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As Chef on South Park says.. HELLO CHILLUN!
Haven't been around for way too long. I'm sure I've missed tons of fun and comradarie (I can't believe Letterville didn't collapse in my absence!) OK, so my terribly exciting post asks "What's better to sandwhich a sheet of PVC between 2 sheets of HDU? Gorrilla Glue or West System Epoxy? Those are your only choices 'cause I ain't got nuthin' else.
I'll search past topics. This has probably been asked a gazillion times, but I really did want to say hi to everyone.
Mark
-------------------- Mark Rogan The Great Barrington Sign Company 2 Stilwell Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230 mark@gbsignco.com
"Sometimes I think my head is so big because it is so full of fonts" Posts: 332 | From: Great Barrington, MA | Registered: Mar 2003
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Hi Mark. I work with Plywood between the Sign Foam. Aplly the West System Epoxy on the edge of the Plywood,and the next day make the sandwich with Sign Foam and use the Gorilla Glue. For me this combination is better and its very strong. The signs with PVC between of HDU is not very strong and is elastic. Greetings from Greece..!! Periandros
Contact Joe McKernan of Danthonia Designs in Inverell, New South Wales, Australia. I know they do A LOT with HDU mounted to PVC. Beautiful work they do there, and a great life style to boot! (check them & Joe out in the most recent Sign Craft, pg 82)
Jo McKernan, joemck@danthoniadesigns.com.au or I believe Danthonia has a U.S. shop now in New York. Call Bob Burnett at 1-845-658-7755
Hope it helps.
-------------------- Phil Steffen, 29 Van Rensselaer St City of Saratoga Springs DPW Saratoga Springs NY 12866 Posts: 563 | From: beautiful Saratoga Springs NY | Registered: Aug 2001
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The reason for this whole thing is I did a 10' X 4', 2-sided sign for a local General store earlier this year. Normally, I laminate all my HDU to something. (DiBond, Extira, expanded PVC, etc.) But, this sign is hanging 20' in the air so I figured nobody was going to kick it or slam into it so I just went with 2" 18lb SignFoam which I simply flipped over to carve both sides. (Actually it wasn't that simple, but I got it right.) Well 2 weeks ago I was diriving past the store literally minutes after a garbage truck backing in to the driveway, hit the sign and it virtually exploded leaving just the part I glued and fastened into the stainless steel bracket I had made for me. So, I need a sign that CAN take a hit even though it is that high. It can't weigh TOO much simply because my client is using the original pole and arm from the store (about 50-75 years old, I'd guess) and I feel very nervous that a real heavy sign, let's say from a solid sheet of 1-1/2" PVC or Extira would snap the arm off the pole sooner or later. The way I'm planning to do it this time is 2 sheets of 3/4" 15lb HDU with a center core of 1/2" PVC. So, that's my story. Anybody got a better idea??
-------------------- Mark Rogan The Great Barrington Sign Company 2 Stilwell Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230 mark@gbsignco.com
"Sometimes I think my head is so big because it is so full of fonts" Posts: 332 | From: Great Barrington, MA | Registered: Mar 2003
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Mark, use Alumalite or Dibond. Very strong and lightweight. We have used both methods with the polyurethane glue and west systems. However we are partial to Titebond Polyurethane over Gorilla Glue.
-------------------- Amy Brown Life Skills 101 Private Address Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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Mark, My educated guess is that anything like PVC or DiBond as a core will bend enough to allow the sign to break if hit again. I really don't believe that a core will provide enough support to prevent that. Maybe go with a metal or wooden "frame" to insert the HDU into, and go with a thinner HDU for weight difference. That way the frame will absorb the impact if it occurs again. BTW, what is going to prevent it from happening again???
-------------------- Gene Golden Gettysburg Signs Gettysburg PA 17325 717-334-0200 genegolden@gettysburgsigns.com
"Art is knowing when to stop." Posts: 1578 | From: Gettysburg, PA | Registered: Jun 2003
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I sandwiched a 18"h. x 11'w. x 1/4" plate steel sheet of steel through tow 1-1/2" thick sheets of 15lb HDU and it survived hurricane Frances. It's friggin heavy but it did its job.
-------------------- Bob Stephens Skywatch Signs Zephyrhills, FL
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Great suggestions! I feel like a dope for not thinking of DiBond rather than PVC as a core. Talk about weight difference, huh? The metal frame idea is also very intrigueing... I'm going to check with my blacksmith and see if he can do me up a 1-1/2" by 1/4" thick aluminum frame. If it's in my budget, I think THAT'S the way I'm going to go. Great advice! Thanks. I knew there was a reason to get back on the board!
-------------------- Mark Rogan The Great Barrington Sign Company 2 Stilwell Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230 mark@gbsignco.com
"Sometimes I think my head is so big because it is so full of fonts" Posts: 332 | From: Great Barrington, MA | Registered: Mar 2003
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