My first sign carving

[Colin-Partridge]

Good morning gang,
I have been commissioned to do a sign for a group of young lads that have started their own skateboard and snowboard business. The name of the company is "Camp Chill". It is a Canadain Company so on the far right of the carving I have a Maple Leaf. The company consists of seven young men therefore the seven woodspirits that are depicted on the carving. In the centre of the carving will go the words "Camp Chill". The sign is made out of eastern white cedar four feet long one foot high and three inches thick. This is my very first sign, the commission is a Christmas present from one of the boys mother. It is a little difficult I have found because you are cutting across grain a lot of the time. I am asking for your opinions because the mother has not seen it as yet and I do have another board if you have any suggestions on a different way to go. She did say she knows the boys love my woodspirits as she puts it the think they are really "Cool". I have included pictures of the initial stages of the carving I have to have it completed by Christmas. Thanks in advance
Colin

[GeorgiaCarver]

I really like this sign, the boys will love it.

How about having the the words Camp riding on a skate board, and the word Chill on a snow board? One pointed a little up and the other pointed a little down..... If I knew how to edit a picture I would.

Looks great the way it is by the way!

[Just Carving]

Hi Colin

The sign looks good. I'm guessing you're going to remove the wood from around the letters so the letters are raised from the background. If so, I think the sign will look great. The width and raised surface of the letters would be dramatic enough to catch the reader's eyes, and then lead their gaze to the rest of the sign. Great planning!

If you're planning to incise the letters, i.e. the letters having sloped surfaces from the surface of the wood at the edge of the letter to a point at half the width of the letters, 1/3 to 1/2 of the depth of the thickness of the board, I think you'll have a rough time carving the letters, and it won't look too good because the incised letters rely on the light reflecting off the sloped surfaces. Because of the width of the letters, the slope would be too shallow and the light reflection value would be lost since the angle would not be significantly much different from the surface of the board--in other words, flat surface, slightly less flat sloped letters.

The bottom sign in the photo link below is an example of what I'm referring to. The wide letters lose the shadow effect while the narrow letters have a good shadow.

http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.co...00&ppuser=2366

(Sorry for my wordy explanation--if for naught, great! But if not, then better to hear it now than to find out later.)

You've been carving a lot longer than me, so I'll leave carving techniques alone. But I have a couple of things that I wonder how you're going to deal with. First is how you'll be able to get clean relief cuts of the triangle in the "A", and the "half-moon" in the "P", i.e because of the size of the recesses that you will be working in. My guess is small tools, or bent tools--or power? The knot in the "H" is gonna be a tough one with hand tools. Same thing, are you going to use power tools for roughing in the letter outlines, and then clean them up with hand tools? Just curious...

When carving signs in white pine from the big box home improvement centers (not the greatest wood to carve), I found that carving incised letters against the grain was easiest done with sharp knives, and taking several passes, beginning by carving the "v" with a narrow, shallow cut at the center of the letter and then making it wider and deeper with each pass until I achieved the desired width of the letter.

I wish you luck with your project and good carving.

[Colin-Partridge]

Bob thank you so much for your explanation on how to carve those letters. Actually I was going to relieve the sides of the letters so they appear raised as I have done with the maple leaf. Mind you I am far from finished with the maple leaf also I will sharpen the cuts as I finish up. Now a question how about cutting into the letters and the maple leaf on an angle to give it the appearance of being raised? Also the Maple Leaf will be as it is on the Canadian Flag colored red. I was planning on staining the complete carving with Sikkens Cetol Cedar 1 and 23. The words "CAMP CHILL" I was planning on staining in a dark oak stain to make them stand out. As for putting a snowboard or skateboard into the carving I think it might be a little too much but thanks for the idea. The carving is a little busy as it is I was wondering if I made it too busy. BTW the lady was in to see it this afternoon and she just loved it as it was. Bob I love your signs with the link you gave me did you do them by hand or with a router. Thanks again I have learnt something here today and although it is a bit late now to change for this carving sure has given me thought for the next one. Yes the small area's I plan on doing with power.
Colin

[Just Carving]

Hi Colin

I carved the signs shown by hand. I also carved another which I have posted a pic here which may soon be my avatar. I used the first three knives from the left in the link provided below. The curved blade was used for curved letters, and the mitered blades for all else. I have a preference for using the 1" mitered blade (blue handle)--it's the sharpest! LOL

http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.co...00&ppuser=2366

Now a question how about cutting into the letters and the maple leaf on an angle to give it the appearance of being raised?

Not quite sure what you mean here, but I looked at the Maple Leaf and what you've done so far looks fine to me. I would relieve the letters in the same way, i.e. removing wood away from letters. If you're thinking about cutting into the surace of letters, keep in mind that doing so may weaken them depending on the wood grain. I would relieve them so that the sides of the letters are perpendicular to the sign's surface. If you wanted to take a gouge and carve a slight curve about half the width of the letter strokes, centered on the width of the letter strokes, that might work. Another idea would be to use an inverted gouge to round of the edge of the letter strokes. But shaping of the letters could also be a lot of work and end up making the sign "too busy".

Once you've "raise" the letters, then I would take a quick look at the sign at a height that it will be mounted, if possible. (Sometimes laying on the floor can do the same as raising the sign--and it's a lot easier!) You want to look at the letters/sign at different angles and with different light conditions to see the effect on the letter/sign. It may affect your final finishing, i.e. stain, paint, texturing, shaping of the letters, etc. Sometimes all that needs to be done to make the letters stand out more is to texture or tool the background around the letters to create a greater contrast. Texturing or tooling also relieves you of trying to get a smooth surface around the letters, too. Right now, I think it what you plan to do will look good. Good luck with the staining of the the letters though. ALthough they will be raised from the surface, it may be tedious staining them with regard to protecting the background.

One question: The letters will be raised and the edges of the letters most exposed to the elements. Is the sign going to be outside? If so, it will need to be well sealed, and then maintained against water penetration and frost attack afterward.

I'm looking forward to the final result.

[wade clark]

Colin,
C o o l Sign!
It's neat that a younger generation appreciates your work, hu? One of the things I like best about being an Auctioneer is seeing Teens rocking back and forth to the sound of my chant. Some things, like your carving, go beyond age. Good job!
Bob,
Are those made out of dive knives? Great idea! Large non-slip grips designed for a tight comfortable hold. Beautiful sign, too, great message!
Wade

Colin, I like the whole concept and direction your taking with the sign especially once the colors are added.

Bob....Thanks for your detailed advise on lettering, your work is fantastic too, lettering is one of my biggest fears in carving, your "i'd rather be carving " is really great. thanks again for your postings it built my confidence up. Bill

[Thor]

Colin,
The sign is "so" your style, and I'm sure the lady who commissioned it is thrilled because of it. I look forward to seeing how the lettering goes with your own knowledge as well as the good advice you've gotten.

I learned a lot about undercutting while working on the little piece I did for the quilt project on another thread. My leaves looked kind of flat until I undercut the edges just a bit, and next to my other carvings, that one sold first so it was successful. It was in basswood though, so the wood you are working with may not allow it as easily.

I look forward to seeing your progress on it.
Thor

[Just Carving]

Wade,
The knives are made from putty knives that I bought at either Home Depot or Lowes. They are Warner ProGrip2. The grip is as comfortable as it looks. And they hold an edge. Use the blue or red handles. I think the blue handled tool is fine once you shorten the blade. The red one's blade is a little on the thick side.

http://www.warnertool.com/Prod-Searc...pages/flex.htm

Coffeeman,
My interest in carving letters started with WCI's first issue Cristmas 1997 which had "Carving House Sign Numbers" by Greg Krockta. See below for his book--which includes many of the photos from this article.

If you want to learn carving letters by using a knife only--and build your confidence at the same time, check Terry Wolff's "the Textbook for Carving Letters". Good starter book--gives a simple "Welcome" sign project and shows you the basics of the knife, and carving the letters along with practice exercises. The book doesn't look like much, but it worked for me.

Author's web-site:
http://terrywolff.com/shoptaos/books/txtbook.asp

You can also get the book through Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/096...22460?n=283155

From there, I graduated to Roger Schroeder's and Greg Krockta's "Carving Signs", and eventually Chris Pye's "Letter Carving in Wood". I like Wolff and Krockta's books because they kept it simple with just using a knife. If you want to use v-tools, gouges, chisels, etc. then Pye's book, and Paul J. White's "Carving a Traditional Cape Cod Sign" will work for you.

The last three books can be seen at Fox Publishing:
http://www.foxchapelpublishing.com/s...p=1&FullCat=44

[Colin-Partridge]

Hi Gang I did a little more on the sign and it is great to have Bob here to guide me. I have said it a thousand times this message board is the greatest thing in the world and people are so helpful. Now I tried the scolloped look around the letters and thought I liked it but now seeing the pictures I dont like it at all, so that will be removed. This is how I plan on doing the letters and Bob you were right those knots are very difficult to work with but I will persevere I have no choice. Now I look at the letters I am thinking to remove the wood from all around the two words. I first thought I would just remove it from between the letters but I think now that might look funny. What do you think. This is a commission but also a learning experience for me I guess I shouldnt be practicing on a commission piece but that is me when I do something I just go for it. Thanks again for all your help and encouragement on this it means a lot
Colin