diff --git a/src/client-cohttp-lwt/opentelemetry_client_cohttp_lwt.ml b/src/client-cohttp-lwt/opentelemetry_client_cohttp_lwt.ml
index 3ea9c317..fcdc611a 100644
--- a/src/client-cohttp-lwt/opentelemetry_client_cohttp_lwt.ml
+++ b/src/client-cohttp-lwt/opentelemetry_client_cohttp_lwt.ml
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 
 module OT = Opentelemetry
 module Config = Config
+module Signal = Opentelemetry_client.Signal
 open Opentelemetry
 open Common_
 
@@ -270,6 +271,7 @@ end
 let mk_emitter ~stop ~(config : Config.t) () : (module EMITTER) =
   let open Proto in
   let open Lwt.Syntax in
+  let module Conv = Signal.Converter in
   (* local helpers *)
   let open struct
     let timeout =
@@ -291,10 +293,7 @@ let mk_emitter ~stop ~(config : Config.t) () : (module EMITTER) =
 
     let set_on_tick_callbacks = Atomic.set on_tick_cbs_
 
-    let send_http_ (httpc : Httpc.t) encoder ~url ~encode x : unit Lwt.t =
-      Pbrt.Encoder.reset encoder;
-      encode x encoder;
-      let data = Pbrt.Encoder.to_string encoder in
+    let send_http_ (httpc : Httpc.t) ~url data : unit Lwt.t =
       let* r = Httpc.send httpc ~url ~decode:(`Ret ()) data in
       match r with
       | Ok () -> Lwt.return ()
@@ -309,57 +308,41 @@ let mk_emitter ~stop ~(config : Config.t) () : (module EMITTER) =
         (* avoid crazy error loop *)
         Lwt_unix.sleep 3.
 
-    let send_metrics_http curl encoder (l : Metrics.resource_metrics list list)
-        =
-      let l = List.fold_left (fun acc l -> List.rev_append l acc) [] l in
-      let x =
-        Metrics_service.default_export_metrics_service_request
-          ~resource_metrics:l ()
-      in
-      let url = config.url_metrics in
-      send_http_ curl encoder ~url
-        ~encode:Metrics_service.encode_pb_export_metrics_service_request x
+    let send_metrics_http client (l : Metrics.resource_metrics list) =
+      Conv.metrics l |> send_http_ client ~url:config.url_metrics
 
-    let send_traces_http curl encoder (l : Trace.resource_spans list list) =
-      let l = List.fold_left (fun acc l -> List.rev_append l acc) [] l in
-      let x =
-        Trace_service.default_export_trace_service_request ~resource_spans:l ()
-      in
-      let url = config.url_traces in
-      send_http_ curl encoder ~url
-        ~encode:Trace_service.encode_pb_export_trace_service_request x
+    let send_traces_http client (l : Trace.resource_spans list) =
+      Conv.traces l |> send_http_ client ~url:config.url_traces
 
-    let send_logs_http curl encoder (l : Logs.resource_logs list list) =
-      let l = List.fold_left (fun acc l -> List.rev_append l acc) [] l in
-      let x =
-        Logs_service.default_export_logs_service_request ~resource_logs:l ()
-      in
-      let url = config.url_logs in
-      send_http_ curl encoder ~url
-        ~encode:Logs_service.encode_pb_export_logs_service_request x
+    let send_logs_http client (l : Logs.resource_logs list) =
+      Conv.logs l |> send_http_ client ~url:config.url_logs
+
+    let maybe_pop ?force ~now batch =
+      Batch.pop_if_ready ?force ~now batch
+      |> Option.map (List.fold_left (fun acc l -> List.rev_append l acc) [])
 
     (* emit metrics, if the batch is full or timeout lapsed *)
-    let emit_metrics_maybe ~now ?force httpc encoder : bool Lwt.t =
-      match Batch.pop_if_ready ?force ~now batch_metrics with
+    let emit_metrics_maybe ~now ?force httpc : bool Lwt.t =
+      match maybe_pop ?force ~now batch_metrics with
       | None -> Lwt.return false
       | Some l ->
-        let batch = !gc_metrics :: l in
+        let batch = !gc_metrics @ l in
         gc_metrics := [];
-        let+ () = send_metrics_http httpc encoder batch in
+        let+ () = send_metrics_http httpc batch in
         true
 
-    let emit_traces_maybe ~now ?force httpc encoder : bool Lwt.t =
-      match Batch.pop_if_ready ?force ~now batch_traces with
+    let emit_traces_maybe ~now ?force httpc : bool Lwt.t =
+      match maybe_pop ?force ~now batch_traces with
       | None -> Lwt.return false
       | Some l ->
-        let+ () = send_traces_http httpc encoder l in
+        let+ () = send_traces_http httpc l in
         true
 
-    let emit_logs_maybe ~now ?force httpc encoder : bool Lwt.t =
-      match Batch.pop_if_ready ?force ~now batch_logs with
+    let emit_logs_maybe ~now ?force httpc : bool Lwt.t =
+      match maybe_pop ?force ~now batch_logs with
       | None -> Lwt.return false
       | Some l ->
-        let+ () = send_logs_http httpc encoder l in
+        let+ () = send_logs_http httpc l in
         true
 
     let[@inline] guard_exn_ where f =
@@ -370,24 +353,11 @@ let mk_emitter ~stop ~(config : Config.t) () : (module EMITTER) =
           "opentelemetry-curl: uncaught exception in %s: %s\n%s\n%!" where
           (Printexc.to_string e) bt
 
-    let emit_all_force (httpc : Httpc.t) encoder : unit Lwt.t =
+    let emit_all_force (httpc : Httpc.t) : unit Lwt.t =
       let now = Mtime_clock.now () in
-      let+ (_ : bool) = emit_traces_maybe ~now ~force:true httpc encoder
-      and+ (_ : bool) = emit_logs_maybe ~now ~force:true httpc encoder
-      and+ (_ : bool) = emit_metrics_maybe ~now ~force:true httpc encoder in
-      ()
-
-    let tick_common_ () =
-      if Config.Env.get_debug () then
-        Printf.eprintf "tick (from %d)\n%!" (tid ());
-      sample_gc_metrics_if_needed ();
-      List.iter
-        (fun f ->
-          try f ()
-          with e ->
-            Printf.eprintf "on tick callback raised: %s\n"
-              (Printexc.to_string e))
-        (AList.get @@ Atomic.get on_tick_cbs_);
+      let+ (_ : bool) = emit_traces_maybe ~now ~force:true httpc
+      and+ (_ : bool) = emit_logs_maybe ~now ~force:true httpc
+      and+ (_ : bool) = emit_metrics_maybe ~now ~force:true httpc in
       ()
 
     (* thread that calls [tick()] regularly, to help enforce timeouts *)
@@ -404,7 +374,6 @@ let mk_emitter ~stop ~(config : Config.t) () : (module EMITTER) =
       Lwt.async tick_thread
   end in
   let httpc = Httpc.create () in
-  let encoder = Pbrt.Encoder.create () in
 
   let module M = struct
     (* we make sure that this is thread-safe, even though we don't have a
@@ -417,7 +386,7 @@ let mk_emitter ~stop ~(config : Config.t) () : (module EMITTER) =
       Batch.push' batch_traces e;
       let now = Mtime_clock.now () in
       Lwt.async (fun () ->
-          let+ (_ : bool) = emit_traces_maybe ~now httpc encoder in
+          let+ (_ : bool) = emit_traces_maybe ~now httpc in
           ())
 
     let push_metrics e =
@@ -426,7 +395,7 @@ let mk_emitter ~stop ~(config : Config.t) () : (module EMITTER) =
       Batch.push' batch_metrics e;
       let now = Mtime_clock.now () in
       Lwt.async (fun () ->
-          let+ (_ : bool) = emit_metrics_maybe ~now httpc encoder in
+          let+ (_ : bool) = emit_metrics_maybe ~now httpc in
           ())
 
     let push_logs e =
@@ -434,18 +403,26 @@ let mk_emitter ~stop ~(config : Config.t) () : (module EMITTER) =
       Batch.push' batch_logs e;
       let now = Mtime_clock.now () in
       Lwt.async (fun () ->
-          let+ (_ : bool) = emit_logs_maybe ~now httpc encoder in
+          let+ (_ : bool) = emit_logs_maybe ~now httpc in
           ())
 
     let set_on_tick_callbacks = set_on_tick_callbacks
 
     let tick_ () =
-      tick_common_ ();
+      if Config.Env.get_debug () then
+        Printf.eprintf "tick (from %d)\n%!" (tid ());
       sample_gc_metrics_if_needed ();
+      List.iter
+        (fun f ->
+          try f ()
+          with e ->
+            Printf.eprintf "on tick callback raised: %s\n"
+              (Printexc.to_string e))
+        (AList.get @@ Atomic.get on_tick_cbs_);
       let now = Mtime_clock.now () in
-      let+ (_ : bool) = emit_traces_maybe ~now httpc encoder
-      and+ (_ : bool) = emit_logs_maybe ~now httpc encoder
-      and+ (_ : bool) = emit_metrics_maybe ~now httpc encoder in
+      let+ (_ : bool) = emit_traces_maybe ~now httpc
+      and+ (_ : bool) = emit_logs_maybe ~now httpc
+      and+ (_ : bool) = emit_metrics_maybe ~now httpc in
       ()
 
     let () = setup_ticker_thread ~tick:tick_ ~finally:ignore ()
@@ -457,7 +434,7 @@ let mk_emitter ~stop ~(config : Config.t) () : (module EMITTER) =
       if Config.Env.get_debug () then
         Printf.eprintf "opentelemetry: exiting…\n%!";
       Lwt.async (fun () ->
-          let* () = emit_all_force httpc encoder in
+          let* () = emit_all_force httpc in
           Httpc.cleanup httpc;
           on_done ();
           Lwt.return ())
diff --git a/src/client-ocurl/opentelemetry_client_ocurl.ml b/src/client-ocurl/opentelemetry_client_ocurl.ml
index 1c4e400e..c0e5eaaa 100644
--- a/src/client-ocurl/opentelemetry_client_ocurl.ml
+++ b/src/client-ocurl/opentelemetry_client_ocurl.ml
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 
 module OT = Opentelemetry
 module Config = Config
+module Self_trace = Opentelemetry_client.Self_trace
+module Signal = Opentelemetry_client.Signal
 open Opentelemetry
 include Common_
 
@@ -21,28 +23,6 @@ let timeout_gc_metrics = Mtime.Span.(20 * s)
 (** side channel for GC, appended to metrics batch data *)
 let gc_metrics = AList.make ()
 
-(** Mini tracing module (disabled if [config.self_trace=false]) *)
-module Self_trace = struct
-  let enabled = Atomic.make true
-
-  let add_event (scope : Scope.t) ev = Scope.add_event scope (fun () -> ev)
-
-  let dummy_trace_id_ = Trace_id.create ()
-
-  let dummy_span_id = Span_id.create ()
-
-  let with_ ?kind ?attrs name f =
-    if Atomic.get enabled then
-      Opentelemetry.Trace.with_ ?kind ?attrs name f
-    else (
-      (* do nothing *)
-      let scope =
-        Scope.make ~trace_id:dummy_trace_id_ ~span_id:dummy_span_id ()
-      in
-      f scope
-    )
-end
-
 (** capture current GC metrics if {!needs_gc_metrics} is true or it has been a
     long time since the last GC metrics collection, and push them into
     {!gc_metrics} for later collection *)
@@ -151,21 +131,11 @@ end = struct
     mutable send_threads: Thread.t array;  (** Threads that send data via http *)
   }
 
-  let send_http_ ~stop ~(config : Config.t) (client : Curl.t) encoder ~url
-      ~encode x : unit =
+  let send_http_ ~stop ~(config : Config.t) (client : Curl.t) ~url data : unit =
     let@ _sc =
       Self_trace.with_ ~kind:Span.Span_kind_producer "otel-ocurl.send-http"
     in
 
-    let data =
-      let@ _sc =
-        Self_trace.with_ ~kind:Span.Span_kind_internal "encode-proto"
-      in
-      Pbrt.Encoder.reset encoder;
-      encode x encoder;
-      Pbrt.Encoder.to_string encoder
-    in
-
     if Config.Env.get_debug () then
       Printf.eprintf "opentelemetry: send http POST to %s (%dB)\n%!" url
         (String.length data);
@@ -215,68 +185,36 @@ end = struct
       (* avoid crazy error loop *)
       Thread.delay 3.
 
-  let send_logs_http ~stop ~config (client : Curl.t) encoder
-      (l : Logs.resource_logs list list) : unit =
-    let l = List.fold_left (fun acc l -> List.rev_append l acc) [] l in
-    let@ _sp =
-      Self_trace.with_ ~kind:Span_kind_producer "send-logs"
-        ~attrs:[ "n", `Int (List.length l) ]
-    in
-
-    let x =
-      Logs_service.default_export_logs_service_request ~resource_logs:l ()
-    in
-    send_http_ ~stop ~config client encoder ~url:config.Config.common.url_logs
-      ~encode:Logs_service.encode_pb_export_logs_service_request x
-
-  let send_metrics_http ~stop ~config curl encoder
-      (l : Metrics.resource_metrics list list) : unit =
-    let l = List.fold_left (fun acc l -> List.rev_append l acc) [] l in
-    let@ _sp =
-      Self_trace.with_ ~kind:Span_kind_producer "send-metrics"
-        ~attrs:[ "n", `Int (List.length l) ]
-    in
-
-    let x =
-      Metrics_service.default_export_metrics_service_request ~resource_metrics:l
-        ()
-    in
-    send_http_ ~stop ~config curl encoder ~url:config.Config.common.url_metrics
-      ~encode:Metrics_service.encode_pb_export_metrics_service_request x
-
-  let send_traces_http ~stop ~config curl encoder
-      (l : Trace.resource_spans list list) : unit =
-    let l = List.fold_left (fun acc l -> List.rev_append l acc) [] l in
-    let@ _sp =
-      Self_trace.with_ ~kind:Span_kind_producer "send-traces"
-        ~attrs:[ "n", `Int (List.length l) ]
-    in
-
-    let x =
-      Trace_service.default_export_trace_service_request ~resource_spans:l ()
-    in
-    send_http_ ~stop ~config curl encoder ~url:config.Config.common.url_traces
-      ~encode:Trace_service.encode_pb_export_trace_service_request x
-
   let[@inline] send_event (self : t) ev : unit = B_queue.push self.q ev
 
   (** Thread that, in a loop, reads from [q] to get the next message to send via
       http *)
   let bg_thread_loop (self : t) : unit =
     Ezcurl.with_client ?set_opts:None @@ fun client ->
-    let stop = self.stop in
     let config = self.config in
-    let encoder = Pbrt.Encoder.create () in
+    let stop = self.stop in
+    let send ~name ~url ~conv signals =
+      let l = List.fold_left (fun acc l -> List.rev_append l acc) [] signals in
+      let@ _sp =
+        Self_trace.with_ ~kind:Span_kind_producer name
+          ~attrs:[ "n", `Int (List.length l) ]
+      in
+      conv l |> send_http_ ~stop ~config ~url client
+    in
+    let module Conv = Signal.Converter in
     try
       while not (Atomic.get stop) do
         let msg = B_queue.pop self.send_q in
         match msg with
         | To_send.Send_trace tr ->
-          send_traces_http ~stop ~config client encoder tr
+          send ~name:"send-traces" ~conv:Conv.traces
+            ~url:config.common.url_traces tr
         | To_send.Send_metric ms ->
-          send_metrics_http ~stop ~config client encoder ms
+          send ~name:"send-metrics" ~conv:Conv.metrics
+            ~url:config.common.url_metrics ms
         | To_send.Send_logs logs ->
-          send_logs_http ~stop ~config client encoder logs
+          send ~name:"send-logs" ~conv:Conv.logs ~url:config.common.url_logs
+            logs
       done
     with B_queue.Closed -> ()
 
@@ -513,7 +451,7 @@ let setup_ ?(stop = Atomic.make false) ?(config : Config.t = Config.make ()) ()
   let backend = create_backend ~stop ~config () in
   Opentelemetry.Collector.set_backend backend;
 
-  Atomic.set Self_trace.enabled config.common.self_trace;
+  Self_trace.set_enabled config.common.self_trace;
 
   if config.ticker_thread then (
     (* at most a minute *)
diff --git a/src/client/client.ml b/src/client/client.ml
index 7a911ad0..fa69c983 100644
--- a/src/client/client.ml
+++ b/src/client/client.ml
@@ -4,3 +4,5 @@
     and [opentelemetry-client-ocurl] packages package. *)
 
 module Config = Config
+module Signal = Signal
+module Self_trace = Self_trace
diff --git a/src/client/dune b/src/client/dune
index 2bc4e4a5..da204f79 100644
--- a/src/client/dune
+++ b/src/client/dune
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 (library
  (name opentelemetry_client)
  (public_name opentelemetry.client)
+ (libraries opentelemetry pbrt)
  (synopsis "Common types and logic shared between client implementations"))
diff --git a/src/client/self_trace.ml b/src/client/self_trace.ml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..62d04cae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/client/self_trace.ml
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+module OT = Opentelemetry
+
+let enabled = Atomic.make true
+
+let add_event (scope : OT.Scope.t) ev = OT.Scope.add_event scope (fun () -> ev)
+
+let dummy_trace_id_ = OT.Trace_id.dummy
+
+let dummy_span_id = OT.Span_id.dummy
+
+let with_ ?kind ?attrs name f =
+  if Atomic.get enabled then
+    OT.Trace.with_ ?kind ?attrs name f
+  else (
+    (* A new scope is needed here because it might be modified *)
+    let scope =
+      OT.Scope.make ~trace_id:dummy_trace_id_ ~span_id:dummy_span_id ()
+    in
+    f scope
+  )
+
+let set_enabled b = Atomic.set enabled b
diff --git a/src/client/self_trace.mli b/src/client/self_trace.mli
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d0690f02
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/client/self_trace.mli
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+(** Mini tracing module (disabled if [config.self_trace=false]) *)
+
+val add_event : Opentelemetry.Scope.t -> Opentelemetry.Event.t -> unit
+
+val with_ :
+  ?kind:Opentelemetry.Span_kind.t ->
+  ?attrs:(string * Opentelemetry.value) list ->
+  string ->
+  (Opentelemetry.Scope.t -> 'a) ->
+  'a
+
+val set_enabled : bool -> unit
diff --git a/src/client/signal.ml b/src/client/signal.ml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..691cc6f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/client/signal.ml
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+module Trace_service = Opentelemetry.Proto.Trace_service
+module Metrics_service = Opentelemetry.Proto.Metrics_service
+module Logs_service = Opentelemetry.Proto.Logs_service
+module Span = Opentelemetry.Span
+
+let ( let@ ) = ( @@ )
+
+module Converter = struct
+  let resource_to_string ~encoder ~ctor ~enc resource =
+    let encoder =
+      match encoder with
+      | Some e -> e
+      | None -> Pbrt.Encoder.create ()
+    in
+    let x = ctor resource in
+    let@ _sc = Self_trace.with_ ~kind:Span.Span_kind_internal "encode-proto" in
+    Pbrt.Encoder.reset encoder;
+    enc x encoder;
+    Pbrt.Encoder.to_string encoder
+
+  let logs ?encoder resource_logs =
+    resource_logs
+    |> resource_to_string ~encoder
+         ~ctor:(fun r ->
+           Logs_service.default_export_logs_service_request ~resource_logs:r ())
+         ~enc:Logs_service.encode_pb_export_logs_service_request
+
+  let metrics ?encoder resource_metrics =
+    resource_metrics
+    |> resource_to_string ~encoder
+         ~ctor:(fun r ->
+           Metrics_service.default_export_metrics_service_request
+             ~resource_metrics:r ())
+         ~enc:Metrics_service.encode_pb_export_metrics_service_request
+
+  let traces ?encoder resource_spans =
+    resource_spans
+    |> resource_to_string ~encoder
+         ~ctor:(fun r ->
+           Trace_service.default_export_trace_service_request ~resource_spans:r
+             ())
+         ~enc:Trace_service.encode_pb_export_trace_service_request
+end
diff --git a/src/client/signal.mli b/src/client/signal.mli
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ef2a6e24
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/client/signal.mli
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+(** Constructing and managing OTel
+    {{:https://opentelemetry.io/docs/concepts/signals/} signals} *)
+
+(** Convert signals to protobuf encoded strings, ready to be sent over the wire
+
+    NOTE: The converters share an underlying stateful encoder, so each domain or
+    system thread should have its own [Converter] instance *)
+module Converter : sig
+  val logs :
+    ?encoder:Pbrt.Encoder.t ->
+    Opentelemetry_proto.Logs.resource_logs list ->
+    string
+  (** [logs ls] is a protobuf encoded string of the logs [ls]
+
+      @param encoder provide an encoder state to reuse *)
+
+  val metrics :
+    ?encoder:Pbrt.Encoder.t ->
+    Opentelemetry_proto.Metrics.resource_metrics list ->
+    string
+  (** [metrics ms] is a protobuf encoded string of the metrics [ms]
+      @param encoder provide an encoder state to reuse *)
+
+  val traces :
+    ?encoder:Pbrt.Encoder.t ->
+    Opentelemetry_proto.Trace.resource_spans list ->
+    string
+  (** [metrics ts] is a protobuf encoded string of the traces [ts]
+
+      @param encoder provide an encoder state to reuse *)
+end