Aloha sign with engravings, laser cut veneer and epoxy

Use masking tape or taped down newspaper to cover the inside of the sign.

In this example, black spray paint was used to cover the outer frame of the sign.

Make sure if you spray paint the frame to be in a well ventilated area.

Depending on the paint you choose to use, the drying time will vary. The spray paint took about 2 hours.

This sign uses the palm tree with flowers clipart from the LaserPecker Design Software.

By default, the clipart uses B&W, Fill which is fine.

After engraving the first clipart, I used the horizontal flip to mirror the image and the proceeded to engave the other side.

Using the "Text" option in the design software, select the message and font settings you wish to use. In this case, I used "Aloha" as the text message and "Zapfino" as the font, the style was set to "Bold."

Once the message was cut from the veneer, I used some super glue to hold the letters in place.

Mix about a pint of epoxy, I purchased from Stone Coat Countertops, into 3 cups (Clear, blue --alcohol ink, and white).

Use the blue and clear to cover the front of the sign.

Make sure the entire front is covered.

After about 20 mins. the epoxy will become a bit tacky.

Pour on the white epoxy in some lines from side to side. These will become the wave crests.

Using a heat gun or hair dryer on high heat, you can blow the epoxy around to make the ocean waves.

Check back every 20 mins or so for the next hour to look for air bubbles.

I used a cooking blowtorch to pop the bubbles. You will want to make quick passes with the blowtorch to pop the bubbles.

Do not stay in one place too long so as not to burn the epoxy.

Let the epoxy dry overnight. The longer you can let it dry without disturbing it the better.

After about 24 hours the epoxy should be solid enough.