DIY Engraved Pallet Signs

by Tracy

7 Materials

Repurposing pallet wood. I've been doing alot of signs recently for Christmas presents and thought I'd share.

Letters are done with a wood burner.

First, get a pallet and take it apart.

When making signs I like to keep the whole piece instead of cutting it. Unless it's a short name or number. I like having the nail holes in the wood.

After sealing with Thompson's.

Second, sand all the pallet board you've chosen to use. I use an air compressor with a spray nozzle (don't know if that what the part is called) and blow all the dust off the wood.

Held together with hooks

Third, I print out my words I want. I then use a crayon and color the back of the paper real good so I can transfer the letters to the wood. Once I've got the back covered in crayon, I use tape and place the paper where I want my letters to be. I then use a pen or pencil and go over the letter outline, press down kinda hard, and this transfers it to my wood.

Sometimes after doing this I still go back after removing the paper and use my pencil to trace over the crayon.

Vinegar & rusted nails=the dark color

I then use a dremel and do the outline first. I don't get just a little layer of wood off. I use the dremel and go about a 1/4 or 1/2 way deep into the wood. To me it looks better. I use our air compressor to blow everything off the wood while I'm using the dremel. Just make sure to point it away from you so you don't get the dust in your eyes.

diy engraved pallet signs, crafts, pallet

Once all engraving is done. I sand the wood down again. If numbers or letters are short I will cut wood down shorter. Make sure to get all the dust and pieces if wood off your board before staining. I use the air compressor alot while making these sign.

Next, is choosing your stain.

I've used store bought stain and I've used DIY stain. Vinegar and rusted nails works really good. Depending on the wood, you will get different colors. I've tried the DIY stain that uses coffee and tea but to me it doesn't chance the color of the wood enough to make it worth it.

Finally once I've got my sign stained, I use Thompson's clear deck sealer on all the signs.

Home Sweet Home sign

Davis sign stained and sealed.

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Pallet boards (Free from local businesses)
Dremel (Walmart)
Bits for dremel (Lowe's)
Wood stain (store bought)
Thompson's Clear Deck Sealer
Wood burner
DIY wood stain... Vinegar and rusted nails

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2 comments

Hillela G. on Nov 16, 2016
Makes for an awesome gift!!!

Like Reply
- Tracy on Nov 16, 2016
  Yes they do :) Most of the ones in the pics I posted are gifts for Christmas this year for family.
  
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