I was reading this thread and I discovered that pierre and a few others recommended DiBond as an alternative to Alumalite. They cost about the same, so now it's time for me to decide which will work best for this project, here's the facts:
The signs will be 4x6, vinyl-lettered. The client will be mounting/installing them himself I will be cutting an 'arrow' out of the material, and painting it black. The customer will be bolting it on the sign, and may change it in the future (these are directional signs).
So, I'm guessing that the diBond is about as easy to cut/shape as the alumalite. I'm mostly concerned with whether the DiBond is as rigid/strong as the Alumalite.
The two products I'm comparing are Alumalite 6mm and DiBond 3mm.
Thanks for reading, I look forward to your thoughts on this.
-shane
Posted by pierre (Member # 1462) on :
Compare it to 4mm Dibond. Dibond cuts much cleaner and easier, no edge cap required and is strong even in a 4x8 sheet. Alumalite does not bolt well. It compresses and is not actually dead flat. Dibond sands smoothly for paint application. We haven't used Alumalite in 3 years now.
Posted by VICTORGEORGIOU (Member # 474) on :
Alumalite is a very good product, but I favor dibond for the mostly the same reasons the Pierre gives. Vic G
Posted by Monte Jumper (Member # 1106) on :
Dibond ...faaar superior in nealy every way & it will not crush nor warp when you fasten it down with screws...nor will it fill with water when it rains...which means it won't freeze and split during winter weather.
It is however somewhat heavier (if that matters to you)
Posted by Shane French (Member # 2098) on :
Wow, thanks! Glad I asked.
4mm Dibond it is then.
Thanks, Shane
Posted by bronzeo (Member # 1408) on :
Dibond gets my vote for all the reasons above, except its face on bend strength (wind resistance). Alumalite appears to be much stronger in that capacity, otherwise it's Dibond for my uses. I would like to know if any or all that use Dibond, are using it 2 sided with no center supports (just an exterior frame) for a simple 2 sided 4x8, 5x8, or 4x10 application?
I posted a string here about 6 months ago that got quite a bit of attention on this subject. It got a Dibond national rep to my shop. I was pretty suprised to see all its capabilities. You can make great box frames for signs with it by back cutting with a router or tablesaw. You can bend it over a barrel and make a smooth figure S out of it. Can creat a great convex,concave, or wave face on a monument sign. Edges cut smooth with no fill and sand or file smooth quickly if needed at all. Great product now coming in more colors. Jack
Posted by pierre (Member # 1462) on :
Yo....Jack! We typically use redwood 2x4s turned on edge and miter the corners. We rout a 5/8" deep channel, with a 1/4" bit all the way around the inside (of course), fasten three sides together with pre-drilled double screws and "L" angles, slide the 4x8 double sided sheet into the channel and close the open end. Now you can suspend it between 2 posts or screw metal flat-bar hangers to the outside of the frame for chain hanging.
Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
Is there a website we can go to see and learn more about the uses of Dibond? Also, what kind of price difference is there between the the two products?
[ February 09, 2002: Message edited by: Glenn Taylor ]
Posted by pierre (Member # 1462) on :
Yup. Try www.alucobond.com The thin schtuff can be bent and used as a free-standing sign for countertops.
Posted by bronzeo (Member # 1408) on :
Glenn, A Dibond 4x8 sheet 2 mil, white 2 sides is 74.00....A 4 mil is 96.00. Alumalite, I believe is somewhere in between at around 88.00 ....Here is a Dibond sign. I posted it before on the portfolio page, but this is a good example of its capablities. The crown on the top was cut with a sabre saw, filed and itis unbacked. It is 3 mil. Jack
[ February 09, 2002: Message edited by: bronzeo ]
Posted by signstudiosteveestes (Member # 765) on :
Dibond is by far superior. Not only that, but they have donated many thousands of dollars worth of their product to letterhead events.
