Manufactured wood products

[Firefighter938]

Can you or has anyone carved on any fake/plastic wood products from lowes or HD?

[fwharris]

Are you talking about stuff like composite decking?

[CW-HAL9000]

I have used the white pvc board (used for exterior house trim) to make boat name plates since they are exceptionally water proof. I have also carve Azek which is sometimes available at Home depot or lowes. Both the Azek and the pvc carved well, though there was a little bit of melting of the pvc, however the carves were beautiful. I have not carved trex which is a composite decking.

[Gary Koval]

I have carved a lot of "Trex" boards. I make personalized cemetary crosses. Carves well, melts slightly, but with a very light sanding, not enough to effect the wood grain, it turns out very well. Hope this is what you were asking.
Gary

[chebytrk]

Hey Gary, If you have any samples of what you've done with Trex boards, I'd be interested in seeing them. Sounds like it might be something to try. Also, where do you find that type of material?

I have carved a lot of "Trex" boards. I make personalized cemetary crosses. Carves well, melts slightly, but with a very light sanding, not enough to effect the wood grain, it turns out very well. Hope this is what you were asking.
Gary

[Firefighter938]

Thanks for the input everyone. I have been asked to make a simple 2 piece sign for my sons Elementry School. Nothing fancy center text with a 90degree boarder on a 1x12 -68" long. Actually 2 of them for use outside the school. Figured the PVC would last the longest in Ohio weather but I was not sure how well it routed. I bought a 1x4 today to run a test run on. I'll let you know how it turns out. I never even thought of trying the TREX decking. My uncle has a few benches around his pool that would really look cool with something engraved in them!

[dltccf]

I have recently carved a couple of signs with Azek and they carve well at normal both with the carving bit and with the routing bits for lettering. If you are not using a dust collector get one. The sawdust is horrible from that material. If you are going to paint it first used the Zinsser 123 primer that advertises it sticks to pvc and let it cure a couple of days before you use your finish paint.

dave

[dltccf]

Oh, and if you are going to glue pieces together use the Azek glue that is sold in the same aisle. You don't need primer like you do with plumbing pvc glue and you get about 4 minutes to get it lined up just right rather than 4 seconds.

dave

[Gary Koval]

Everyone,
Here is a sample of a cross I have carved in Trex. I usually paint them white with gold lettering, or whatever other color the person wanted. I left this natural to show the Trex. Usually 4" wide, upright 24", crossmember 4" by I think 12 or 14". Where they meet I usually go a little more than half way to compensate for the glue. I have 12" by 1/4" stainless stakes that I drill about 4" deep. See the pic for the glue I use, works well, have not had any come back yet, about 4 yrs running. I use the glue for both keeping the two pieces together and the stakes. Clamp the two pieces together for about 24hrs.
hop this helps,
Gary

[chebytrk]

Gary, So where did you buy this Trex? Approx cost? Looks like maybe worth trying if it's not too expensive.