centered on the sign, and mount it to the tree with a couple 1/4" lag screws with a flat washer underneath the head. That way the lags can be loosened periodically to keep the sign from being either overgrown or damaged.

My bet would be that those keyhole hanging slots would pull out from the growth of the tree.

Al

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I would put the sign on a stake in the ground next to the tree

[AlArchie]

Or you could put the steak on the grill and put the sign right on the house!

Al

[tvance124]

You need to remember that trees keep getting bigger and bigger. Therefore every few months the sign needs to be taken down and rehung. I have a couple of theose terr faces and every so often I find them laying on the ground. The tree diameter increasing covers the head of the screw forcing the piece off.

[mark yundt]

Couldn't you just periodically just back the screws out to accomodate growth using the keyhole slots just as easily?

Then you wouldnt' have to put lags,washers,plugs whatever through the sign itself. Put the screw in,,back it out as the tree gets fatter.A deck screw or two would seem to do it just fine.

[AlArchie]

That'd work, Mark......if you keep a close eye on the growth. Personal opinion is that the lags would not detract from the sign, and be easier and quicker to adjust. But I'm a kinda "like it rustic" type guy. If the "no trace of a mount" is the look you want, the keyhole and back out the screw every so often is fine, too. Have to watch it fairly close, though, as those keyhole slots leave a pretty thin amount of stock for holding.

Al

[mark yundt]

The only reason I suggested it was the original thought Brian had was to use keyhole plates...I just figured he didn't want to punch holes through his finished sign,,All the ideas will work though..

[AlArchie]

Mark, that's another idea I hadn't thought of......those steel keyhole plates that attach to the back would give a lot more support than a routed keyhole.

Al