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If you’ve been hanging out here at Canvas Sign Designs for some time, then you know we’re all about quality. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – the type of materials you use to make your door hangers will make all the difference. What better way to make yours than by starting off on the right foot? Your wood is the base for your door hanger, and when you use the right one, you’ll have high-quality, long-lasting, signs.

There are three different types of wood I would recommend, all able to be purchased either at Lowe’s or Home Depot. You can typically find them in large 4′ x 8′ sheets, which should be plenty of wood for several signs. If you have a small vehicle, ask them to cut the sheets down into sizable pieces that can fit (this will cost more). In all our signs, we use ¼” thick wood (it is important to get the right thickness before picking out wood to take home!)

MDF

This is what we use at Canvas Sign Designs. It is a heavier wood but is easy to sand down into a smooth finish, and doesn’t splinter, which makes it easy to glide your acrylic paint on. 

MDF stands for medium-density fiberboard. It’s made by breaking down hardwood and softwood and contains tiny wood fibers, so it won’t have any wood grains or knots. The wood fibers are fused together by wax at high temperatures/pressures. Because of this makeup, it won’t stain, so it is best to just use it for painting purposes. 

Underlayment

Underlayment does have a wood grain and will need to be sanded down before painting. It’s lightweight and easy to carry. Once you have sanded down the cutout, it’s easy to paint as well. Underlayment splinters a lot, so when sanding, be cautious of wood splinters sticking out and be sure to sand them all the way down. If you don’t, your paint will look textured, and the splinters will eventually pop off, causing a chip in your design. 

Birch

Birch has more of a wood grain, which is rough and heavy, so it can be difficult to paint. However, it does soak up paint better than other types, so it is less likely to fade over time. Even though it has a rough texture, it’s lightweight and much easier to sand than underlayment. 

There are so many different types of wood to craft with – different types for all different types of signs (think porch learners, etc.), but these three are the best quality and easiest to use when making DIY wooden door hangers. 

Get the help you need to make your own door hangers!

Want more tips like these? Head over to the Signmaker’s Society waitlist. Our online membership is the place where you can paint door hangers with us every month! It’s a great way to get started with your favorite hobby. You’ll learn literally everything you could possibly need to know to make your own signs. Make sure you get in on that waitlist now so you’ll know as soon as we’re open for new members.