Looking to add a personal touch to your home with a stylish address sign? Kelley from Waterfall Woodworking has created an easy DIY address sign project that is perfect for both beginners and experienced woodworkers.
Materials and Tools Needed:
- Pine boards (1×8 for the base, 1×3 for the Chevron pattern)
- House numbers
- Wood stain (Minwax in Early American)
- Wood sealer (Minwax Spar Urethane)
- Wood glue
- Brad nailer
- Miter saw
- Sanding block or sandpaper (220 grit)
- Masking tape
- Drill with drill bit
Step 1: Planning and Cutting the Base
Kelley starts by laying out the house numbers on the 1×8 board to decide if they will be placed horizontally or vertically. After making this decision, she roughly measures where the numbers will go, which helps in determining the length to cut the wood. Next, she heads to her miter saw to cut the base of the address sign.
Step 2: Cutting the Chevron Pattern
For the Chevron pattern, Kelley cuts the pieces long enough to avoid needing small filler pieces on the border. She locks the miter saw in place and uses a stop block made from a scrap piece of wood to ensure all cuts are the same length. After cutting the first piece, the rest are easily cut by bumping the wood against the stop block.
Step 3: Sanding the Wood
Once all pieces are cut, Kelley sands the wood to 220 grit. Since the sign will be stained and exposed to the elements, she pops the grain by wetting the wood and sanding again at 220 grit.
Step 4: Assembling the Chevron Pattern
To start assembling the Chevron pattern, Kelley marks the center of the wood and draws a 45-degree line as a reference. The first two pieces are critical as they set the entire pattern. She aligns them according to the lines drawn and secures them with wood glue and her brad nailer. After securing the first two pieces, she follows the pattern to attach the remaining pieces.
Step 5: Cutting Off the Ends
After allowing the glue to dry, Kelley cuts off the ends of the sign. This requires careful alignment since there isn’t a straight edge to reference. She clamps the piece down and makes the necessary cuts using her miter saw.
Step 6: Filling Nail Holes and Final Sanding
Next, Kelley fills all the nail holes with wood filler and gives everything one final sanding to prepare for staining. She ensures to vacuum up all dust from the wood and workbench.
Step 7: Staining the Sign
Kelley uses Minwax stain in Early American, which she describes as a perfect mix of brown and neutral colors. She applies the stain, watching the Chevron pattern come to life. After letting the stain dry for a day, she seals the sign with Minwax Spar Urethane, making sure to seal all sides.
Step 8: Attaching the Numbers
The final step is attaching the house numbers. Kelley lays out the numbers, measures where the bottom of the numbers should go, and uses masking tape as a reference line to ensure they are straight. After confirming the placement, she marks the holes for the screws and attaches the numbers securely.
Conclusion
And there you have it! An easy DIY address sign that adds a personal touch to any home.