OAK - CHERRY - SAPELE - IROKO - RUSTIC - DOUGLAS FIR

Sand Carved Wood Signs  The designs are created on a computer and then cut out on thick rubber stencils which are applied to the wood. The letters are then sand blasted out and painted. Once dry, the rubber is removed and the timber recieves a final processing and the edges are routered. At least three coats of oil are then applied.

English oak - click here to order
The English oak has a majesty all of its own. It has been used for generations for building the strongest ships and adorning the finest houses. It is a hard, heavy and durable hardwood which finishes well. Although generally having a coarse staight grain, it can have wonderful variations in grain, texture and colour and small pin knots and burrs are an attractive and acceptable part of its appearance.

We use air dried oak which has been slowly dried and therefore is less likely to warp and crack over the years. For larger signs we also use quarter sawn oak for even greater stability.

We normally oil the signs although they can be varnished or even left untreated on request. Just a rub over with Danish Oil about three times a year will keep the oak young looking and make it last a very long time.

However as the oak is so durable it can be left untreated and in a sunny open situation it will usually mature into a silver grey colour. This can not be guarenteed though and it does sometimes blacken. It must be said though that unteated timber is also more likely to form cracks and move, although some people feel this adds to its charm!

Once timber has been treated with oil or varnish it must be constantly maintained, otherwise water will creep in. It becomes trapped behind the coating and fungal activity causes the grain to blacken.

Douglas fir - click here to order 
Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is not a true fir at all, nor a pine or spruce. It is a distinct species named after Archibald Menzies, a Scottish physician and naturalist who first discovered the tree on Vancouver Island in 1791, and David Douglas, the Scottish botanist who later identified the tree in the Pacific Northwest in 1826. It is now North America's most plentiful softwood species.
It has a reddish brown to orange colour with a straight grian and is characterized by exceptional strength, hardness and durability. It is not only very tough but also water resistant, which makes it useful in exposed situations where maintainence is difficult.

Iroko (Chlorophora excelsa)
Iroko is similar to teak in appearance. It has a colour which can vary from pale golden brown to dark chocolate brown and medium to coarse texture with an interlocking grain that often produces interesting patterns.
It is an extremely dense and stable timber which is naturally oily and therefore highly durable and ideal for external signs.  It is another timber which can be left untreated. It is used widely for boat building, window frames as well as cabinet work and furniture making.

Sapele - (Entandrophragma cylindricum)
Pronounced Sa peel e, this species is another of the world's most extraordinary hardwoods. Its rich, lustrous, and variable reddish-brown color give it a mahogany-like appearance. However unlike most mahoganies, Sapele has substantially less movement in service. It is also even harder than oak. Should always be maintained with oil or varnish.

English Cherry
A lovely timber - rich brown and very high quality hardwood which is often a difficult to obtain. It is close-grained and resists warping and shrinking. It will redden when exposed to sunlight and darkens and becomes richer with age. Should always be well maintained with oil or varnish.

Cedar( Thuja Plicata )
Cedar renowned for its natural beauty and outstanding physical properties that make it one of the world's most unique softwood species. This exceptionally beautiful wood has natural coloring in mellow ambers, reddish cinnamons and rich sienna browns. Its warm coloring is complimented by a uniform, fine-grained texture with a satin lustre (Cedar color and texture image from cedar species sheet or other suitable source). 

Slow growing and naturally durable, Western Red Cedar has one of the longest lifespans of any North American softwood. The heartwood contains extractives that are toxic to decay causing fungi. The two principal extractives that are responsible for the decay resistance are Thujaplicans and water soluble phenolics.

If left untreated it matures to a silver grey colour which is vary attractive. It is surprisingly light weight making large signs easier to handle. As it is a softer wood it it easier to sandblast and very effective signs can be made by leaving the letters raised and blasting away the backgrounds.