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Hi, This is my first visit to downtown Letterville, even though I've driven by many times. I'm a screen printer and a while back got a PC-600. I haven't done a lot with it but Dave Grundy was kind enough to help me get the cutter going.
I delivered an order to a customer this week and I mentioned that I would be doing some vinyl work and he asked if I could put his business name on a sign at the front of the strip mall. He said, that I could use one of the two exiting blank spaces. I thought this should be easy but when I got to measuring the sign, I noticed that both of the spaces had exiting lettering on them and someone took the easy way out and just painted over them with white paint. My question is... what are my options on lettering this sign. I guess I should mention that the sign has lights behind it but they aren't turned on for what ever reason. Thanks...Dan
posted
Ask the Client if he expects the lights to ever go on again. Explain that vinyl should stick to most paint & the least expensive solution would be to apply lettering over existing unknown paint. If the lights ever go on this will look awful, so a new panel of translucent white plexiglas with translucent vinyl would probably be at least 4 times the cost to buy special material, cut to size, & deal with whatever (old rusty ?)mounting hardware holds the panels in. As far as options go, you could cut an 1/8" thick polycarbonite material like Sintra just large enough to match the VISABLE area on existing plaques. Mounted with 2-sided tape or construction adhesive, this solution would provide a new looking white (?) background & a more predictable adhesion of your lettering.
posted
Doug is right on with these options. There is a difference between Polycarbonate and Sintra, though. The polycarbonate will be the expensive option here, a PVC product like sintra or celtec is a cheap fix and will work, especially if they never intend to use those lights.
If replacing the panel is an option, I think I'd go that way instead of messing with unknown paint, age and so forth. You COULD letter over with paint and or vinyl, provided that those lights don't go on, but then there's the chance for premature failure that could reflect on how YOU do business. Make sure that this client knows the options and potential for failure, or short life span, on these existing panels. Offer no guarantee. Working with new material will be better in the long run.
-------------------- Jeff Vrstal Main Street Signs 157 E. Main Street Evansville, WI 53536 1-608-882-0322 Posts: 670 | From: Evansville, Wisconsin | Registered: Sep 2001
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posted
Be very wary of the paint on those signs!! Is it enamel ..or latex? Vinyl does not like to stick to most latex paints, unless they are latex enamel!
-------------------- Si Allen #562 La Mirada, CA. USA
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Brushasaurus on Chat Posts: 8831 | From: La Mirada, CA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6832 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
If the sign will ever be lit, I would definitely get new panels. You CAN clean the old faces but its messy and usually gives mixed results because alot of faces like that were cut and sprayed form the back, so you will have two sides to clean and one side will have cut marks.Use laquer thinner if faces are plex and denatured alcohol if they are polycarb.
But I think your best solution would be to get new white plex and put translucent vinyl on face. Hope this helps.
-------------------- Jeff Ogden 8727 NE 68 Terr. Gainesville FL, 32609 Posts: 2138 | From: 8827 NE 68 Terr Gainesville Fl 32609 | Registered: Aug 2002
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posted
I take it, this is a illumated "Can" sign, with a plastic face. If you decide to buy new plex, I would use 3/16" thick material.
I would have to say, I'm with Sacks on this one. Also, if its paint, sometimes, you can scrape the paint off with a razor, just like glass. Be leery of solvents. SparyLat, or Lycral can be removed with butylcellusol.(Lexan) Once the paint is off, flip it over and make your new design, transparent, in case your customer wishes to fix the lights, at a later time, or offer to fix them at a good rate.
-------------------- Richard Bustamante Signs in the Pines www.signsinthepines.com Posts: 781 | From: Nevada City, California | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Thanks for the replys. Rick, I had the same thought today when I was cleaning stalls in the barn....scary. I'll check out the back side of sign. I talked to the customer today about the vinyl not sticking to the paint but I think he had other issues going on. He did say they light the sign with floods on the ground so I'm guessing they had a major problem and went with the quick fix. Typing and listening to the news and they are supposed to have a news conference any time now about the sniper...I hope it's GOOD NEWS!!! Dan in Maryland
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