Need tips on HDU

Welded steel framework embedded into the HDU works good (route out HDU where steel goes)

heres a post that addresses it: http://www.signs101.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85442

 

Buy it wholesale. Whether it's single or double face will determine the best fabrication/mounting method.

 

Yep, I can do it by hand (I used to carve wood signs) and did a few times.
Never again though. It's not economical or enjoyable, not for me anyhow.
I sub out the carving to a CNC and then finish it myself.

 

I would suggest farming out as well, unless you "truly" want to get into this area of sign making...we use to make a lot of sandblasted and hand carved signs with SignFoam...it is easy to work with, but it is also a huge mess, dust and all...

Do you have any experience with carving?

Depends on what you are doing, you will need carving tools (chisels and or air rotatory carvers) palm sander, scroll saw. Gorilla Glue if you need to glue parts. A paint sealer/primer...

Check with your local suppliers for literature ...do a Google search as well.

 

The first one you make shouldn't be for a customer practice on your own stuff first. Just because they are more expensive doesn't mean that they are higher margin. They take alot more time, knowledge and equipment to do them right.

 

100% correct!

 

I see on your website, you have a 6 color Heidelberg press ($$$$$ sweet), and in your profile you list a versacamm & a 24" cutter (not so "high end" stuff). I'm going to assume that somewhere along the line, you decided that "signmaking" was a nice fit for your existing printing business........probably so.

But now you want to read a book or watch a video on how to carve a sign? I believe your first post, you were concerned it was going to be a lot of WORK?

I hate to be the bearer of bad news.......but not everying in the sign business is as easy as, "HIT PRINT".
I wish you the best, and post some pictures when your done.

 

Here's your basic tools on carving,,,
I've found power tools can get you into
trouble pretty quick,, so I prefer the old
school hand tools,, they stop when you
want them to stop,, but to each his own !!!

 

Good Luck. Making HDU carved signs is a skill and it is work. If they are done properly, they are absolutely beautiful. If done half hazardly, it will look terrible.

Practice, Practice, Practice

 

If you want to hand carve it, then carve it. Cut a pattern on your plotter and reverse weed it then stick it on the HDU and v-carve away. But yes, it is a lot of work and it may not come out great the first time but you won't learn unless you try.

That said, does it have to be "carved" or just dimensional? Because if it just has to have dimension, then take a flat piece of HDU (maybe add a nice routed edge) and then cut letters out to mount on top of it. Also a lot of work, but looks nicer I think.

Kevin