The most interesting part of making a new sign with natural products is choosing the raw material. Here at Hillsigns I have a range of wood to choose from. All grown here on the land around my house. Leylandii, chestnut, cherry, apple and cypress and many others. Luckily for me the previous owner of Skeld planted lots of trees, and allowed other to flourish. Skeld was build in 1970 and most of the trees are over 30 years old, some 40, some even older.
Today I chose to use some cypress. Cut down 2 years ago and very thoroughly seasoned in my workshop.
I sliced the wood, but got the angle wrong, so I had a second attempt. It's not easy doing this with a chain saw. I'm not yet to find a better way without buying an industrial circular saw. The battery powered B&D is very light, very easy to control and makes the job easier. I need to make two parallel cuts +/- 0.5mm to give me the piece I need for the CNC machine. 30mm thick.
On cutting the wood smells instantly of citrus. It's a lovely lemony smell. The growth rings tell me it's over 35 years old. Slow growing, tightly spaced rings that will make the CNC cut a very neat, sharp cut. The wood is dry and cuts easily with the saw and sands to a smooth finish quickly. However the shape is a little tricky. Beautiful markings and an interesting shape.
Interesting but tricky. So I make a paper pattern and transfer that to an offcut to test the CNC programme. I like the numbers to be 90mm high, but that's not going to look right. So I reduce it to 85. I run the test choosing a centre point for the machine to begin from and a 60 deg tool that will give a deep distinct cut. I choose Times New Roman for a traditional, classy look.
It goes perfectly.
That was the easy bit. Tomorrow the actual slice of wood will be in the machine to make a totally unique house number. Wood, 35 years in the making. 2 days in preparing and engraving. Several days varnishing and finishing and then many years exposed to the elements showing everyone where No 60 is in a totally unique way.
More tomorrow.
Keith
Hillsigns.com
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