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Bling as promissed

6/27/2012

I had an idea that I just had to run with. I didn't like the looks of the light fixtures so I decided to hide them and what better way than in a beer mug.
I designed a mug in Enroute (the software I use for the Multicam CNC router) I had to do each Half of the mug because a router such as mine cannot do any under cutting ( think of a ball, I can cut the top half but anything below that cuts straight down from the edges).
These mugs are going to be 7.5" in diameter and about 10" tall.

I'm cutting these pieces out of 2" foam so I had to cut each half in two slices

I took quite a bit of hand work with a die grinder outfited with a sanding disc to carve out the inside so the hole thing fit around the light fixture.
Then using stretch wrap packing tape, gorilla glue,and some spring clamps the four pieces for each mug became one.

Once the final shaping and cleaning up of the gorilla glue was complete, I needed to embelish the mugs with some texture.

Modifying a old drill bit was just the ticket.

A bit of Sculpting epoxy and we have frauth.
A couple layers of various paints and It's really looking as I envisioned.
I wasn't quite sure how I was going to paint translucent glass, but I did it, Kool!

keep up the finishing Touches are just around the corner.

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Purple Mountains Majesty

6/26/2012

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I think this is were that line of the national anthem came from.
Color Is a wonderful thing it changes the apperience of simple objects and makes them pop.
This is the first of two coats, the raised "mountain" text will get a "summer squash" yellow or as I refer to it "school bus yellow".

A quick little sneak peek at the purple logo text on the silver corragated back ground.
Just a reminder the corragated textured background is cut from foam is't not steel.
The "Smoke House & brewing Co." text gets the same purple and the bottom line of text gets black.

Back to The paint dept. and watch for the Bling!

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And the parts keep on Coming

6/24/2012

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Here is a mock up of the sign back panel with Raised text and the logo which will be stood off the back panel by about 1/2".

It's starting to come together.

this is the back of the logo section with the stand offs glued in.
I first drilled a hole in the back of the logo pc., then I inserted a carriage bolt in the hole with some 2 part urethane adhesive and over the bolt I used a piece of pvc pipe as a spacer.
In this shot you can see the square blocks that I used to keep these standoffs straight until the adhesive had a chance to cure.
We're getting close to paint How exciting. Stay tunned.

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A bright Idea

6/24/2012

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A very important component of a sign is it's lighting, and far too often it's the least thought about aspect.
I this case we need to light this from above so I purchased some LED spot lights and actually wired them up temporarly so I could hold them in front of the sign, in the shop with the shop lights out so I could see exactly how far from he sign the lights needed to be.

The verdict was for a 5' x 4' sign the lights needed to be 3'6"
away. ( the lights on the existing sign I am replacing are 12" away not good!)
So I got out the conduit bender an fashioned up the bent arms that would support the new lights.and some other features.

On the back of the lights I am adding a little bling.
I'm making some beer Tap handles that will stand up above the lights. with a little branding going on at the same time.
Here you can see the steel that I am sandwiching into the Tap handles for strenght.

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Brew ha ha

6/21/2012

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Next up on the plate (or should I say "on Tap")is a replacement for the Top section of this Local Brew pub's Sign.
http://moatmountain.com/
This One has seen better days, A perfect example of why use HDU ( High Density Urethane Foam) in an xterior application, This sign is made of solid wood and plywood and is Quickly deteriorating.

This is a concept drawing of the replacement.
The Bulk of this sign is all HDU Foam with the exception of the interior structural frame.
The back ground is to be cut to ressemble wavy corragated metal with the smaller text protruding from it (cut from the same piece), The "Moat" lettering is to be 1-1/2" thick and will be stood off of that corragated back ground to give it some shadow.
The "mountain" text is raised from the Moat Text but also cut out of the same piece of foam,(nothing gets glued on so nothing can fall off).

Here you can see the structural frame work of the sign. I've cut away some slots to reduce the weight of the structure, and this also allows me a chase to run the wires for the Tap Handle Lights.
Although this interior frame work is plywood (exterior grade) If I do my Job correctly it should never see any water.

Below are a couple of shots of the Cutting process.

Stay Tunned for more updates

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Author

Donald A. Johnson

This is an on going story of my explorations into the artistic world,chronicling the process of this journey. Highlighting my successes as well as my failures. I'll try not to focus on the failures, but they are what has taught me the most.
I Owe the ability to take this journey to; My Mom
(for she bred in me a drive and creativity required for this type of trip) My Incredible Wife and Children for their support, and to the world of creative people that inspire me everyday.
One in particular is Dan Sawatzky (click here to meet Dan) This Guy has Changed the way I look at things. He is truly an artist and a Visionary with passion.

Bling as promissed

keep up the finishing Touches are just around the corner.

Purple Mountains Majesty

Back to The paint dept. and watch for the Bling!

And the parts keep on Coming

A bright Idea

Brew ha ha

Stay Tunned for more updates

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