Engraved and Painted Camping Sign - Using CNC Router and Oramask 813

This video tutorial shows the construction of a two-part, double-sided camping sign. The video focuses on techniques to obtain good contrast between the painted letters and the background board by avoiding paint wicking outside of the CNC router pocketing.
Procedural Steps
1. Sand surface to 220 grit (use coarser grits to get to this step as needed)
2. Apply sanding sealer (Minwax or equivalent)
3. Apply Mask (Oramask 813 - other brands or types may work)
4. Pocket text and graphics
* Spiral downcut preferred
* V-Bit where finer detail is needed
- smaller letters
- inside corners
- may cause less clean cut of the PVC mask
5. Apply sanding sealer to pockets
6. Apply paint to pockets (Rust-Oleum Canyon Black or equivalent)
7. Remove mask
8. Apply sanding sealer to edges
9. Apply protective finish (Minwax Polyurethane or alternative)
Principal Tools (Brand I Used):
* CNC Router (Next Wave Automation Shark II)
* Table Saw (DeWalt DWE7480)
* Board Truing Sled ( • Build a Sled to Fix Wa... )
* Router & Router Table (Craftsman)
* 1/8" Carbide Spiral Downcut Bit (Whiteside RD1600)
* 3/16" Carbide Spiral Upcut Bit (Whiteside RD1800)
* 1/8" Piloted Roundover Bit
Design and Toolpath Software:
* Vectric VCarve Desktop
Materials:
* Cedar Board (1" x 8" x 8' , Nominal)
* Sanding Sealer (Minwax)
* Black Paint (Canyon Black, Rust-Oleum, Ultra Cover Latex)
* Polyurethane (Minwax, One Coat, Clear Satin, Water-Based)
* Wood Glue (Loctite Titebond III)
* Screw Eyes (Zinc, Everbilt #212)
* Black Chain (3/4" x 3/8" Links)
Music:
Lost and Found - Dan Lebowitz
Take Your Time - Dan Lebowitz
Bayou State of Mind - Jingle Punks
Forgiven Fate - Nathan Moore
Gold in Them Hills - Dan Lebowitz

[@veronicalagrega9789]

Excellent video! thank you for sharing!

[@FlashTraxWoodworking]

Thanks!

[@user-kn7gf5rr2z]

Love your shirt!!

[@FlashTraxWoodworking]

Thanks! ... Father's day gift.

[@lisahinkle4792]

Thank you for the great tips. We just started a youtube channel (Vernon Hinkle) and recently added a cnc to our shop. I make a lot of signs and never new of this product. After watching your video I will be buying this product to make my life easier. Thank you again.

[@FlashTraxWoodworking]

Thanks for the feedback. You will certainly see other techniques online, and I've tried several of these with some success. It just seems to me that using Oramask produces the most reliably good result.

[@soccerflash6]

This was amazing. Loving the edits.

[@FlashTraxWoodworking]

Thanks for the feedback and references to other videos with ideas for creative video elements.

[@95ffd]

Great Video!!! Very informative. Can't wait to get a cnc machine and start making projects.

[@JasonMiller4]

Well done video! I've never used that sanding sealer stuff ... I'll have to pick some up from Menards later. Thanks for the video!

[@FlashTraxWoodworking]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@DaveGatton]

Great job. 👍🏻

[@FlashTraxWoodworking]

Thanks for the visit

[@dasfreakster]

Awesome video.

[@FlashTraxWoodworking]

Thanks!

[@robh063]

Nice job! I do things similarly except instead of sanding sealer, I use Rust-Oleum Crystal Clear Enamel Spray Paint for my prep sealer to close the pores and give me that crisp edge we all desire, as well as my finish sealer after painting the lettering/graphics and removing the Oramask as it's made for both indoor and outdoor applications. No complaints so far.

[@FlashTraxWoodworking]

Nice. Thanks for the tips on some alternatives to the technique. Part of the fun (or frustration) is figuring out what works best for a given project.

[@hopnmeema]

Great video, thank you for the techniques. I have to admit that I would have thought the Sanding Sealer would effect the paint's ability to knit to the wood - I guess it doesn't. How has the sign held up to the Ohio Weather? Could you post a pic? Thanks again!

[@FlashTraxFamily]

So far as I can tell, the paint still sticks pretty well to the sanding sealer. What the sealer does is keep the paint from penetrating too far or wicking along the fibers. I'm also hoping the polyurethane provides additional protection. The sign was a gift so I will have to see if I can get an updated picture. Good suggestion.

[@connerycarroll1899]

I have that same shirt! Haha love it!

[@FlashTraxWoodworking]

The shirt is a hit at Habitat for Humanity where I volunteer in their woodworking shop.

[@gwythan]

Nice thank you

[@FlashTraxWoodworking]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@resorter66]

Good morning I am watching your video here to learn as much as I can about carving and painting signs
Could you tell me what font you used in this video and how high are the letters. We have a place at Seneca Lake Ohio Thanks Jeff

[@FlashTraxWoodworking]

Yes, I purchased a font called "Rustler" because none of my pre-loaded fonts seems to give the effect I wanted for a camping sign. The "H" in Hartman is approximately 3" tall. Thanks for your interest.

[@brucegordon3566]

Perfect
Have not completely finished
Hope to see which Cnc system you use
Thanks again

[@FlashTraxWoodworking]

See the description associated with the video to see the principal materials and tools that I used for this project.

[@joewelling3278]

What is the model of your Shark CNC

[@FlashTraxWoodworking]

Mine is a Shark 2, which has now been replaced with the Shark HD500 with nearly the same specs. nextwavecnc.com/product/shark-hd500/

[@IanStreten]

Nice unfussy video explanation

[@FlashTraxWoodworking]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@bctb2010]

What is the CNC Router you use?

[@FlashTraxWoodworking]

The CNC Router is a Next Wave Automation Shark II. It is listed in the description along with the other principal tools, materials and techniques I used for the project.

[@richardbaynes3862]

Much better to spray topcoat

[@FlashTraxWoodworking]

Point taken, thanks.