American Decal is a company that makes a pretty nice looking one now....but they have terrible shipping dates...SparCal carries their product if you can find someone who has it in stock...but it tends to be extremely brittle (chips into little pieces easily, hard to weed because it tears off into it's own path etc.)

I know Sign Gold makes stuff...but it's way to expensive for what my customers would be willing to pay...probably because it's got real gold in it. One jam-up in the plotter and you can lose your butt on the job.

Just wondering if you had any other sources. I can say I know of a new goldleaf vinyl that is coming out mid-end of February....but I can't say much more than that...as it has to be announced by the manufacturer...but it's supposed to be outdoor durable and UV resistant....

Looking for a couple sources. Thanks.
 

We have found that most of the imatation gold leaf is not rated for outdoor use of any significant time.

We used the Scar-Cal on a trailer and within a year (10-11 months) the edges were turning green. It was supposed to be for short term (3-4 months) so we weren't concerned with the longevity and neither was the client. it suited the need quite well.

We use the Signgold for any work that has to be somewhat permanent. It just isn't worth the savings to have to re-do something. like you said, the Spar-Cal is a bugger to get off.

The Signgold is a superior product and worth the expense. Hey, could Karen Souza be wrong? i figure if it is good enough for her to use then it sure as heck has to be good enough for us.

Hope this helps. Have a great one!
 

The GoldLeaf I'm talking about is a 5 year product. I can say this because I used to work for Spartan International (Spar-Cal being their sign vinyl brand name). It's been sold and is still being used on OEM products and warranted for 5 year durability...I have the stuff on 3 vehicles (personally) and it's been at least 4 years and it looks great. But granted, a horrific nightmare to work with...so maybe that's where SignGold is worth it...more money...less time monkeying around.

Maybe I could pitch it as an option against the other stuff the next time I get the chance. I haven't worked with it before.

I have a new cutter, and need to get comfortable with it before trashing out $40 a yard material...that could get expensive.

Karen...can you give me some detail about the SignGold? Conformability/or not? Does it mark up easily? Can you apply it with the "wet" method if desired? Any other positive characteristics you can think of? I see that the lifespan is quite impressive.

Thanks Vic, for your suggestion too. I'll research that.
 

OK.. OK... I'm not Karen... she is much better looking... and nicer, too! LOL! I know she wouldn't use anything that would jeopardize her reputation and neither would we.

We use the stuff both wet and dry. It really depends on the application. I do like to use the clear Transfer-Rite to use with the Signgold. It makes the registration over outlines/shades and such so much easier.

I really like using the Signgold. It works great for us and I recommend it highly. I hope this helps you out.

Have a great one!
 

I've used it wet and dry. Both work. It's nowhere as beautiful as a leaf job, but it sure is more durable.

Last weekend I was cruising through San Francisco and it's so obvious when you see a real gold job on a window and a Signgold window. They don't compare as far as brilliance and beauty.

SignGold makes us money. Gold is personnaly rewarding, and occassionally brings in some big bucks.

The other sticky back golds we've tried have failed within a couple years.
 

Do you guys tell your customer's what kind of "lifespan" they should expect out of their signs? Just curious...in fact, I think I'll post that one.

Thanks again, and I'll give SignGold a test.
 

Have a successful 2002.