Sign Writing without the skill required

I wold have a poke around on line. There seem to be a fair few sign writers who will produce signs on various materials, either name or number or both, at very reasonable prices.

Laser print on vinyl sheet and use a very sharp scalpel

Make a stencil? Use carbon paper to transfer an outline that you can paint to?

I suggest that you do this. You will have the work of a craftsman to admire.

I am not convinced they are that expensive.

Yes. So say I can print the outline on a piece of A4. Then I cut very carefully with a scalpel and scissors. After several tries and a bit of sellotape I have a decent stencil. How them do I attach it to the paintwork? What happens when water paint touches it? what do I do with the middle of the 'O'? Will. Is it a question off stipple or careful brush strokes?

I am not at all sure it will be do-able.

TW

You could have the negative of the image cut into vinyl, and then use that as a mask for painting. (or for electro etching).

Last time I wanted a sign, I printed the lettering I wanted onto a couple of sheets of A4, then got some 1/2" thick walnut boards glued up to get the required area. Covered with masking tape, then glued the lettering on top of the tape. Then cut out the lettering on a scroll saw. Finally sliced laterally through the letters on the bandsaw to make a second (thinner) copy so I could do both sides of a sign. Looked quite nice glued to a light maple back board.

There is one I see from time to time in a very well decorated van, so they do exist. No idea of price though.

What I would do would be to print it on A4. Then put a series of pin holes around the edges of the lettering. You can do this with an actual pin, but there used to be wheels made to do this, that you simply run along the line. Temporarily fix the printed sheet where you want it. The next step is to use a small muslin bag, filled with powdered chalk and dab it over the pin holes, known as pouncing. When you take the sheet off, you have the outline of the lettering marked with small chalk dots. You can then use a soft pencil to join the dots, after which you have the outline drawn on the door and you paint to that. If the door is white, you can substitute soot for chalk. Of course, this does need a steady hand with the pencil and some skill in painting.

Transfers?

Other Youtube videos available where they recommend a coating with lacquer for both inkjet and laser.

Waterslide Decal Paper

In message <va4q9t$3seet$ snipped-for-privacy@dont-email.me, TimW snipped-for-privacy@nomailta.co.uk> writes

I re-painted my door number on the renewed glass panel above the door by printing the number onto paper , cutting it out and using it a stencil. I stuck it on using vaseline and carefully brushed it. Still fine after 25 years. Did the same on my re-cycling bins. That wasn't quite as successful.

You'll need a fine sliver of material in the D ,O and A to stop the middle falling out.

Brian

I printed what I wanted at the right size, painted the borad white and used a biro to trace around the letters and then painted within the lines. To my eye it still looks good and cost nothing but a bit of paint.

Jonathan