DIY Network

Furniture Lettering Make a statement with your furniture. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-133

Try this thought-provoking project today!

Michele Beschen loves furniture to make a statement—literally. The B. Original host especially likes adding lettering to furniture and other décor elements to emphasize an idea and add design zip to a room.

In this project, Michele Beschen shows how to create stand-up lettering that she'll install along the back of a side table. You can use the same techniques to add meaning to mirrors, desks, wood trim or anything you want to make a statement. Scroll down for the B. Original how-to.

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Furniture Lettering

Materials:

masonite
MDF (medium-density fiberboard)
pocket hole jig
drill
screws and bit for pocket hole jig
spray adhesive
lettering printout
graphite paper, pen
metal straight edge
clamps
wood glue
paint

Figure A

• Decide what size you want your letters to be and cut pieces of masonite slightly larger than the letters.

• Since the project calls for two of each letter, sandwich two pieces of masonite together for each letter so you can cut both out at the same time. This will save time and help ensure the letters are identical. Use spray adhesive to stick the wrong side of one piece of masonite to the right side of the other. This way, the good side is up for both pieces.

• Trace or draw your letters on the combined masonite pieces. Michele Beschen uses graphite paper to trace her computer printouts (figure A).

• Cut out the letters with a band saw (figure B). Separate the pieces of masonite immediately after cutting so the spray adhesive doesn't have time to set up.

• Offset the letters and glue together (figure C).
  

  Figure B

  Figure C

  
  

  	Figure D
  	Figure E

• Cut background shapes for the letters from ½" MDF, making sure the bottom of each shape is straight so that it will sit nicely on the furniture.

• You'll be using screws to connect these pieces to the table; use a pocket hole jig to drill angled pilot holes that come out the bottom of the MDF to guide your screws. Clamp the jig to the MDF pieces to drill (figure D).

• Paint your letters and MDF pieces before putting them together.

• Glue the letters to the MDF shapes.

• Clamp a metal straight edge to the table where you want the lettering to go. Measure and center the lettering on the back of the table.

• Butt the MDF pieces up against the straight edge and screw to the table through the holes made with the pocket hole jig (figure E).

B. Original with your words—what do you want your furniture (or anything else) to say to the world?