Our local pocket park finally got an official sign kiosk this year. The front has a nice sliding glass display case for announcements, posters, et al, but the back was just a blank space. I figured it could use some art, so I took our Melrose coaster design and made it bigger.
The disc is 8.5mm plywood, with the text and logo cut from 3mm walnut-faced plywood. First, I cut the disc on my CO2. Then I took the design, did a 1mm inset, and engraved that on the face. I arranged all the walnut pieces to fit in one 300mm square and cut those next. Then it was just a matter of painting the back of each piece with wood glue and sticking it down on the engraved makings.
I gave the whole thing several coats of lacquer, and it’s now in place on the formerly blank back of the kiosk. I think it’ll do, and now I get to see how it weathers. (It was under $20 of materials, so if it falls apart, I’ll just remake it better.)
II used Titebond III, so the glue should be no problem. The plywood, on the other hand, was not exterior or marine grade or anything, but I did take extra care to heavily lacquer the cut edge while giving it all multiple coats.
I’m hoping that seals it well enough, but if it fails, my next approach will be to give the whole (replacement) thing an epoxy coat. That’s much more mess and effort, I figured, but it would certainly be better sealed. (Also, I figure any yellowing of the epoxy over time would be no issue, as the wood already has pleasant warm tones.)
