Painting Carved Lettering and shallow text

This forum is for general discussion regarding VCarve Pro
Post Reply
User avatar
Jerry In Maine
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 342
Joined: Tue Jun 26, 2007 2:46 am
Model of CNC Machine: CNC Router Parts CRP4848
Location: Surry, Maine USA

Painting Carved Lettering and shallow text

Post by Jerry In Maine »

I recently made a couple presentation plaques that had painted-in shallow lettering. To do this I first coat with shellac to seal, dab paint into the lettering then sand the top surface....pretty basic stuff. It works but just thought Id ask if anyone had any other tips/tricks in this regard.

User avatar
Adrian
Vectric Archimage
Posts: 14541
Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2006 2:19 pm
Model of CNC Machine: ShopBot PRS Alpha 96x48
Location: Surrey, UK

Re: Painting Carved Lettering and shallow text

Post by Adrian »

I've done it that way as well but I generally don't seal first, depends on the wood though.

When I use corian I put vinyl masking over the whole piece before cutting and then spray it before removing the masking. Works really well with smooth materials like that but I've never had any luck with anything with any sort of grain to it. Keep meaning to try it on a piece that is varnished first though.

The other thing I do is for something that is painted all over I will paint the recessed area a lighter colour and then go over the whole thing using a small foam roller and a darker colour. As long as you don't overload the roller and do several light coats the paint doesn't go into the recessed areas at all.

ezurick

Re: Painting Carved Lettering and shallow text

Post by ezurick »

To add to Adrian's suggestion, I personally use Oracal 651 vinyl and have had great success. I don't have an 631, but others have said it is ok.
I personally wouldn't think 631 is good since it is really made for easy removing such as walls, etc. But now the vinyl may not be the best option if the carving and lettering is very small. A 60 degree V bit is a good choice, but for small detailed areas, it does sometimes chew into the vinyl on the corners. But I don't use the vinyl method if the carving and lettering is real small. Of course, this is one of those areas where a lot of trial and error help. Youtube has a lot of videos on using the vinyl method.

User avatar
FixitMike
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 2173
Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2011 5:21 am
Model of CNC Machine: Shark Pro Plus (retired)
Location: Burien, WA USA

Re: Painting Carved Lettering and shallow text

Post by FixitMike »

Sealing before painting will also eliminate bleeding beyond the cut edges.
Good judgement comes from experience.
Experience comes from bad judgement.

jerry carney
Vectric Craftsman
Posts: 121
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2017 6:16 pm
Model of CNC Machine: shopbot desktop
Location: Crete Il.

Re: Painting Carved Lettering and shallow text

Post by jerry carney »

I have had sucsess using contact paper and rolling it on firmly, then paint carving
and remove paper , works for me. Any craft store hasit.

User avatar
jimwill2
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 612
Joined: Tue Aug 31, 2010 1:48 am
Model of CNC Machine: CaMaster Stinger w/recoil, FTC
Location: Parkville, Missouri

Re: Painting Carved Lettering and shallow text

Post by jimwill2 »

When I'm painting/staining my vcarved text I usually add .03 to my toolpath's depth, paint it (brush or spray) while it is on the CNC then mill the .03 off. Usually 220 sanding is all it needs and even fine text is preserved. I do seal the surface first if I'm staining, not so much for paint. If I'm painting the plaque I use a smooth roller and roll it on pretty dry. I roll it on cardboard to get the excess off the roller.
Jim Williams

ezurick

Re: Painting Carved Lettering and shallow text

Post by ezurick »

jimwill2 wrote:When I'm painting/staining my vcarved text I usually add .03 to my toolpath's depth, paint it (brush or spray) while it is on the CNC then mill the .03 off. Usually 220 sanding is all it needs and even fine text is preserved. I do seal the surface first if I'm staining, not so much for paint. If I'm painting the plaque I use a smooth roller and roll it on pretty dry. I roll it on cardboard to get the excess off the roller.
I am not following that... you "add" .03 to the toolpath. Then remove 03 after the paint? If I am correct, do you mean you leave 03 on the surface, not the letters. After you paint, then you skim 03 off the surface, not the letters... is that right?

User avatar
martin54
Vectric Archimage
Posts: 7339
Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2012 2:12 pm
Model of CNC Machine: Gerber 48, Triac PC, Isel fixed gantry
Location: Kirkcaldy, Scotland

Re: Painting Carved Lettering and shallow text

Post by martin54 »

ezurick wrote:
jimwill2 wrote:When I'm painting/staining my vcarved text I usually add .03 to my toolpath's depth, paint it (brush or spray) while it is on the CNC then mill the .03 off. Usually 220 sanding is all it needs and even fine text is preserved. I do seal the surface first if I'm staining, not so much for paint. If I'm painting the plaque I use a smooth roller and roll it on pretty dry. I roll it on cardboard to get the excess off the roller.
I am not following that... you "add" .03 to the toolpath. Then remove 03 after the paint? If I am correct, do you mean you leave 03 on the surface, not the letters. After you paint, then you skim 03 off the surface, not the letters... is that right?
What he is saying is that he cuts 0.03 to deep from how I read that. Then after painting removes 0.03 from the material surface. That would mean the text had then machined to the correct depth :lol: :lol:
Easiest way to do that especially with a vcarve would be to set the tool zero, nudge down .03 & then set that as zero :lol: :lol:

User avatar
mtylerfl
Vectric Archimage
Posts: 5865
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2009 3:54 am
Model of CNC Machine: -CarveWright CNC -ShopBot Buddy PRSAlpha
Location: Brunswick, GA

Re: Painting Carved Lettering and shallow text

Post by mtylerfl »

Very common to add a small Start Depth to a v-carve. Especially in a case like this when planning to sand the piece after painting.

Martin, the “easiest” method is just set that start depth in the software (as Jim described) and set your Z-zero at the machine, as normal. No need to do the extra step of zeroing then nudging down and resetting the zero.
Michael Tyler

facebook.com/carvebuddy

-CarveWright CNC
-ShopBot Buddy PRSAlpha CNC

User avatar
martin54
Vectric Archimage
Posts: 7339
Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2012 2:12 pm
Model of CNC Machine: Gerber 48, Triac PC, Isel fixed gantry
Location: Kirkcaldy, Scotland

Re: Painting Carved Lettering and shallow text

Post by martin54 »

mtylerfl wrote:Very common to add a small Start Depth to a v-carve. Especially in a case like this when planning to sand the piece after painting.

Martin, the “easiest” method is just set that start depth in the software (as Jim described) and set your Z-zero at the machine, as normal. No need to do the extra step of zeroing then nudging down and resetting the zero.
I didn't realise you could do that with the vcarve toolpath but then I don't use it that much & I am not an expert like you Michael :lol: :lol:

Good day today then as I have learnt something new :lol:

User avatar
mtylerfl
Vectric Archimage
Posts: 5865
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2009 3:54 am
Model of CNC Machine: -CarveWright CNC -ShopBot Buddy PRSAlpha
Location: Brunswick, GA

Re: Painting Carved Lettering and shallow text

Post by mtylerfl »

None of us are really “experts”, as we all have much learning yet to do.

OT: I, too, am having a good day of learning something new - one of my neighbors alerted us that we need to watch out for rattlesnakes in our yards. He encountered (and killed) a sizable one with 11 rattles, crawling in his lawn just down the street from me.
Michael Tyler

facebook.com/carvebuddy

-CarveWright CNC
-ShopBot Buddy PRSAlpha CNC

ezurick

Re: Painting Carved Lettering and shallow text

Post by ezurick »

mtylerfl wrote:None of us are really “experts”, as we all have much learning yet to do.

OT: I, too, am having a good day of learning something new - one of my neighbors alerted us that we need to watch out for rattlesnakes in our yards. He encountered (and killed) a sizable one with 11 rattles, crawling in his lawn just down the street from me.

Yikes! We have Copperhead issues here. News report stated that in our area the babies can be as lethal as the adult snakes. I've only seen one so far this year... but I am sure they are out there. I fear for my dog. She gets curious when she is out running the property... she's a border collie. But I don't believe in putting dogs in a pen or tied down... at least not my dogs. They either learn to obey or else... lol.

Mikehell
Vectric Craftsman
Posts: 232
Joined: Wed Mar 22, 2017 9:34 pm
Model of CNC Machine: eBay special China 3040

Re: Painting Carved Lettering and shallow text

Post by Mikehell »

ezurick wrote:
mtylerfl wrote:None of us are really “experts”, as we all have much learning yet to do.

OT: I, too, am having a good day of learning something new - one of my neighbors alerted us that we need to watch out for rattlesnakes in our yards. He encountered (and killed) a sizable one with 11 rattles, crawling in his lawn just down the street from me.

Yikes! We have Copperhead issues here. News report stated that in our area the babies can be as lethal as the adult snakes. I've only seen one so far this year... but I am sure they are out there. I fear for my dog. She gets curious when she is out running the property... she's a border collie. But I don't believe in putting dogs in a pen or tied down... at least not my dogs. They either learn to obey or else... lol.
Baby copperheads are MORE lethal than adults. Adults will give a smaller amount of venom. Babies will give you all they got.

Post Reply