Sandblasted Signs

Ornate Sign Brackets

Ornate sign brackets can be as eye-catching and unique as the sign itself.

As well as impactful, ornate sign brackets should be rigid and hold up in strong winds. Most are made of steel or aluminum. Common finishes include glossy or matte spray paint, layered or textured paint effects, or powder coating.

ornate sign bracket and wood carved sign copy

Consider an ornate sign bracket when brainstorming ideas for your sign. An ornate bracket gives an impression of professionalism and elegance. You will be pleased with the results.

Metal Sign with scroll details and prismatic gold leaf letters.

Signs with Gold Leaf

Signs with gold leaf add distinction, flair, and value to your design. Gold leaf is gold that has been hammered into thin sheets and has been used for centuries. It shines brightly in the sunshine and continues to gleam for many years in exterior conditions. Signs with gold leaf typically highlight letters and graphics where you might otherwise use gold paint. It can be added to wood, HDU and metal signs. Since gold is immune to most chemicals and weather conditions, it will last much longer than paint. Obviously, it costs more than paint but the results can add professionalism, dimension and longevity to a sign that may far exceed the price.

Andreas-Keller---carved-cedar-circle,-HDU-scroll-with-gold-leafed-lettering

Carved Cedar Signs

Carved cedar signs hold fine detail that make for beautiful and very unique designs. Cedar has a rich texture combined with warm, mellow tones. The tones can range from light amber to deep honey brown. Cedar contains oils that make it moisture resistant, fungus resistant and distasteful to bugs. Outdoors, cedar will outlast many hardwoods, because the resins and oil act as a wood preservative. Cedar signs can be carved with a v-carved technique or raised text and graphics or given a burnt look with a torch. To keep the wood looking fresh, a clear coat, or penetrating oil can be applied after carving. For outdoor signs, because it is a natural wood product, regular maintenance will be required and a new protective coat applied every 2-3 years , especially in locations with weather extremes and direct sun.

Carved Cedar - board with wood grain texture and raised letters

High-Camp---cedar-with-chisel-texture-background,-v-carved-lettering

Painted Wood Signs

Painted wood signs have a history that stretches back centuries. And they are still very popular today.

Because of all the different paints available now, just about any color can be matched to a customer’s specifications. Painted signs can produce a clean, durable finish and create a colorful statement. We make wood signs out of a variety of woods with cedar being the most popular, but we also use redwood, Douglas fir, pine, walnut, maple, oak and more. They may be carved, sandblasted or left flat. Many of our hand painted wood signs have some very intricate design features while others are simple, flat name or directional signs. Painted wood signs can be used indoors or outdoors but may need some regular maintenance if placed outdoors.

Icicle Creek - sandblasted cedar signs 1.5" thick

Lambert - clear coated cedar routed down graphic and lettering painted

Red-Tail Canyon Farm - hand routed Douglas Fir with raised lettering

French Cleat Sign

How to install a sign using a french cleat.

Using a cleat is a nice way to mount a sign to a wall without having visible fasteners. After reading this page and following the tips we hope that you will feel confident in mounting your new sign.

Step 1: Understand what they are and how they work.

The easiest way is probably to look at these photos which are pretty self explanatory.

Or view more french cleat images on Google

Step 2: Get a cleat.

There are several types that you can buy such as this 20″ long kit from Amazon that can hold 200 pounds and is made specifically for dry wall or the smaller 60 pound version.

We often make our own cleats out of wood or plywood. Here are some wooden cleats from Amazon. The thicker the cleat, the farther from the wall your sign will be. We often think it looks nice to have the sign “hover” 3/4″ off the wall.

“Z-clips” is another term that may help when searching for the best option to buy.

Step 3: Install it.

Generally, even large heavy signs only require one cleat. Well, we call it “one” cleat but technically it’s a 2-part cleat (one goes on the wall and one goes on the back of the sign). The cleat should be at least half as wide as the sign. If your sign is 24″ wide, we suggest the cleat be at least 12″ long.

The cleat should be about two thirds of the way up the sign. Not at the tippy top but definitely not near the bottom. That allows gravity to do it’s job and hopefully the sign will hang plumb and not lean back and touch the wall at any point.

Sometimes on larger signs you will need an additional spacer near the bottom of the sign because the bottom of the sign will want to lean back and touch the wall. The spacer should be the same thickness as the cleat.

It’s important that the cleat be installed on the wall level and facing the right direction. And it’s important that the cleat on the back of the sign is mounted level (parallel) to the sign.

The sign simply hangs on the cleat and is held on by gravity alone. If your sign will be in a windy location, or if you are concerned with earthquakes or theft, then the sign will need to be “locked” in place.

One easy way to do that is to send one trim screw, available from Amazon or hardware stores, through the face of the sign (after it’s installed) and into the wall. You’ll need to hit something solid in the wall like a wood stud. Or if you use a wooden cleat you can screw into that. Trim screws are nice because of their small heads. It can often be hidden in an inconspicuous part of the sign such as a knot (if it’s a wooden sign).

Another method to “lock” your sign in place is to attach something above your sign after it’s installed so that it can’t lift up and off such as a screw or nail or trim board.

Good luck!

Wood Finishes

What is the best clear coat finish to put on your wood sign?

Well, it depends on a few factors but let us try to get you an answer.

Will it be outside in the rain, snow, and sun? Will it be outside but under cover and little to no direct sunlight? Is low maintenance important? Is it important to you that the clear coat is “clear” and does not tint the wood orange?

Here is a list a few different clear coats that are often used for signs.

• Water based polyurethane

• Water based spar urethane

• Oil based spar urethane

• Penetrating oil

• Shellac

• Varnish

• Epoxy Resin

The best two types of clear coats for wooden signs that we’ve tested for outdoor use are:

Oil based spar urethane – Build up multiple layers of this clear finish to help preserve the color of the wood. It will yellow some and it will need re-coated every few years but it’s better than most of the alternatives we’ve tested.
Penetrating oil – A couple coats of a penetrating oil will soak into the wood and repel moisture while retaining a nice natural look. Re-coat every few years to keep the wood from turning grey and dark. UV protection and mildew resistance are good things to look for when choosing a penetrating oil. One brand we like is Ready Seal.

The major difference between the two options is that one sits on top and looks like a clear film and the other penetrates into the wood and therefore will not flake off if maintenance is neglected.

For indoor use we prefer:

Water based polyurethane – It’s easy to apply and give a nice protective clear finish.
Oil – We like teak oil, or Danish oil, or Odies Oil for an easy wipe on natural finish.

For building up a thick clear coat for interior signs we like to use an epoxy resin such as Dr. Crafty or West System.

There is a vast rabbit hole of information out there but hopefully this at least gives you a starting point. Have a look at some of our wooden signs to see clear coats in action.

Sandblasted Signs

Sandblasted Signs are a great way to show off the natural beauty of the wood grain. Sandblasted signs often have raised letters and graphics giving them a 3D look.

Sandblasted wood sign reading Mitchell MCN

Black Orchid - sandblasted cedar painted black and silver