Things You'll Need:
- Wooden board (or)
- Thick metal sheet
- Black paint
- White paint
- Paintbrush
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Letter stencils
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Step 1
Cut a thin wooden board to the size you want your one-way sign project to be. If you'd rather, use sheet metal. Purchase the correct type of paint for the material you choose. Sand the edges of the wooden board or file the metal to remove all burrs and splinters.
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Step 2
Paint the entire sign surface with a primer coat of either white or black paint. This will seal the wood or metal so the sign pattern can be painted on top. One-way signs can have either black or white backgrounds, so choose whichever you prefer. Allow this coat to dry completely before continuing.
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Step 3
Measure one quarter of the way down the long side of the sign and draw a straight line vertically across the board. Find the center of the short side of the sign and draw a dot there. Use a straightedge tool or ruler to make lines running from this center point to the line you drew previously. This will be the pointer end of the one way arrow.
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Step 4
Locate the center of the other short end of the one-way sign board and draw a horizontal line connecting the two center points. Measure the halfway point of both the top and bottom parts of the sign board, above and below the center line. Draw horizontal lines from each of these points to the vertical arrow line you drew in Step 3.
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Step 5
Paint the arrow shape on the one-way sign white. If you made the background of the sign white, paint a thick black line around the outside of the arrow shape so it is easily visible. Allow this to dry completely.
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Step 6
Use letter stencils to paint the words "One Way" on the arrow. Large block letters work best for one-way signs. You can use a stencil brush or sponge to paint the letters while the stencils are on the board, or use a pencil to trace the letter and later fill in the words with black paint.
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Step 7
Coat the dry one-way sign with a clear coat of sealant or varnish if the sign is to be used outside. Mount the one-way sign on a pole or use screw-in hooks or wires to make hanging it easier. Display it prominently to manage traffic flow.
