I've been following John Deatons post about substitutions for mdo. I like to use diabond, but my supplier told me many are using 1/2" intecel for 4X8's now. He says you can paint it, cut it, apply vinyl and it isn't supposed to yellow. I ordered a sheet and plan on trying it. I realize it will expand and contract, so that will have to be taken into consideration when installing.
I'd love to hear pros/cons/tips/advice from anyone using these products. I just can't seem to trust that the paint won't flake off when it starts to "breathe". I'm also curious about installation. Do you use washers behind the screws? Will it become brittle?
Suelynn
Posted by dveenema (Member # 833) on :
It's okay inside. That's it. Again I repeat inside. I don't like having to do signs over for free. For temp signs I use 1/2" coroplast, and permanent stuff .080 aluminum. Nothing else. No more experiments.
Posted by Ron Helliar (Member # 398) on :
[ July 03, 2003, 10:19 PM: Message edited by: Ron Helliar ]
Posted by Marty Happy (Member # 302) on :
Hi Suelynn,
A few weeks ago I saw several 1/2" intecel 3-panel billboards at a ballpark and there were cracks at just about every spot the intecel was screwed into the 2x4 wood stringers. I have a feeling these panels will completely fall away from the frame in another year or two or a strong wind storm. I don't think it's worth the hassle espcially when it's not that much a saving from Dibond.
Posted by Murray MacDonald (Member # 3558) on :
We have used alot - shapes well, holds paint well. Nice to use for die cut letters - can't be painted with dark colours or it will warp. Don't ever use vinyl so can't tell what would happen. Some thing have been out for 3 years & seem great. Make sure you overdrill holes.
Posted by Suelynn Sedor (Member # 442) on :
Okay, here's another question. When you use diabond for a 4X8, is it really strong enough to put up on two posts, or do you have to use extra stringers compared to mdo?
Suelynn
Posted by Murray MacDonald (Member # 3558) on :
No, you cannot mount it on 2 posts, but it will work with several stringers. It will need more support than a sheet of MDO. I just installed a 32' x 4' on the 2nd floor roof of a bldg on our harbourfront and used one vertical support every 8' and and four 1" x 4" stringers horizontally. Might have been overkill, but we get fairly strong winds off the lake and it's easier to overbuild than to run into problems later.
Deb
Posted by Suelynn Sedor (Member # 442) on :
Thanks Deb,
Thats what I was wondering.
Suelynn
Posted by Mark Sheflo (Member # 3608) on :
From experience I'll back up what Muray had to say. Our shop tried using Intecel for a cut to shape logo on the south side of a building. Still in place as far as I know. The problem was during the install on a slightly warm day. Our installer set the dark navy blue 36" diameter circle of 1/2" Intecel on the ground while he install some of the other copy. when he came back to it in just 5-10 minutes it had aquired a new shape, convex! We have never used it for that application again.
Posted by Tim Whitcher (Member # 685) on :
A few years ago, I figured I'd try it outdoors. I had planned to cut a sheet into 1x4 panels for individual tenant signs (to be attached to a wall). I wasn't in my shop when my supplier delivered, so he layed the sheet on my loading dock. Full sun, 90 degree day. When I came in, it looked like a fried strip of bacon. Scary. Never tried an exterior application.
