Wood for boat sign recommendations
- jssussex@gmail.com
- Vectric Apprentice
- Posts: 66
- Joined: Tue Jan 31, 2012 10:24 pm
- Model of CNC Machine: Legacy Maverick 3X5
- Location: Sussex, WI
- Contact:
Wood for boat sign recommendations
I've been commissioned to carve and paint a number of sign for a tug/tow boat in Miami. I'm a great lakes guy. They want a natural wood with carved and painted letters. I know woods like teak have oils so paint won't hold up. I'm thinking white oak but maybe others have a better recommendation. The largest sign is 120 x 12. The signs will be in the weather so I'm planning on a transparent stain and spar varnish top coat.
- Jim_in_PA
- Vectric Craftsman
- Posts: 280
- Joined: Wed Jan 10, 2018 3:24 am
- Model of CNC Machine: Camaster Stinger II SR-44 (MacOS user)
Re: Wood for boat sign recommendations
Many experienced sign makers will tell you to use something other than wood and carve/paint in the wood grain, etc. It's about the only way to get an outdoor sign to last for a long time and in the marine environment, it's going to be even more challenging. There's a reason that the wood on boats/ships has to be stripped and refinished with relative frequency! Consider HDU or PVC for your project. If they insist on "only wood"...make sure your contract reflects a disclaimer about weathering, etc.
- mtylerfl
- Vectric Archimage
- Posts: 5896
- Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2009 3:54 am
- Model of CNC Machine: -CarveWright CNC -ShopBot Buddy PRSAlpha
- Location: Brunswick, GA
Re: Wood for boat sign recommendations
I was thinking the same thing, Jim. I would lobby with the client to use 30# HDU. Modeling a woodgrain is trivial and the sign could be painted to look like real wood was used. Plus - it will last a long time.
Drawback is cost to the client - more time for cutting/carving and finishing initially. Still, it will be more economical in the long run.
Drawback is cost to the client - more time for cutting/carving and finishing initially. Still, it will be more economical in the long run.
Michael Tyler
facebook.com/carvebuddy
-CarveWright CNC
-ShopBot Buddy PRSAlpha CNC
facebook.com/carvebuddy
-CarveWright CNC
-ShopBot Buddy PRSAlpha CNC
- Leo
- Vectric Wizard
- Posts: 4092
- Joined: Sat Jul 14, 2007 3:02 am
- Model of CNC Machine: 1300 x 1300 x 254 Chinese Made
- Location: East Freetown, Ma.
- Contact:
Re: Wood for boat sign recommendations
I have not made any "boat" signs, but I have lived my entire life around boats and salt water. I am very familiar with what the boat signs look like.
White Oak is OK, NOT red oak.
Mahogany, Cedar, Spanish Cedar, is used on and around boats. A guy on Youtube restoring boats uses Sepele Mahogany.
Spar Varnish by companies like Epiphanes is a good protective top coat.
Go to a place like West Marine and chat with people there. Also a marina to chat with people there would be helpful.
I do agree with HDU, PVC or other non-wood materials, but I know that boat people want the real wood deal.
This guy is a high level boat builder in New England. Maybe you can glean some info from his videos.
https://www.youtube.com/user/TipsfromaShipWright/videos
I made a red oak threshhold for my outside door to my shop a year or so ago. I coated it with West Systems epoxy. Still looks like I did it yesterday, and that gets a lot of foot abuse. May make a good top coat.
No matter what - it will need constant maintenance to keep it looking good. Boat owners know this about boats.
White Oak is OK, NOT red oak.
Mahogany, Cedar, Spanish Cedar, is used on and around boats. A guy on Youtube restoring boats uses Sepele Mahogany.
Spar Varnish by companies like Epiphanes is a good protective top coat.
Go to a place like West Marine and chat with people there. Also a marina to chat with people there would be helpful.
I do agree with HDU, PVC or other non-wood materials, but I know that boat people want the real wood deal.
This guy is a high level boat builder in New England. Maybe you can glean some info from his videos.
https://www.youtube.com/user/TipsfromaShipWright/videos
I made a red oak threshhold for my outside door to my shop a year or so ago. I coated it with West Systems epoxy. Still looks like I did it yesterday, and that gets a lot of foot abuse. May make a good top coat.
No matter what - it will need constant maintenance to keep it looking good. Boat owners know this about boats.
Imagine the Possibilities of a Creative mind, combined with the functionality of CNC
- jssussex@gmail.com
- Vectric Apprentice
- Posts: 66
- Joined: Tue Jan 31, 2012 10:24 pm
- Model of CNC Machine: Legacy Maverick 3X5
- Location: Sussex, WI
- Contact:
Wood for boat sign recommendations
Thank you guys for the post. I have worked with HDU and I believe I have the skill to create a wood grain texture. Not so sure on the painting skills. What do use to back up the HDU with? Marine Plywood? Would you still use a quality marine SPAR varnish top coat.
I have a call from the customer today and see if I can point him in that direction.
I have a call from the customer today and see if I can point him in that direction.
- ChrisInEstes
- Vectric Wizard
- Posts: 841
- Joined: Fri Jul 17, 2009 8:00 pm
- Model of CNC Machine: Vytek 4' X 8' - Perske Spindle - Mach3
- Location: Estes Park, Colorado, USA
Re: Wood for boat sign recommendations
I'll throw this into the mix for something to think about. Boats get dinged up. Especially a tug boat. If I had to choose between white oak and HDU, I'd go with the white oak because it's a much stronger material. Even 30# HDU won't resist dents and dings very well.
Chris
Chris
Aspire 9.5 - FlexiEXPERT 11 - Vytek Rebel 4' x 8' - 5HP Perske Spindle
-
- Vectric Wizard
- Posts: 457
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2018 2:49 pm
- Model of CNC Machine: Shapeoko 3 XL
Re: Wood for boat sign recommendations
If you need "wood" I'd go with Western Red Cedar. It carves beautifully and is widely used on boats
Gary Mitchell
Kentucky, USA
Kentucky, USA
- Leo
- Vectric Wizard
- Posts: 4092
- Joined: Sat Jul 14, 2007 3:02 am
- Model of CNC Machine: 1300 x 1300 x 254 Chinese Made
- Location: East Freetown, Ma.
- Contact:
Re: Wood for boat sign recommendations
If you use a REALLY good quality marine paint, you don't need the spar varnish.
Epiphanes, Interlux, Total Boat.
Epiphanes, Interlux, Total Boat.
Imagine the Possibilities of a Creative mind, combined with the functionality of CNC
- TReischl
- Vectric Wizard
- Posts: 4657
- Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2007 6:04 pm
- Model of CNC Machine: 8020 48X36X7 RP 2022 UCCNC Screenset
- Location: Leland NC
Re: Wood for boat sign recommendations
What does everyone have against Teak? Other than you have to mortgage your house for a board of it?
"If you see a good fight, get in it." Dr. Vernon Johns
- Rcnewcomb
- Vectric Archimage
- Posts: 5934
- Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2005 5:54 am
- Model of CNC Machine: 24x36 GCnC/WinCNC with ATC
- Location: San Jose, California, USA
- Contact:
Re: Wood for boat sign recommendations
It's only $32/bfWhat does everyone have against Teak? Other than you have to mortgage your house for a board of it?
- Randall Newcomb
10 fingers in, 10 fingers out, another good day in the shop
10 fingers in, 10 fingers out, another good day in the shop
- JoeBlow
- Vectric Craftsman
- Posts: 135
- Joined: Wed Nov 21, 2018 11:19 am
- Model of CNC Machine: AxiomAR6Pro
Re: Wood for boat sign recommendations
No experience with it myself but a friend of mine from the South suggested Sassafras. Grows quite a bit down there and used in boat building.
Patrick
The hurrier I go, the behinder I get
The hurrier I go, the behinder I get
- jssussex@gmail.com
- Vectric Apprentice
- Posts: 66
- Joined: Tue Jan 31, 2012 10:24 pm
- Model of CNC Machine: Legacy Maverick 3X5
- Location: Sussex, WI
- Contact:
Re: Wood for boat sign recommendations
Customer definitely wants wood and we are going with 5/4 white oak
-
- Vectric Wizard
- Posts: 520
- Joined: Sun May 03, 2015 12:25 pm
- Model of CNC Machine: Axiom AR8
- Location: Savannah, GA
Re: Wood for boat sign recommendations
Another wood to consider is Eastern White Cedar (also called Northern White Cedar). I purchased around 200 board feet of it from a fellow who bought it to repair a small sailboat but leaving the area. He purchased it from a supplier to boating in Rhode Island.
- Leo
- Vectric Wizard
- Posts: 4092
- Joined: Sat Jul 14, 2007 3:02 am
- Model of CNC Machine: 1300 x 1300 x 254 Chinese Made
- Location: East Freetown, Ma.
- Contact:
Re: Wood for boat sign recommendations
Sounds like boat people to me.jssussex@gmail.com wrote: ↑Tue Mar 03, 2020 5:54 amCustomer definitely wants wood and we are going with 5/4 white oak
Imagine the Possibilities of a Creative mind, combined with the functionality of CNC
- Rcnewcomb
- Vectric Archimage
- Posts: 5934
- Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2005 5:54 am
- Model of CNC Machine: 24x36 GCnC/WinCNC with ATC
- Location: San Jose, California, USA
- Contact:
Re: Wood for boat sign recommendations
Boat:
Definition:
1. A hole in the surface of the water into which money is thrown
2. Acronym: Bust Out Another Thousand
Definition:
1. A hole in the surface of the water into which money is thrown
2. Acronym: Bust Out Another Thousand
- Randall Newcomb
10 fingers in, 10 fingers out, another good day in the shop
10 fingers in, 10 fingers out, another good day in the shop