Build It | Channel Letters with Jimmy DiResta

Ask This Old House host Kevin O’Connor heads back to Jimmy DiResta’s shop to build a sign. Click here to SUBSCRIBE to the official This Old House YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=thisoldhouse Time: 2 days Cost: $75 Skill Level: Moderate Tools List for Building Channel Letters: Band saw or jigsaw Drill press or drill Palm sander Hot glue gun Speed square Metal shear scissors Nail gun Screwdriver Shopping List: Plywood Indoor/outdoor string lights Medium grit sandpaper Hot glue sticks 4” flashing Spray paint Painter’s tape Silicone caulking Steps: 1. Trace the chosen letters onto a piece of plywood. 2. Cut out the letters using a band saw or a jigsaw. 3. Count out how many lights are on the string lights. With that number in mind, trace out on the letters where each light will be placed, being sure to space them evenly. 4. Drill holes for each of the lights and sand the letters thoroughly. 5. Cut small spacers out of the remaining plywood. Glue to the back of the letters to allow for space for the wiring. 6. Wrap the flashing around the letters and secure with the hot glue and a nail gun. Use a speed square as a brake when bending the flashing. 7. Cut two pieces of scrap wood the approximate length of the letters. 8. Prime all the letters with spray paint and allow them to dry. Then, paint the inside of the letters with the desired color. 9. Flip all the letters upside down and cover the holes with painter’s tape to prevent paint from spraying to the other side. 10. Spray paint the outside letters with the desired color. Paint the two pieces of scrap wood for the backing the same color. Allow everything to fully dry. 11. Remove all the lightbulbs from the string lights. 12. With the plug on one end of the letters, hot glue each lightbulb socket into each hole in a logical manner. Once the sockets are all in place, secure each connection with silicone caulking. 13. Screw all the lightbulbs back in place. 14. Secure the two backer pieces to the spacers on the letters with wood screws and a hand screwdriver. To make it easier, you can predrill the holes with a drill. Resources:Everything Jimmy and Kevin used to make the channel letters, including the metal flashing, plywood, lights, spray paint, and hot glue, can be found at home centers. Expert assistance for this segment was provided by Jimmy DiResta (https://ift.tt/1wueIzC). Ask This Old House TV Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.   This Old House releases new segments every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday.   Keywords: This Old House, How-to, home improvement, DIY, jimmy diresta, kevin o'connor, build it, workshops, channel letters Watch the full episode: https://ift.tt/2GHrPHG Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House: Facebook: https://ift.tt/1psm4fC Twitter: https://twitter.com/thisoldhouse https://twitter.com/asktoh Pinterest: https://ift.tt/1psm4fE G+: https://ift.tt/1CtsNjJ Instagram: https://ift.tt/1psm1QZ Tumblr: https://ift.tt/1CtsLbH