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Mason Mark McCullough helps a farm manager bring an old granite post back to its original glory. To do so, Mark measures, grinds, and drills to attach an antique road sign to the face of the post. After that, he uses a Dremel tool and stencils to sculpt the street number into the post for a timeless look.
There are few things as exciting for a homeowner as finding some of an old home’s original antique touches. When a family farm uncovered a granite post and an old street sign, they wanted to proudly display both at the entrance from the road. Mason Mark McCullough knows just how to help.
Difficulty: ⅗
Time: 6 hours
Cost: Under $30
Where to find it?
Mark helps a homeowner refashion an old 1800’s granite post into a road marker for their farm.
To rehang the original farm sign, Mark first has to make the front face of the post more plumb. To do this, Mark traces the outline of the desired area with a pencil [https://amzn.to/3HjwmkI]. He then uses an angle grinder [https://amzn.to/428ejWR] to carefully chip away at the uneven stone, making sure that the HEPA vacuum [https://amzn.to/3VdYdIJ] is attached to clear out any dust. To secure the sign, Mark takes an electric drill [https://amzn.to/3ABcfuy] with an SDS masonry drill bit [https://amzn.to/3LbAAMs], and drills two holes in the granite post, making sure that the holes are the same spacing as the sign. Finally, Mark anchors the sign to the post with masonry screws [https://homedepot.sjv.io/jreDN0].
Mark measures [https://amzn.to/3oKVJ8K] from the top of the post down to the top of the newly hung sign. Then from the bottom of the sign down, he marks the same measurement with a pencil. This is where the top center of the first stencil [https://homedepot.sjv.io/GmKoxL] will go. Mark tapes the stencils to secure them in place and traces out the numbers with a marker [https://amzn.to/3AEunUg], coloring them in completely to get very clear numbers. Next, Mark uses an etching rotary tool [https://amzn.to/41Jq7yW] and a grinding stone bit to begin carving out the numbers. To smooth out the carved sections of the numbers, Mark goes back in with a hammer [https://amzn.to/41GBPKA] and chisel [https://amzn.to/449rh8r]. Finally, Mark uses a small angled brush [https://amzn.to/40LC3Pt] and latex exterior black paint [https://homedepot.sjv.io/JzKo9E] to paint in the numbers. The exterior paint will fade over time with the outdoor elements to bring out an authentic colonial-aged look.
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Materials:
Masonry screws [https://homedepot.sjv.io/jreDN0]
Number templates [https://homedepot.sjv.io/GmKoxL]
Black paint [https://homedepot.sjv.io/JzKo9E]
Silicone caulk [https://bit.ly/41rLAfm]
Tools:
Measuring tape [https://amzn.to/3oKVJ8K]
Pencil [https://amzn.to/3HjwmkI]
Level [https://amzn.to/423vokx]
Safety glasses [https://amzn.to/3oR7NFm]
Ear protection [https://amzn.to/41MFZkc]
Grinder with a diamond wheel [https://amzn.to/428ejWR]
Hammer drill [https://amzn.to/3ABcfuy]
SDS masonry drill bit [https://amzn.to/3LbAAMs]
Impact driver [https://amzn.to/3ndFnVJ]
Permanent marker [https://amzn.to/3AEunUg]
Rotary tool [https://amzn.to/41Jq7yW]
Hammer [https://amzn.to/41GBPKA]
Masonry chisel [https://amzn.to/449rh8r]
HEPA Vacuum [https://amzn.to/3VdYdIJ]
Paintbrush [https://amzn.to/40LC3Pt]
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From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home.
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How to Make a Granite Post Sign | Ask This Old House
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