Names

[edward]

 Just wondering what people do when they make names on 3/4 pine, do you paint just the front, back, or both.  edward

[BilltheDiver]

If they are pine, I dip them in stain and them finish them with spray shellac or lacquer.  I don't think I have ever painted one.

[Keefie]

I finish all my stuff the same way since I found out about it, Boiled linseed oil and celulose thinners (50/50) let it dry for a day then spray with laquer. I like the wood grain to show through.

[mrsn]

My middle school kids make names alot, and love painting. They paint the whole thing, and do special things to the front (like dots, stripes or each letter different colors)

[chippygeoff]

Hi Edward. I make a lot of names, one of my best sellers at craft fairs but all mine are made from hardwood whichI seal with a spray on shellac sealer and then a few coats of satin finish spray on lacquer. I do make things from pine from time to time and also birch ply wood and some of these I paint. With pine it is difficult to get a perfect finish but with Mikes ultra reverse blades you will get as good a finish as any. I don't apply any sealer but give two coats of acrylic paint but the paint I buy here in the UK is from a firm called Hobbies and it is in a tub rather than a tube and the secret in good painting is to have a good natural hair flat brush, they are expensive but will last many years and I use a half inch brush most of the time. After the paint has dried i normally apply a fe coats of spray on lacquer and the secret here is to apply thin coats and you end up with a professional finish.

[edward]

 I do mostly use hard woods, but thought I would make some names out of pine, since I have quite a bit, don't want it to go to waste, that's why I asked if the names get painted on both sides, or just the front.  Edward

[dunk]

Have you ever tried painting the front prior to cutting?  It makes it a lot faster.  If you are okay with just painting the front or front and back and not the edges...Otherwise I spray paint mine if the entire project needs to be painted.

[malc]

I always dip mine in the wood colour of choice, be mindful of the grain as pine will split along the grain very easily.
Malc

[Al W]

I have cut several names out of the scraps from construction 2x4's.  Usually just cut and give away, no finish, no paint, the kids just wanted something they could call their own.