What would the signs be for? Local gifts for friends and family or to sell commercially ?
Clear coated to have the natural wood look or painted?

 

Some for sale and some for family gifts. Clear coated finish.

 

Walnut, maple, cherry, padauk, purple heart are my go to species and all carve beautifully but I would not use them for signage. They are all pricey. Mahogany has been hit or miss between excellent and good on my cnc.

Have you considered high density foam type. I have not carved with it but some folks do amazing cnc carvings using it.

 

Used as gifts and custom work. Sign foam is not a choice for me. I like natural or stained wood. These would be high end pieces. Thanks you your suggestions.I do have some maple left over from a cabinet job several years ago.

 

I don't do CNC, but it seems to me that Maple or Cherry would both have the tight grain that works for CNC, yet are fairly easy to get. I have not worked with Walnut personally, but it is also easily available from many sources.

 

.
Yes, it is the tight grain that I need. I have some maple on hand. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

Good luck. You are going to have some fun.

Maple carves beautifully but just give the grain direction a quick look see and make sure the grain is fairly tight. Panels carved in maple on first clock and columns on second.

Cherry is also one of my favorite especially because it takes stain and varnishes really well. Drawing pad tome made from cherry.

Walnut is my favorite but it is pretty dark so really depends on the design you are carving. Laminating different species is a fun way to use it.

For purple heart you need a sharp bit. The stuff is hard.

Oak does okay if the grain is tight. Just be prepared for a little bit more sanding. I hate sanding so my oak plaques remain "rustic". My bit was a bit dull so not the sharpest carving.

 

I have been making signs for years. Maple, poplar, cedar, and walnut carve smooth. I have used scrap pine and hemlock but you may get some tear out. I alway put odd pieces of wood to use as a signs. For an exterior finish, I put 3 coats of Marine Spar Varnish front and back. For interior pieces I use clear shellac, varnish, or any other spray clear coat. I use liquitex acrylic paint for color because the pigment is great and it cures well for any indoor or outdoor projects.

 

More important than type of wood is VERY SHARP tools!

 

I have a few projects that I would like rout fine detail on wood, pocketing the excess leaving the raised pattern. I need a recommendation for a good wood that won't have tear out problems like pine, poplar oak etc.
Most of my signage up to now has been in V carve process.
Thanks in advance for any help members can provide.

If you're painting and/or using epoxy to completely cover the wood for your signs, and there will be no visible wood grain, use MDF.