How to Make Rustic Wood Sign

      I know i promised to show how to hang live edge cedar siding but the weather hasn't been cooperating so I decided to work on some signs while I am waiting for the weather to warm up. This time of year in Missouri i might be buried in signs waiting for warmer weather but I promise I will show how to get that siding hung as soon as the weather breaks.
       I started on some signs yesterday by cleaning the bark off of a live edge cedar slab left over from the house siding. I then cut them to various lengths starting at about 14 inches long. After cutting them to length I used a sander to smooth out the rough edges.
       The next step is to decide what you want your sign to say. I used various stencils to make a variety of signs. After stenciling they are ready for the wood burner. I used the wood burner today for the first time but I usually let Shannon have the honors after all she is the artistic one.

Here she is just getting started, working at the kitchen table with an extra lamp to help see those pencil lines.

    It is really interesting to watch her work. When drawing with the burner you need to always pull toward yourself. Pushing away just doesn't work. In order to always be pulling towards yourself you have to spin the wood. That is where the artistic part comes in to be able to make long curving lines while spinning your board and keeping even pressure and constant speed.

       The outline is made first, following the pencil lines made with the stencil until they are all covered. Spinning the board around and around as she goes making it look real easy.

       The final step is to do the shading to make the sign really pop. The wood burning is now complete on this sign and Shannon hands it back over to me to put a hanger on it.

       I start by drilling a small hole in both top corners.

       A small wire is looped through the holes then twisted leaving a tail 3-4 inches long.

The tails are then twisted into a coil to ad a little whimsical addition to the almost complete sign.

Here is the sign, done and ready for a new home

Sealing Live Edge Siding

     Last post, i showed you some cedar logs i had cut. To get the slabs ready to hang the first thing you need to do is peel the bark off the edges. This can be quite a job on some, but others come off fairly easy. I use a box knife to get under the bark to peel i up. Also some scraping is needed to get all the fine pieces. This can be done with a box knife or pocket knife. Remember to keep your fingers out of the way. Next use a broom to remove all the sawdust from both sides that was left here by the sawmill. You want the wood clean so the sealer works better. 

Cedar Logs to Cedar Boards

       I spent the morning at the sawmill getting 3 cedar logs cut into slabs.

  Most of it will be used to finish  the siding project i have started Showed below.

I also had a slab cut to 2 1/2 inches thick for a project idea i have for later on. I should have some excess 1/2 inch thick slabs left after the siding is done, that can be used to make signs like the one below
Next time I will show how to install the live edge cedar siding.

Drifts, Gems and Wire Whims

Drifts Gems and Wire Whims is a craft business specializing in hand made wood products including wooden signs, chainsaw carvings, rustic furniture, fine furniture, home decor and also hand made jewelry specializing in wire twisted jewelry.
       So, here I am writing my first blog. My plan is to write about handmade crafts jewelry making (with the help of my wife Shannon) and woodworking projects. This includes fine woodworking all the way to chainsaw carvings.  I also would like to discuss tools, tool maintainance, setup and repair. I will also have some input on home repair and maintainance to help along some of you do-it-yourself types too.
       Tommorrow im getting some cedar cut on a bandsaw mill to use as live edge siding. I will try and get some good pictures to share with you.
       This is a picture of a 6ft. bear that was made for a christmas present from a wife for her husband.