I'm about to get an order for an MDO sign. It's been such a long time since I've done one (I'm pretty much vehicle exclusive now) that I'm not looking forward to the painting prep, the mess, the eventual deterioration, what have you.
What have you chosen to use instead of painted MDO? What do you use for a single sided sign vs a double sided one? Regarding mounting, does your chosen material require some kind of backing if one sided and to be installed with posts?
Thanks for any input! Curious as to what the favorites are.
[ July 06, 2003, 12:38 PM: Message edited by: Donna in BC ]
posted
Hands down...I promote Dibond to everyone I know...It comes already prepped and painted,it's ridgid,smooth,will accept (nearly all)paints or vinyls and is unsurpassed for longevity.
The cost is justifiable... as prepping and painting duraply will come out to about the same cost (by time you include labor and materials to do so.
There will be those that will come in here and suggest you use Econolite because it is "less expensive and does just as good a job" and I suppose you'll have to decide for yourself I'll just say "been there done that and won't do it again".
"werks fer me it'll werk fer you".
-------------------- "Werks fer me...it'll werk fer you"
posted
Ah what the hell somebody has to be the kink in the line, use MDO Donna , buy Simpson brand, go to thier web site and read up on the different brands, then seal the edges well, I recently have switched to that tite-bond glue technique from a recomendation from a few letterheads, who have been taught it from some old timers who swear by its longevity. The edges comes out as smooth as a baby's bottom in about 20 minutes.
Dibond is rigid ( but not as rigid as MDO ) prepainted only if you want white, and comes in what 1/4". MDO just has a nicer look the thickness has a big impact for me. I am working on a $650.00 3x4 custom shaped mdo sign, I can just imagine what the customer would think if they got thier money worth if I handed them a sign that was wafer thin for that price.
Sorry I'm still in love with MDO, Dibond is nice bu not that nice.
-------------------- Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA 508-865-7330
"Life is Like an Echo, what you put out, comes back to you." Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
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I've had good luck with MDO and I guess "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" is my outlook.
The prep might be longer, but you can back up the job based on past experience. I don't know too many people who complain about MDO that lasts 10 years or more.
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
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Thanks for your advice everyone. Is Dibond stable enough to letter on both sides and mountable from the sides without the product rippling? What IS that stuff, a solid plastic of sorts?
posted
Think of Dibond as an Oreo cookie. Two sheets of .012" Aluminum sandwiched over a yummy solid black polyethylene core. Dibond, although more durable than an Oreo cookie, tastes far worse, but the food value is approximately the same.
[ July 08, 2003, 05:31 PM: Message edited by: David Harding ]
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5107 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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