PVC sign. First carve.

[fwharris]

Well I had to try it (carving PVC) and decided to make myself a new sign. This will be the top half for the sign.

Since I went with conformed outline text and a ribbon banner pattern (jpaluk) I also opted to use the 3/16" carving bit as the pattern bit. Finished carve size is
9x28 and took 3 hours and 20 minutes @ best carve quality to carve and cut out. At optimum it would have been 6hrs +. Seems like it was posted that with the 3/16 bit we should only use best as the highest setting. Tried doing a search on that but was unable to find anything on it.

Found out how big of a mess the PVC is to carve. Even with dust collection I had to pause the carve about 6 times to clean it out some with the vac. Also used a wire brush on the rails and bearings in order to get it off. It really packed and stuck to the rails.

The conceptual picture of the design is some what of what the final will look like.

[rossclark]

Great job,yes pvc is a mess. But it will last for ever. Hope you take your sign to the woodworker's show.

[bergerud]

Very nice sign. But what a mess! I know you do not want to hear this but I think the Dust Cap would have sucked most of that up.

Have you thought of making a dust deflector for your system. You could have a partial dust cap just to stop the cuttings from getting away from your insert. If you made a base bracket and used it to hold a half a dust cap with half of a brush, the spinning chuck just might throw many of the cuttings right at the insert. I think it is worth a try. (Feel free to use or alter my Dust Cap base.)

[fwharris]

Ross,

Yes I do plan on taking it to the woodworker's show. Don't know if I will have all finished by then but thought it would make a great example for showing what materials can be carved with the CW. When all done the basketball hoop comes down and the sign goes up.

Bergerud,

I bet some type of dust cap would have helped a lot to capture more of the dust and chips. The insert did capture the majority of them but with the PVC being lighter and more prone to being attracted to anything with in reach I would guess they would still tend to stick to any attachment to the truck. The truck plate was well covered. I also think that if I had a higher CFM system I would have captured more.

Nope, glad to see you post about the dust cap! I believe it is a great idea for dust collection on the CW.

[jpaluck]

Very nice looking floyd...can't wait to see it finished

[easybuilt]

Beautiful job Floyd! I would like to see it when it's completed.l That will be a great example at the show.
That is exactly how my machine looked after I carved the Azek. I do think having the dust cap would be a lot of help. Check the bottom gear of the z truck, mine clogged up and jammed with all those shaving flying around.

[cnsranch]

Looks Great, Mr. Harris - but you spelled Redneck wrong....

[b.sumner47]

Sure is a beautiful sign, very nice indeed. Floyd how thick was the pvc to start?


Capt Barry

[eelamb]

Great job Floyd, please post when you have painted it. Thanks for showing your work.

[fwharris]

Looks Great, Mr. Harris - but you spelled Redneck wrong....

Jerry,

Had me for a second there! and thanks!

Capt. Barry,

The pvc board is 3/4" thick. It is a std 1 x 12 (3/4 x 11 1/4).

Spent a little over an hour cleaning the CW up this morning. The Y rails and bearings were well packed with the shavings. Had to use a green pad on the bearings to get the compressed shavings to come off.