Weighing the pros and cons of getting some "pre-cut" 3 mil Dibond or cutting the sheets down myself. Never used the stuff. I would be using a skill saw cutting on 2" foam. Just wondering how delicate the stuff is. Does it ding easily. What kind of finished edge should I expect to get? Rough? Sandable edge? Your advice is appreciated.
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Hi Corey. Dibond will cut just fine using a carbide blade. The edges will be slightly rough, but nowhere near as rough as cutting plywood or MDO. Those edges will clean up fine using a file. When cutting, be sure to use safety glasses, as the Dibond sends off small chips of aluminum, and depending on the blade speed of the saw you're using, can also get hot enough to burn the skin. You'll find that it's a great substrate to work with, and it doesn't dent as easily as you might think.
Hope this helps awnswer some of your questions.
-------------------- Ken Henry Henry & Henry Signs London, Ontario Canada (519) 439-1881 e-mail: kjmlhenry@rogers.com
Why do I get all those on-line offers to sell me Viagara, when the only thing hardening is my arteries ? Posts: 2684 | From: London,Ontario, Canada | Registered: Feb 1999
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posted
Hi Corey, You're going to love working with Dibond. Not fragile to dings. Even the painted finish is damn tough. If you use a coarse blade you can get some ratty edges, but with a finer tooth blade on the sabre saw, it'll cut so smooth you won't need any sanding at all. Sanding 3mil Dibond isn't too hard, but it is still a PVC core afterall, which isn't the easiest thing to take down, so it's worth taking the extra time to make your cuts as accurate as possible. I've found that on intricate shapes like letters, minor imperfections can often be 'whittled' into place using a pocket knife or Xacto easier than sanding.
SONGPAINTER Original Sign Music by Sign People NOW AVAILABLE on CD and the proceeds go to Letterville's favorite charity! Click Here for Sound Clips! Posts: 1974 | From: Orleans, MA, Cape Cod, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
you probably know this already, but i thought i'd toss it in anyway -- maybe there's somebody this will help:
best to cut Dibond with the protective masking still on it. (i was stupid and peeled off the stuff before cutting once... i'll never make THAT mistake again... i hope). the protective sheet keeps the nice paint from scratching while cutting.
-------------------- :: Scooter Marriner :: :: Coyote Signs :: :: Oakland, CA :: :: still a beginner :: :: Posts: 1356 | From: Oakland (and San Francisco) | Registered: Mar 2001
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I just use my skill saw with a metal blade. It cuts like butta! Scooter is right, keep the mask on - been there done that! Keep brushing or blowing away the "sawdust" cause the little aluminum fragments can scratch if they get under your saw plate.
Suelynn
-------------------- "It is never too late to be what you might have been." -George Eliot
Suelynn Sedor Sedor Signs Carnduff, SK Canada Posts: 2863 | From: Carnduff, SK Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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Hi Corey, I love the stuff!! We get 4 mil minimum though. I never used it until I hired my current helper. He was building concession carts with ACM and similar substrates. Give this guy a router and he can fabricate anything I can come up with. It's an interesting way to add dimension without adding to much extra cost.
-------------------- Terry Baird Baird Signs 3484 West Lake Rd. Canandaigua, NY 14424 Posts: 790 | From: Canandaigua, New York | Registered: Dec 2002
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SONGPAINTER Original Sign Music by Sign People NOW AVAILABLE on CD and the proceeds go to Letterville's favorite charity! Click Here for Sound Clips! Posts: 1974 | From: Orleans, MA, Cape Cod, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Joe is sure right about HDU backing and Dibond. Specially with script lettering. Latigo uses a carbide blade, but he only drops the blade down like 1/16" below the Dibond and we never have to sand anything.
posted
To remove the sharp edge that sometimes forms from cutting, get a deburring tool. They are made to debur the inside of copper pipe. It has a swivel cutting blade and zips off that edge as fast as you can pull it along. They're cheap and I've been using mine for years.
-------------------- Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 sherwoodsign@sbcglobal.net Posts: 5407 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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