[matthewthemanparker]

It seems like everyone is making cemetery entrance arch signs this year. I thought I would share the progress on mine so far. A lot of work was put into it this weekend but it still needs to be weathered, an anchoring system built, and possibly some coach lanterns added. Here it is so far.


A quick sketchup drawing of what it should roughly look like. Things always get changed in mid build it seems though.



The subdivision I live in is named "Merry Acres" so I'm going to make it look like vandals changed it to "Scerry Acres".



First I glued the columns together. 8' tall



Added some trim.





And slapped on some paint.



Next, we drew out the sign on a 4'X8' piece of 3" foam.



Routed out the mid section for the letters.



Cut out the rest of the sign, a cross, and painted.

 

[matthewthemanparker]

Started cutting out the letters and gluing them in.

 

[Excogitate]

That is awesome!!!!!! I can't wait to build more for my yard.... but as everyone else will agree I am sure. I don't have the storage for all that I want to do

 

[jarnaez]

That is awesome!!!!!! I can't wait to build more for my yard.... but as everyone else will agree I am sure. I don't have the storage for all that I want to do

Yeah storage is my problem too

 

[Weathernut]

storage is a huge issue for me. although I build for easy assembly and storage, I just make too much stuff!

 

[jarnaez]

Ifeel yor pain

 

[Defenestrator]

Nice work....looking forward to seeing the finished product!

 

[Big Nick]

Sweet stang you got there. Entrance looks awesome too

 

[crazy xmas]

Its going to look awesome in your haunt nice work!

 

[matthewthemanparker]

That is awesome!!!!!! I can't wait to build more for my yard.... but as everyone else will agree I am sure. I don't have the storage for all that I want to do

Yep, storage is starting to become a problem for me even though we moved to a bigger house just one year ago.

 

[matthewthemanparker]

Sweet stang you got there. Entrance looks awesome too

Thanks and thanks.

 

[matthewthemanparker]

I made the inside base that will be used to anchor it to the ground. The columns should slip over these after the rebar is driven into the ground.



I added the lanterns. In hindsight I wish I had gone higher with these. They are at eye level right now. I may end up changing them.



I've still got to do a lot of touch up paint and then weathering.

 

[matthewthemanparker]

I like it much better now. The lanterns don't look so quite out of place.

 

[HarleyQuinn07]

This a great! I'm curious, how do you get the rebar into the ground?

 

[Blarghity]

This a great! I'm curious, how do you get the rebar into the ground?

There's a special sort of sledge hammer for that, called a post driver. Here's one example of it: http://www.walmart.com/ip/22581730?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=3&adid=22222222227016846946&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=25341591876&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=50569830636&veh=sem

 

[daddywoofdawg]

thought about how you'll pull the rebar out after it's done? A trick that works for me is use a bumper jack as low as it will go tie a piece of strong rope around the post as low as you can get it;tie a loop and place loop over hook on bumper jack and jack up,repete as needed.

 

[matthewthemanparker]

I'll just use a small sledge hammer to drive in the rebar and I've got an engine hoist I can use to get it up if necessary.

 

[matthewthemanparker]

We got started on the weathering today. First we painted the pieces black.



And then sprayed them with water to make the black run off.



A before and after comparison.



All three pieces together. I can't wait for them all to be joined together.



With the lanterns added on and LED tea lights inside.

 

[matthewthemanparker]

I applied the final touch of vandalism.

 

[Scruffywolf]

Great job! Nice wash on the pillars, gives it that "Antique" feel........can't wait to see pics of it on Halloween.......