Replies

1. 
   MBerger | May 16, 2007 11:26pm | #1

   Hi Knecht.

   No sign people here, but I just called a long-time sign maker up in Maine named T.J. McDermott who had a lot of great advice.

   His first comment was, there is no silver bullet clear finish for outdoor signs. Oil finishes require maintenance once a year, and the real heavy-duty epoxy-based wooden boat finishes, like the one detailed in this article, can last as long as 10 years. In any case, a clear finish will inevitably need upkeep.

   He had a few wild ideas that you might look into further but he didn't sound like he endorsed them in his work.

   The first is Cabot's bleaching oil for cedar. That has some kind of wood bleach and silver stain in it. It bleaches and oils the wood in one shot to make it immediately look like weathered cedar.

   The second is an automotive clear finish. He said he's known some people who bring their pieces to a high-end automotive finisher. These are the folks who apply the clear coat on the gold leaf of a fire engine, for example. You have to know what you're doing, though, so if your determined to take this route, T.J. suggested that you talk to someone in that business who knows their stuff.

   The best option, he says, is paint. His favorites are specifically designed for signs and are made by Ronan and 1-Shot.

   Good luck with it. Keep us posted on your progress.

   Matt Berger
   Fine Woodworking