making a wooden painted sign for outside using tongue and groove barnboard, should I glue the grooves?

Question

This is a country style decorative sign with painted letters (using stencils), primed with oil based white primer, I want it to look rustic, but I want it strong. The barnboard is roughly 6-10 inches wide and I'm using several pieces assembled together.

First response is very helpful, I was going to assemble the sign before priming, so it will be glued before priming (now that I know it will be ok to glue it. Should I make a frame for backing it using nails or screws and some small dimension lumber or would the glue be sufficent (will weigh 10 pounds or so I calculate). I was thinking the frame (like an open faced box smaller than the total front) would lift it off the fence or wall where it will be hung and add some appeal. When I say rustic, I think although I intend to paint it, the feel and roughness of the wood shows through the painted surface. What do you think?

Answer 1

if you want it to hold together...glue it. you could either use tradition Elmer's wood glue or gorilla glue, make sure to clamp it until it is dry, if you don't have wood clamps use rope. I hope you didn't prime the tongue and groove areas? the glue needs to soak into the wood for best results.
can I ask? why did you prime it if you wanted to rustic look? what I do is apply a coat of paint (typically latex paint) with a wallpaper brush to give it that worn rustic look (if it doesn't still have old paint on it from the barn), after painting I sand off the edges to make it look more rustic then I use a really good stain to protect it. another way to make the sign look very rustic is to buy "crackle". paint your base color such as black, let dry, brush on the "crackle" let sit until it is tacky, then apply a second color such as cream...the crackle will split the second coat of paint in places and make it looked cracked and worn. then sand the edges and coat with stain.
crackle can be purchased at any craft or home improvement store in the paint dept.....just giving you other options...lol

*edit*add the bracing if it is going to weigh that much. as for wanting the roughness of the wood to show through....try the paint and wallpaper brush technique. the brush is very stiff and when you paint the wood with it it will drag across the wood surface leaving some areas with paint and some with out...if you get too much paint on and do not like how it looks you can let it dry and sand some of it off. here is a couple of pic's of an entertainment cabinet I made using that painting technique on 150 yr old barn wood
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i77/gardenangel42/100_2221.jpg
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i77/gardenangel42/100_2220.jpg

Answer 2

In your added details you've pretty much answered the question of bracing. That too can be glued. For all of it however I'd use an exterior/or water restistant Construction grade adhesive, like liquid nails. The attaching of the bracing frame can be done from either side, if you have the design to counter sink, or cover screw heads from the face side. Most obviously the entire thing should be fabricated before ever apply any paint or finish graphics, etc.

Answer 3

nope

Answer 4

defiantly