Signs of the Times - July 2012 - (Page 20)

STRICTLY COMMERCIAL By Mike Bethune Mike Bethune owns Bethune Signs (Tampa, FL). Curves Ahead Carved eye candy for a Florida restaurant For years, I’ve enjoyed eating ata Ker’s Winghouse in Brandon, FL. Ker’s is sort of regional version of Hooters; it operates 20 locations across Florida. And, like Hooters, it publishes a calendar every year that features many of the attractive waitresses and bartenders that work there. I approached the manager, Brett Mazzucco, about creating a freestanding POP sign with a carved depiction of one of the models featured in the calendar. He agreed and, because of my status as a loyal customer, let me choose which young lady to feature in the sign. I chose Monique, who has worked at Ker’s for a while. She’s a very friendly person, as well as a head-turner, and was thrilled when I told her my decision. Ker’s provided me with photos from their shoot, and I selected the pose that would create the best curb appeal. I chose a separate face shot, which became an additional piece of the sign. I kept the project hidden from my wife until it was nearly done. That way, she would be impressed with the detail of my carving, and couldn’t forbid it before I started! Tool time To begin, I created a cut-out of the shape I would carve. I used 1.5-in.-thick Design Board® HDU from Jasper Plastics. I always prefer HDU over wood because the lack of natural grain allows it to be carved much more easily than wood, and it won’t crack or split like MDO or MDF. To add more dimension to the base, I applied extra HDU layers, which I bonded to the surface with Gorilla Glue. When I carve signs, I just buy a basic chisel set from Lowe’s, and then sharpen them at home to meet my needs. After chipping away large areas with larger chisels, I work down to a smaller set for more detailed features. I shape finer features with a set of small, sharpened screwdrivers. I also use several pieces of 80- and 120-grit sandpaper to refine the shape. To carve the face, I worked with a smaller, separate HDU slab that I could hold in my hands. After having roughed out the shape with a small chisel, I fashioned facial details with an X-Acto® knife. Attaching sandpaper to a sanding block yields an effective tool for creating fine detail. Bethune, a regular customer at Brandon, FL’s Ker’s Winghouse, approached manager Brett Mazzucco about creating a wallmounted sign that promotes the restaurant’s calendars, which feature photos of the chain’s bikini-clad waitresses. He fabricated the sign from layers of 1.5-in.-thick Design Board® HDU, which he bonded together with Gorilla Glue. Bethune decorated the sign with Color Wheel primer and topcoat, which are formulated to withstand Florida’s heat and humidity. 20 SIGNS OF THE TIMES / JULY 2012 / www.signweb.com http://www.signweb.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Signs of the Times - July 2012

Signs of the Times - June 2012
Contents
ST Update
Technology Update
Vinyl Apps
Strictly Commercial
Lighting Techniques
The Moving Message
Technology Review
Technology Review
Vehicle Graphics Contest Extension
New Products
The American Sign Museum Opens!
An Electric-Sign Company Snapshot
By Print or by Paint
Extreme Installs
Lessons for the Boss
The Value of Signs
Advertising Index
Editorially Speaking

Signs of the Times - July 2012