Opinions needed on weird wood project

[max power]

Opinions are like assholes, all you assholes have one.
So I need to tap into the vast base of semi useless knowledge that is OR and get your opinions on this little wood project I'm doing for my wife for our anniversary.

Backstory: we got married in our backyard under our huge maple tree on Labor Day weekend in 2006.
It was quite the little drunken shindig. Everyone had a blast. Except me, I woke up hungover and married.

Every year since, we throw a big party on Labor Day weekend and always decorated the tree with Christmas lights. The tree got hit by the ice storm in the winter of 2006 and a nasty windstorm in 2008. By 2013, it was dead.
I cut it down the week after Labor Day last year.

I saved the chunk in the picture because I wanted to engrave our names and wedding date into it and give it to my wife for our anniversary this year.

So two questions,

1) should I stain it or just clearcoat it.

2) it's extremely hard and took 10 belts to Sand down to halfway smooth. I think engraving it with a wood pen is out of the question. Does anyone have any suggestions?
If nothing, I'll just have some decals made up put them on and clear over them.

Edited August 7, 2014 by max power

[JackFlash]

Engrave what you want with a small handheld router.

Then blacken the letters with a torch.  Sand off any

burned places outside of the letters.  Stain it, and

clearcoat over that. 

 

Just an idea.

 

.

[max power]

I like that idea, but my granddad is an old retired carpenter and woodworker and he sanded it.

He said that a router wouldn't cut into this very easily because it's super hard.

I also have an uncle who could engrave it on a plastic plaque, (see pic) but that would look cheesy.

[magley64]

If you can get access to a Cnc router or Cnc mill, that would be child's play to get done what you want done. I'm Cutting aluminum and bronze with the one at work.

[max power]

Cutting or just engraving?

Do I know anyone local with a machine capable of that?

[magley64]

I'd do it with a 1/8th inch end mill.

Maybe Google search some custom machining in your area...

Edited August 7, 2014 by magley64

[rawlins87]

Can bowdog throw it on his cnc router? That would be the best scenario. Then lacquer the piece with a good lacquer not a "lacquer blend"

[DAC]

Do you have any of the invitations left? It might look nice to have an invite in there with the engraving and then clearcoat the whole thing.

Edited August 7, 2014 by DAC

[KZ Kari]

A laser cutter would work also. I made my fiancee a birthday card, engraved into wood, using one. 

 

The natural wood looks nice. If you're planning on displaying it, consider the woodwork in your home to help your decision on whether or not to stain. 

 

I recommend not putting decals on it. 

[max power]

The decals are a last ditch type of thing, but if thats what I have to do, I need to order them soon.  Anniversary is september 2.

[max power]

Just asked Bowdog and he doesnt have a CNC machine.

[Casper]

Jbot?

[Helmutt]

I'd have a template cut ( waterjet, laser, or plasma, locally? ) from some steel plating, then simply torch the script through that onto the surface, polyurethane it, done. Even the hardest of wood still burns right?

[max power]

Hmmm, I like it. But I would need someone to make the stencils.

I wonder if that would be as easy as it sounds.

[Helmutt]

Could probably find a local steel supplier that would have "drops" ( small leftovers ) in a heavy gauge or plate steel on the cheap. Finding a company that could torch/cut the pattern would be the tough part I'd guess. 2x2 sheet shouldn't cost too much to cut as long as the design is fairly simple. Water jet may even be a relatively cheap possibility now days?

What are you looking to have put on it? Just names/date? A passage of some sort?

Edit - reread your initial post, just names and date. I'll do a little diggin myself and see what I can find too

Edited August 7, 2014 by Hellmutt

[KZ Kari]

I have a laser cutter at work. How thick is the piece of wood? It looks like it may be too big, but I can check tomorrow.

Here's the site of a local metal fabrication company we use for cutting:

http://www.laserflex-inc.com

[Gump]

Are there any hippie fests, or fair type shindigs going on around you? Find one of those dudes that have booths with all the black carved letter wood things that say goofy stuff and have them write something in a few minutes so it doesn't look like your 4th grade handwriting. Or maybe just buy a wood burning engraving tool and write some mushy love note on it yourself. Maybe a tattoo shop guy would draw on it for you it's basically the same thing. I use to have one. 

 

or...

Wood burn carve a cock on your wood and forget the love note.

 

Edited August 7, 2014 by Gump

[max power]

Could probably find a local steel supplier that would have "drops" ( small leftovers ) in a heavy gauge or plate steel on the cheap. Finding a company that could torch/cut the pattern would be the tough part I'd guess. 2x2 sheet shouldn't cost too much to cut as long as the design is fairly simple. Water jet may even be a relatively cheap possibility now days?

What are you looking to have put on it? Just names/date? A passage of some sort?

Edit - reread your initial post, just names and date. I'll do a little diggin myself and see what I can find too

  

It's going to say our names at the top, our last name under that, and at the bottom I wanted to say "were married under this tree" and under that it will say "September 2, 2006".

I have some aluminum plate that I believe is about 2x2' that could be used as a template if I can find someone to cut it economically.

I have a laser cutter at work. How thick is the piece of wood? It looks like it may be too big, but I can check tomorrow.

Here's the site of a local metal fabrication company we use for cutting:

http://www.laserflex-inc.com

The wood is 4 to 5 inches thick and about 22 inches wide. I can't really see it being cut all the way through but I wouldn't be opposed to it.

[max power]

The aluminum plate I have is quarter inch thick.

[OsuMj]

This is such a thoughtful gift!!

[max power]

This is such a thoughtful gift!!

Awww, and here I thought you came here because of your interest in my weird wood.

Edited August 7, 2014 by max power

[OsuMj]

Awww, and here I thought you came here because of your interest in my weird wood.

 

I was going to wait till you had your weird wood issue resolved before I teased you about it. 

[bowdog]

My CNC is the older one that cuts parts out but it wont engrave...I might have you hooked up bubby, I will call you this evening when i know more.

[jporter12]

My CNC is the older one that cuts parts out but it wont engrave...I might have you hooked up bubby, I will call you this evening when i know more.

 

It's CNC, write some g-code!  LOL

[bowdog]

  I run a construction company...I cant even figure out how too load pictures on this damn website let alone write a code!