Pictures From Our Booth At SAMPE Baltimore 2012!

Here are some pictures from the Coastal Enterprises booth at a great SAMPE Baltimore 2012 show!

SpaceX Falcon 9 Successful Launch!

The Falcon 9 SpaceX rocket successfully launched from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, FL yesterday 5/22/12. It is headed to the International Space Station with supplies, and is the first time a commercial spacecraft will deliver to the ISS.

Congratulations to SpaceX! Check out the original USA Today Article.


Roofer’s sign

The roof supplier for our nerd house has been in business for 75 years. They had a logo they loved and so I just had to interpret it to be a dimensional sign. but it would be fun abet very simple to create. The sign will be displayed at the front to our property along with many other suppliers and trades. This one is square rather than rectangular but it should work just fine. I kept it about the same square footage as the others for balance.
I first created a square vector with rounded corners and made this into a flat relief.
Since we are installing a rubber roof (actually made from recycled tires) that looks like real shake I decided to make it look like split woodgrain. I used the sandblasted woodgrain from my TEXTURE MAGIC collection.
The lettering and triangle were created as separate, simple flat reliefs. 
These were nudged vertically into position in the front view, then merged highest with the woodgrain.

The last step was to modify the relief by adding the ’75 years’ slogan. 
As quick as that the file was ready for tool pathing and then to be sent to the MultiCam. It would be routed from 30 lb Precision Board. I’ll be putting it on the router tomorrow and then gluing it up ready for finishing. I’ll be [posting pics as always of course. Stay tuned…
-dan

Published with permission from precisionboard.blogspot.com. Source.

The Art of Hand-Carved Signs/ Grafixhouse Design Studio

Several of our blog posts have discussed the painstaking quality that goes into the work of a hand carved sign. For ten years, Grafixhouse Design Studio, located in Garner, N.C., has specialized in high-quality hand carving and painting. While talking with the owner Steve Kolacz, it’s clear he’s quite proud that almost all of his beautiful work is done by hand. These pictures are a great testament to the quality and effort that goes into a hand-carved masterpiece.

When Steve is working with Precision Board Plus he prefers to use wood-carving tools, sanders and a Dremel. He is also an accomplished airbrush and hand-painting professional artist who does illustrations for books and other art projects. Grafixhouse is a true standout design studio known for exceptional and timely work.


Steve got his start in the professional design industry attending the Genesee Center for the Arts and Education, and later transferring to the Art School at Coker College. While in college, Steve was offered the opportunity to play for a professional soccer team located in Florida. After spending some time in the pro soccer league, Steve made the decision to return to an art career. Honing his skills as an art director for an art agency, he took that experience and branched out on his own into what is today Grafixhouse Design Studio.

You can check out more of Steve’s artwork at www.grafixhouse.net.

Window bucks almost complete

The last week has been a hectic one. The crew has been busy in the shop but most of my time has been spent on the new house project. There are so many decisions to be made at the start it seems. We are planning plenty of cool details that will be routed but those are a little ways off yet.
The window buck shapes we routed in the last weeks are now largely complete. These forms will be fitted into the ICF (insulated concrete forms) and keep the concrete where it belongs. The inside forms that we routed will pop out after the concrete is poured to make way for the windows. I’ll post some pictures as the bucks are put into the walls in about a week or so.
I’ll also be posting a lot more projects as I get back into things in the shop.
-dan

Published with permission from precisionboard.blogspot.com. Source.