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I got the bright idea to tell my customer we could replace two missing letter faces on her channel letters. The letters were made about 15 years ago by another company. They have a jewelite trim on each plastic letter that attaches to the outer edge of each channel letter. The letters have neon inside so I can't remove them from the wall. I have to try to match the exact size and shape of the letter faces, "B" and "R", cut out the acrylic, wrap with jewelite and hope they fit. Any suggestions? Thanks!
-------------------- Jean Shimp Shimp Sign & Design Co. Jacksonville Beach, Fl Posts: 1265 | From: Jacksonville Beach, Fl. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I assume you don't have the old faces? In that case take a piece of stiff cardboard or similar material and hold it against the face, trace the letter onto the cardboard(it helps to have two people-one to hold the card and one to trace). Use this to cut the new faces. If you don't have a setup for jewelite, juts use a scrap piece of plywood and small nails to hold the jewelite in place as you shape it around the letter and resinbond as you go.
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Get some stamp ink or some paint and brush it onto the metal letter rims. Get some cardboard and press it onto the metal face. There is your transfer.
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5273 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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Hi Jean, just use a heavier craft paper and place it over the letter and pess the paper around the channel letter. Cut it on location to bee sure it will fit each letter. Once you have the patterns cut new faces in shop and clue your jewelite trim on with Methalchloride. I hope this helps.
-------------------- Warren Schoff
Box 1062 Magrath, AB Posts: 13 | From: Magrath, AB | Registered: Feb 2005
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Bill Jean says it is the letter B R If the letters are still mounted on the raceway,it might be difficult to trace the centers.If she used a piece of clear plex and traced the letter from the top side with a sharpie and then saw it on the outside of the line to allow the jewel trim to have a little play, Just a sujestion.
-------------------- Bill Wood Bill Wood, Sign Artist 3628 Ogburn Ave., NE Winston-Salem, NC 27105-3752 336-682-5820 Posts: 397 | From: Winston-Salem, NC | Registered: May 2006
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I usually made a rubbing of the edge of the sheet metal with paper and a graphite stick. Then, back at the shop, I traced the outside of the graphite line with a blunt Sharpie, then used the ouside of the Sharpie line for cutting. The extra slop helped the fit. A loose fit is usually not a problem. A too tight fit is a big problem.
It's also good to warn the customer that an exact color match may not be possible because of fading.
-------------------- Brad Ferguson See More Signs 7931 Wornall Rd Kansas City, MO 64111 signbrad@yahoo.com 816-739-7316 Posts: 1230 | From: Kansas City, MO, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Second on the fading. That can ruin the look of the whole job.
Around here, we've got a bunch of "sign people" who make channel letters with clear plex, then put vinyl on the faces. Usually after a year or two, the vinyl bleaches out, and that looks like crap too. Try replacing a face on one of those.........Never matches.
-------------------- Dale Feicke Grafix 714 East St. Mendenhall, MS 39114
"I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." Posts: 2963 | From: Mendenhall, MS | Registered: Apr 1999
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we make channel letters everyday. if you use a paper pattern from the rim of the metal return, make sure to add about .1" outline before you cut your acrylic. This will make the face fit the letter much better. WeldOn 3 (thin) glue for the first pass then WeldOn 16 acyrlic glue (thicker)for the second pass is what we use. We use a metal table with magnets to hold the trimcap, but you can lay the acrylic face down and use nails on plywood. make sure the trimcap fit it TIGHT or it may break loose.
-------------------- Jerry VanHorn, Pres. Pure Sports Designs, LLC Pro Sign Design / United Wholesale Signs www.prosigndesign.comwww.unitedwholesalesigns.com West Liberty, OH 937-465-0595 866-942-3990 Since 1990 Posts: 925 | From: West :Liberty, OH | Registered: May 2004
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