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Is black PVC prone to absorb enough heat to warp out in the sun? If I used 3/4" black PVC to build a 6', animated chimpanzee? Actually, only the chimp's arm would wave and would be "free and unsupported". There would be actually two "chimp" cutout panels with an internal frame, housing a gear motor. Would 1/2" even be thick enough? Or would you use another material besides PVC?
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com Posts: 7404 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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We had 20mm (almost an inch) white pvc that had been covered with navy blue vinyl warp here so I'd be avoiding PVC if I were you What about aluminium composite? We've had heaps of success with black ACM & ACP in sunny spots.
-------------------- Anne McDonald 17 Karnak Crescent Russley Christchurch 8042 New Zealand
"I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure" Posts: 877 | From: Christchurch | Registered: Sep 2006
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Without knowing the specs, I would be looking at 1/2" Extira with frame supports.
-------------------- Sam Staffan Mackinaw Art & Sign 721 S. Nokomis St. Mackinaw City, MI dstaffan@sbcglobal.net Posts: 1697 | From: Mackinaw City, MI | Registered: Mar 2004
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Yes, black PVC WILL warp in the sun. Ask me how I know!!
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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Wayne, I left a 3/16" 4'x8' black piece of PVC out in the hot sun the other day for about an hour, and when I came back it was totally unusable. It had wrinkled up like a Pensacola Beach old lady.
After seeing that, I'd think there would be problems with the thicker stuff as well in our sun and heat.
-------------------- Jon Jantz Snappysign.com jjantz21@gmail.com http://www.allcw.com Posts: 3395 | From: Atmore, AL | Registered: Nov 2005
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My mind wanders. And that's not a good thing, 'cause it's too small to be out there alone. Posts: 3129 | From: Tooele, UT | Registered: Mar 2005
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I've mentioned this before, but it's clear that most of us don't realize PVC is available as an interior or exterior grade product. Different brands have different names for them. For example, Komerling use Komatex for the interior product and Komacel for the exterior. Other brands have similar naming distinctions.
We use tons of exterior grade PVC and have never had a problem with any. It is only available in white and must be painted. We use two part Matthews Acrylic Urethane.
For black we buy white and paint it black. The black material available is all interior grade and will absorb heat and expand, contract, warp etc. Use this product outside at your own risk.
-------------------- Paul Luszcz Zebra Visuals 27 Water Street Plymouth, MA 02360 508 746-9200 paul@zebravisuals.com Posts: 483 | From: 27 Water Street, Plymouth, MA 02360 | Registered: Jul 2003
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Looks like black interior PVC is out. This project has been on the back burner for about 4 years. I may just carve it out of HDU as originally planned... unless works picks up and it gets busy again.
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com Posts: 7404 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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Anyone have success using 1/4" to 1/2" PVC for smaller letters 4" tall for an outside side? They would be glued flat to a board and painted to help stop fading.
-------------------- Cody Reich Columbia Signs Posts: 300 | From: Vancouver, WA | Registered: Aug 2007
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Something that size should be fine Cody, use something like gorilla grip or no more nails to "glue" it as they have some give and will allow for expansion in the sun. I've done lots of signs with smaller router cut PVC letters outside and they hold up well.
-------------------- Anne McDonald 17 Karnak Crescent Russley Christchurch 8042 New Zealand
"I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure" Posts: 877 | From: Christchurch | Registered: Sep 2006
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I hadn't seen your post earlier about the different grades of PVC. Excellent information.
It's true the black PVC is very unstable in 1/2". Thats the only thickness we've used. I was looking at some today which we left out behind our shop. It's been there for about a year and it's not holding up well. Really warped.
Extira is a consideration. HDU might work depending on the installation method. HDU gets brittle with time and will for sure warp if not coated both sides with the same black. I'd bet it would pop right off the building over time.
-------------------- Joe Crumley Norman Sign Company 2200 Research Park Blvd. Norman, OK 73069 Posts: 1428 | From: 2200 Research Park Blvd. | Registered: Sep 2001
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What about aluminium composite? We've had heaps of success with black ACM & ACP in sunny spots.
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