Next time you’re visiting, running or jogging at Lake Merritt check out the new “Pittman Green” sandblasted sign. The City of Oakland had contacted us about this sign several months ago but when we didn’t hear anything from them we assumed the project was cancelled or delayed. You can imagine our surprise when we got a call from McGuire and Hester, a large building contractor, telling us that they would be ordering the sign as part of some work they were doing at Lake Merritt. The sign is 60” wide and 8” tall and is made of redwood. It was sandblasted such that the lettering is raised relative to the textured background.
A sandblasted sign is created by using a stencil to create the letters or shapes that will remain raised and smooth. In this case the stencil was used for the lettering. The stencil is used to protect this part of the wood from the sandblasting process. A combination of a compressor and sand pot is used to “blast” away the areas that will be submerged relative to the raised smooth areas. In this case the text. Sanding, sealing and painting complete the process. Sandblasted signs are popular among large and small businesses alike and are often seen in parks and outdoor areas. The high density urethane (HDU) is a very popular option since it is impervious to rot, bird droppings and other types of damage associated with the redwood and cedar alternatives. If you like the look of traditional sandblasted signs we at SignWorks are ready and able to supply them! And, we’re just a phone call or email away. Contact us at 510-357-2000 or send an email to info@signworks.us.com.