How do you build a wood sign post?

Answer 1

Buy a 12' pressure treated 4 X 4. Buy a post holder at the local home center. This is a 36" steel stake with a square box at the top. The post holder is driven into the ground with a sledge hammer after inserting a small slightly undersized block of wood into the square box at the top.

Cut the 4X4 in two lengths. The long piece should be about 7 - 8' long.

Use a circular saw that has the blade depth set to 1/2 the thickness of the 4X4. By making repetitive cuts, create a channel the exact with of the 4X4.

Create an equal channel in the other section of 4X4. The two pieces will now fit together. Nail the pieces together using 10p galvanized nails.

Insert the post into the post holder. May be necessary to hammer it to insure a snug fit. A decorative cap can be purchased at the local home center.

Answer 2

Wooden house signs add a personal touch to any home. Once you discover how easy and fun it is to carve your own wooden house signs, you may be inspired to start making them as gifts for your friends and loved ones.

To carve wooden house signs the tools and equipment you can use a variety of tools. The following list details many of the tools and equipment you may want to have handy, but you by no means need every item on this list in order to carve wooden house signs. These are just helpful suggestions and general guidelines.

• carving tools: chisel, mallet, gouges
• cutting tools: jigsaw, bandsaw, coping saw
• sanding tools: plane, sander, sandpaper
• clamp

Lastly you will need, of course, the piece of timber you will be carving. Oak is a good choice, as it is strong, easy to carve, and pleasing to the eye. Any hardwood that meets those criteria, however, will do just fine. Look for wood with grains that are close together, not wavy and far apart, and stay away from pieces with knots. Make sure your piece is large enough to be carved down into sign you envision making.

Take out a pencil and outline your design on the timber. Take your time with this because it will be your guide as you proceed. Drawing a horizontal line across the center of the timber will help you sketch the letters and numbers in a neat and even row. Using a pencil to sketch your design allows you to erase mistakes and start over if your text isn't evenly distributed across the timber or simply doesn't look right to you. When your penciled sketch of your sign looks like you want it to look, you are ready to begin carving.

Carve the letters and numbers first, leaving the cutting of any ornate decorations or borders until afterward. That way you can use the extra space around the edges of your board for the clamp to hold onto while you're carving.

You may find it easier to keep your first wooden house signs relatively simple, and build up to more intricate and ornate designs as you gain experience with the tools.