KDF’s “Robots” Sign on the Cover of Sign Builder Illustrated Magazine

We are very pleased, and proud, that Sign Builder Illustrated Magazine has chosen one of our latest creations for the cover story on their July Issue.

Click HERE for the Story. co ver shot

Published with permission from KDF Custom Graphics.

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That's Not Metal, It's All In The Finish!

Its hard to believe it’s not solid cast metal, but this is a custom finish applied to Precision Board Plus by the artisans at Synergy Sign & Graphics in Strasburg, OH!

This massive gearbox was built by Synergy as a showpiece for the front of their business as part of a recent Steampunk rebranding theme and also to show their 3-D and design capabilities.

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We asked Synergy Sign & Graphics owner Jim Dawson how he came up with this project and he responded: “Out of nowhere except my crazy head. I wanted to design something that reflected our recent Steampunk rebranding, and I came up with this idea.”

Thinking of a project is one thing, bringing it to life is another. “I started this project by planning out the contour layout for the gears and side beams in . Designing the project in AI is always our first step in our workflow of a project, as it is such a powerful drawing tool. Next, we imported the AI designs into our Enroute CNC software and put the CNC to work. We routed three sheets of Precision Board Plus PBLT-30 on our 5′ x 10′ MultiCAM 1000 and they came out absolutely perfect,” explains Dawson.

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After the pieces were cut, it was time to assemble the behemoth. The rolled chain was linked together with 1″ PVC pipes cut to size and PVC splice connectors for spacing to keep the chain aligned.

One of the major standout features of this project is the finish. After seeing the finished picture and looking close, it was apparent that every square inch of the gearbox was textured with an extreme amount of care.

Two coats of FSC-88WB Primer/Filler, undiluted, were hand-brushed on. Jim decided against diluting the primer, purposefully keeping it thick in order to simultaneously add texture while priming.

“After priming and texturing the entire gearbox, we added base coats of Modern Masters black and black metallic. Next we did 3 or 4 coats of a combination of a wipe on/wipe off glaze along with a lot of dry brushing. The aged look was completed with an application of Modern Masters Iron Reactive Paint, which is a 2-part process consisting of the paint and rust activator,” stated Dawson.

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Jim also used denatured alcohol on a rag to fine-tune the appearance of the rust in many of the low spots. “One of the coolest things about the Iron Paint is that the rust is continually activated by water if you don’t put a clear coat over it, which we didn’t. When it’s set up for good in front of our shop, it will continue to develop real rust, continually looking more aged,” says Jim.

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Jim plans to also create a fictional story documenting the history of the gearbox and its recovery from the Titanic. The story will be inscribed on a plaque attached to the front.

All in all, we would like to congratulate Jim and Synergy Sign & Graphics on this awesome project!

Be sure to check out more info about Synergy Sign & Graphics here.

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Vamp Graphics Keepin’ It Traditional

Working with so many sign makers means we see a lot of fantastic creations, some for fun, and some for work.

Adam Mooney sent us some pictures of a sign he made as a tribute to his archery roots, and the progression he’s made over the years. Having an interest in archery since his early years, he started out using a compound bow, and continued for 20 years. At a certain point he threw the shifter in reverse and went back to traditional archery, collecting and building longbows, keeping it Traditional Only.

Thus, he made this sign to showcase all the bows he’s built and collected over the years, and as a homage to his lifestyles, sign making and archery.

This sign is made using Precision Board Plus PBLT-30, PVC, and Modern Masters paint. See more of Adam’s work at: vampgraphics.com.

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One of Adam’s handmade bows:

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3-D Sign Samples: Let Your Work Speak For Itself!

Take a look at this beautiful 3-d sign sample made by Vamp Graphics in Holtsville, NY.

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Owner Adam Mooney CNC routed the sign out of Precision Board Plus PBLT-30 HDU and painted it with Modern Masters to highlight Vamp Graphics 3-d capability to shop visitors.

Making a sample for your shop is a time-tested sales technique, especially since the majority of customers know nothing at all about the art of sign making. Nothing really compares to having an example on hand for a customer to see and feel, while at the same time showing off your shop’s skill level and expertise.

Be sure to also check out our also article featuring Vamp Graphics eye-catching Vampire-themed sign: Enter The Vampire’s Lair.

See the Vamp Graphics website at: http://www.vampgraphics.com.

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The coffee beans are made out of epoxy sculpting putty.

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Whistle Punk Hollow Theming Job by Dan Sawatzky

Whistle Punk Hollow Adventure Golf in Squamish, BC is the newest recipient of an Imagination Corporation 3-D makeover. Precision Board Plus PBLT-30 was heavily incorporated into many aspects of the designs, including a massive train complete with Precision Board railroad tracks that turned out beautiful!

As a side note, here are a few of Dan’s favorite things:

Many more details about this project are available on Dan Sawatzky’s blog.

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