Shop Shifting #5: Adding a personal touch (the fun part!)

Now that I have the cabinets, there was this large area that needed something.

I decided on a shop sign with some unique character. I took a single piece of scrap wood and cut it into 4 strips.

I then ripped these into thinner strips. One strip being slightly thicker than the other. Next was a bunch of layout work to make sure I had enough material and could make my sign as big as possible.

The letters were laid out to create a rustic look. The look was to be broken strips of wood that give the impression of being crudely nailed together.

For the nails I used discs of maple. I did not want end grain so I shaped a cut off the end of a board. I used multiple passes on the router to create a dowel with grain running across it rather than down the length.

After a few passes I had a dowel

I squared each end on the disc sander.

Rounded each end with a small router.

And cut it to length.

In some cases, I made a bent nail (check out the “A”)

Then it was a matter of laying out the rest of the letters…

And then adding finish to the doors (I’ll post a project with the final view – but you can figure it out from here…)

When I was done, I did not have many scraps left…

I’ll post the project soon – but it is late tonight…

Update… Here it is

-- Steve - Impatience is Expensive