posted
I have a 4 x 4 two sided outside sign with pan faces. (I'm assuming the reason for pan faces is to hold the image away from the bulbs) What would be wrong with using flat plexiglass, other than the faces being closer to the bulbs? Would it be ok, or is there a heat factor or image lumination problem from having the face a couple inches closer. Plexi is easier to obtain and costs much less to use.
------------------ When good things happen...that must be a sign!! Tony McDonald DBA-Ace Graphics & Printing P.O. Box 91 Camdenton, MO. USA (573) 346-6696 <daddyo@advertisnet.com> <tony@brownbeverage.com>
Posts: 1199 | From: Camdenton, MO. USA | Registered: Oct 1999
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posted
The main problem is the distance between the face and the lamps. If the cabinet had pans in it to begin with, you should go back with that. If the faces are too close you'll be able to count the lamps in it. We never put flat faces in a cabinet with a depth less than 10".
posted
The posts above are basically correct, however... Yes you do need some distance from the bulb to the face for heat reasons, and sometimes the panel is so shallow that there is no alternative to pan faces. Other times, the cabinet has some depth, and the only reason to use pan faces is to get the light spread so the face does not have hot spots when viewed. In these cases, there are diffuser films you can apply to the inside of the acrylic that will let you get away with flat faces.
In general, the safe answer is, replace with pan faces, but sometimes flat faces will work just fine.
The other factor in a double sided cabinet is wind resistance. A good wind will blow out flat faces faster than pan faces because the pan faces are more rigid.
------------------ Victor Georgiou Bob Loves Signs Inc Danville, CA email blssign@pacbell.net
[This message has been edited by VICTORGEORGIOU (edited January 18, 2001).]
Posts: 1746 | From: Danville, CA , USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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posted
If there's something wrong with the faces you can cut the centers out and just leave the raised edge. Now you cut the new faces (Lexan Only), and glue & rivet them together. Use washers with an inside diameter just large enough for the rivet to pass through. Put the washers on the inside so the expanding rivet doesn't crack the acrylic raise edge. We do it all the time. It works.
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I agree with BRAD ...Mike......and Victor!!
Not so sure I agree with Rosemary Just looking at that idea in my head I see spots (rivet spots) when lit. To me that would not look very clean! Only time I could see doing something like that would be if a storm came through and the sign was fixed that way as a temp. fix. while new face was being made !! Sorry Rose Im not puting you down! Just giving difrent point of view!
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No problem, but we usually paint the entire raised edge black anyway. Then touch up the rivet heads. You never see them and the contrast between the black border and the white face is really cool. If you MUST salvage panfaces that have gone bad, that's about the only way without buying new panfaces.
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