posted
Plain & Simple: I HATE MDO. With a passion. I love Alumalite and it is also a Pennsylvania product. It's light but sturdy, easy to cut, and comes in some nice colors. It is made by Laminators, Inc. 1-800-523-2347. They also make OmegaBoard. And they have always donated nice stuff to my meets. Love...JILL
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Give me MDO over alumilite everytime...now ask me about Dibond...thats a different story ...I love Dibond...no crushing from mounting hardware ...no dog earing...no special trim that won't stay on anyway...it's more ridgid...it doesn't collect moisture in the flutes (aint got none)...and the cost is about the same.
Sorry ...it's just a better product...for me anyway!
-------------------- "Werks fer me...it'll werk fer you"
posted
I'm with you on this Monte, Although the other substrates have their place, to me Dibond is a classier act and I can actually get it cheaper than it's corrugated counterparts.
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
To me alumalite is a poor substrate. Coroplast with 040 guage metal glued to it. Too flimsy. Haven't used dibond either. TO me, MDO is the perfect substrate. Easily cut and shaped, seal the edges and you're ready to coat out. I use it for all my signs.
-------------------- Maker of fine signs and other creative stuff. Located at 109 N. Cumberland ave. Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-837-0242 Posts: 4172 | From: Ages-Brookside, Ky. Up the Holler... | Registered: Jul 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
We've used all three dibond, alumalite, and MDO. At this point, the only thing we use MDO for is arrow signs. (that is only because of the HWY dept regulations) DiBond and Alumalite are both great products. The edges do not need special attention, and they are light products to work with. Try and tell a customer that the MDO finish is going to last 10 years with out fading or chipping (Alumalite warranty). We have had delamination on two of our signs, in which Laminators stood behind their word, and reimbursed us for our problems with their product. We are happy and more importantly our customers are also happy. We have been using the alumalite for 5+ years now and as stated above, have only had two signs fail. Other than that, I would say the aluminum products are the way to go!
-------------------- Lauri Goretski Custom Murals N6334 HWY 107 TOMAHAWK WI 54487 CustomMurals1@aol.com Posts: 127 | From: Tomahawk Wi | Registered: Apr 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Garston doesn't seem to ever have what I need when it comes to MDO. I've been using Dibond lately and love it. The rep at Garston said that most shops aren't using MDO anymore. I don't miss the prep, that's for sure!
-------------------- Terry Baird Baird Signs 3484 West Lake Rd. Canandaigua, NY 14424 Posts: 790 | From: Canandaigua, New York | Registered: Dec 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
I also like Dibond. The only down side is that for a larger free standing sign, say 5 ft., mounted between two posts i think you would need to reinforce it.
Thanks, Steve
-------------------- Steve Racz Racz's Handcarved Signs Posts: 1078 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Jan 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
I vote for diabond too. Try to find a sample of it and compare it to the alumilite. You'll see what everyone is talking about. I do still use mdo for some signs, especially shaped farm signs mounted between posts. It seems more sturdy for that application. By the way, make sure you charge more for it. It will save you tons of prep time, so you may be tempted to give it away at the same price as mdo. As soon as you say, "Diabond carries a 10 year manufacturers warranty against cracking, peeling, fading, etc." they always go for it. I charge $100.00 more per 4X8 for the upgrade to diabond.
Suelynn
-------------------- "It is never too late to be what you might have been." -George Eliot
Suelynn Sedor Sedor Signs Carnduff, SK Canada Posts: 2863 | From: Carnduff, SK Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
![[Dunno]](graemlins/dunno.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic