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So,, tomorrow I get the pleasure of drilling about 300 holes into a couple of boulders. They are Montana rocks. I'll be using this clear supper strong silicone sealent. $8.00 bucks a tube. Liguid nails was cheaper but sometimes I think more money is better. So what's the rest of the world using to glue in stud or combination stud mounted Gemini formed plastic letters into rock, brick, or man-made rocks?
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3834 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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-------------------- You ever notice how easily accessible people are when they are requiring your services but once they get invoice you can't reach them anymore
I had an install on some routed letters, but with studs. I has something like 24 letters, and by the time I got to the end, the first ones had set up.
-------------------- Mark Kottwitz Kottwitz Graphics Ridgely, MD www.SeeMySignWork.com -------------------------- Imagination is more important than knowledge. -- Albert Einstein Posts: 749 | From: Ridgely, MD | Registered: Oct 2000
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DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6454 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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posted
My brothers daughter came up with an idea to cut the tip of the silicone cartridge just a little bigger than the stud. Then you shove the stud into the tip as far as it will go. Now you squeeze the trigger as you pull out the stud. This will leave you with a perfect jacket of silicone around the stud. You will use a lot less silicone and there is almost no mess.
-------------------- John D. Heller Sr. Quick Sign Inc. 1521 E. 219 St. Euclid, Ohio 44117 Posts: 20 | From: Euclid, Ohio | Registered: Feb 2008
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posted
If the letters have perforated pads, I usually drill and stud only one per letter and try to pick whichever stud is closest to the vertical midline of the letter. I use silicone on the pads and that one stud. The stud holds the weight of the letter until the adhesive sets up. There are fewer holes to drill and straightening out the letters is facilitated by each one pivoting on only one point. When you have several studs per letter, it's easy to get them crooked initially because the drill bit might "walk" as you drill.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5095 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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The advantage to silicone as opposed to something like liquid nails or some over priced glue is that if the customer needs to remove the letters it's much easier.
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i do what david does also. i have taken down 4" latters that have had 4 studs drilled out and inserted, thats a bit much. on a letter that small i would do 1 or 2 would suffice.
-------------------- You ever notice how easily accessible people are when they are requiring your services but once they get invoice you can't reach them anymore
posted
Silicone. When are some of you going to start reading labels. Liquid nails is not recommended for exterior use.
You have to buy an exterior construction adhesive for exterior use and regular liquid nails is not it. There have been several posts on this board about failures using liquid nails.
We use John Hellers method.
Unless the rocks are like sandstone, have a BUNCH of bits ready. I used 6 bits on 19 letters drilled into native rock a while back.
-------------------- Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 sherwoodsign@sbcglobal.net Posts: 5401 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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posted
Dave, we just build signs, we don't read 'em.
You're right about checking the labels on the adhesives. Liquid Nails has a whole series for different applications and regular Liquid Nails is not the one to use for outdoor durable installations.
Silicone is probably the best all around, however, when using on chalky limestones, the acetic acid in it will eat into the stone, turning the adhesive line into a pasty mess that will fail. On limestones, I use PL Premium. PL Premium will bond tenaciously to stone, but it does yellow considerably in UV exposure so be careful not to get excess where it can be seen. Doing the John Heller thing helps.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5095 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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