Sticks on Sticks on Sticks

See how we built and hung a 200 lb lobby sign for Slack without touching the wall.

Slack lobby sign drawing

Milling About

We needed a nice looking, lightweight material for this project (so shallow of us, amirite?). We opted for Western Red Cedar for weight and straight grain. Our local lumberjack hooked us up with some lovely boards and we got to cutting. The shop smelled amazing for a week straight.

Slack sign - raw cedar blanks
Slack sign - milling up wood
Slack lobby sign - milling up wood
Slack lobby sign - cutting
Slack lobby sign - cut cedar

Sorting

We spent a lot of time flipping, rotating, and categorizing each bar to create a harmonious pattern.

Slack lobby sign - select
Slack lobby sign - align

The Glue that Binds

Alignment was critical during the glue-up to make sure all the angled lines were perfectly straight. We used over 150 wood pins or “tennons” to make sure everything lined up.

Slack lobby sign - glue up
Slack lobby sign - glue up
Slack lobby sign - glue up
Slack lobby sign - glue up

Location, Location, Location

We used laser cut templates to accurately place the logo elements on each of the three panels. Since each panel was cut separately, accurate alignment was key to making sure the whole logo landed exactly right when fully assembled.

Slack Lobby Sign - template
Slack Lobby Sign - template
Slack Lobby Sign - template

CNC

Each part was carefully pocketed out on a CNC router and followed by a hand router to finish the cut.

Slack Lobby Sign - cut
Slack Lobby Sign - cut
Slack Lobby Sign - cut

Finishing

A couple coats of clear finish brought out the color and added a protective layer.

Slack sign - finishing
Slack sign - finishing
Slack sign - finishing
Slack sign - finishing

Installation

This jumbo sign is now living in the lobby of the Slack building. We weren’t able to drill any holes in the wall, so a cable system was installed from the ceiling and supports the three panels. After hanging each panel, we snugged them up to each other with some steel plates on the back for a seamless look.

Slack Lobby Sign - installation
Slack Lobby Sign - installation
Slack lobby sign - installed
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