posted
I had a client come to me with some ideas for his sign. He wanted something along the lines of cobalt blue, with some silver.
He also requested obliques (however you call those things) as his sign mounts, with either a ball, or four balls at the base.
Here's my take on what he's requested.
So now my dilemma becomes, how to go about fabricating those darn oblique things. I've got three thoughts on it. a) concrete b) Foam c) aluminum fascades with a texture finish.
For the actual sign, I was thinking of metal, with dimensional letters, or blasted hdu.
For the silver accents, I'm thinking either aluminum leaf, or actual aluminum.
Before I spend too much time investigating any of this, and trying to price it, I would like to present this situation here, and get some different perspective on it.
Hope you don't mind obliging me with a bit of brainstorming on this.
I appreciate your expertise. Nettie
-------------------- "When Love and Skill Work Together ... Expect a Masterpiece"
posted
As usual, great job Nettie. I like the top one the best. The 4 balls just look right to me. I would prefer to see the street number incorporated into the sign, like on the bottom sketch. The balls could be ornamental and made from just about anything. The posts can be made with a frame and skinned with just about any material. So, depending on how and what the posts are made of, you can use threaded rod to support the structure and slip the balls onto the base before you install the caps. Hopefully this makes sense.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
I agree with Brian, as far as the 4 balls and the address.
We have a hospital that is done in a similar fashion. I had to check it out one day as one of the balls were broken and I could see inside.
The balls were made of some kind of plastic, but through the center was a piece of pipe, with the ID just larger than the rod that supported the sign itself. The weight of the sign then was transferred to the pipe and not the ball itself, thus allowing it to be made from plastic.
Hope I explained this right....
-------------------- Troy "Metalleg" Haas 626 Kingswood Dr Evansville,In 47715 Posts: 1100 | From: Evansville,Indiana, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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For finials I use Billiard marker balls which have no numbers on them. I drill and tap them to fit on a bolt on the top of the poll. They can be gold leafed if needed. Now for bigger finials one can use candle pin bowling balls. About $65-$75 for a cheap set of four. Next step is ten pin bowling balls. All of these are very strong. Never pass up a $5 bowling ball at the tag sale. Just some ideas.
-------------------- Rob Larkham Sign Techniques Inc. Chicopee, Ma Posts: 607 | From: Chester, Ma. | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
My only thought about the balls was make them from Concrete (for strength) with ReBar running through the middle of them (think of stringing a bead on a thread) with the ReBar long enough to go from the top of the peaks on the pillars threw the balls down into the base of the footings where it will be cemented into the ground... you have some pretty strong winds in Florida right?
The just thinking parallel to an engineer side of the Moon
-------------------- The Moon aka: Stefenie Harris Moonlight Designs Pollock Pines, CA learnin' somethin' new every day! stefenie@comcast.net Posts: 550 | From: Pollock Pines, CA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Structural inner post embedded in concrete base, Structural post to have tabs for sign panel attachment. Frame and skin to attach to structural post out of aluminum, you can get round aluminum and stainless balls, if they are oblong, you can use concrete, hdu or stone. The base of the frame and skin can hide attachment to structural post and access just in case something happens. I just did a job with Stainless Steel letters, they look great. Raw aluminum or anodized might cause problems.
Rick
Posts: 1540 | From: Hemet,CA U.S.A. | Registered: Jun 2001
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Nettie, I would probably weld up a skeleton with the 4 balls covering the legs, and then have someone to apply Drivet to a covering. The balls could also be Drivet if necessary. The steel frame would be lightweight but strong and something you could do a lot of the assembly on yourself. Even the Drivet if you choose. The rest Dibond and Aluminum cut lettering from Gemini. Even real stucco isn't that difficult. Godd luck, Jack
-------------------- "Don't change horses in midstream, unless you spot one with longer legs" bronzeo oti Jack Davis 1410 Main St Joplin, MO 64801 www.imagemakerart.com jack@imagemakerart.com Posts: 1549 | From: Joplin, MO | Registered: Mar 2000
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I'm thinking cast concrete inside of the ol' cheap plastic lamp globe trick, only drill a hole in the top of the globe first, and isnert a length of PVC pipe through the whole thing. when dry, cut off the globe and the excess PVC, and then guild or whatever. I like the four ball design better, but the lamp globes would be ideal for the one ball......
edit spelling
[ September 05, 2003, 05:52 PM: Message edited by: Dave Utter ]
-------------------- Dave Utter D-utterguy on chat Sign Designs Beardstown, Il. signdesigns@casscomm.com Posts: 777 | From: beardstown, illinois, usa | Registered: Mar 1999
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Almost any ornamental wrought Iron fabricator will have access to cast iron balls...size will determin availability...but they are cheap and strong...once you have figured the fabrication and mounting method if it were me i would consider having them powder coated (also inexpensive)
good luck...
-------------------- "Werks fer me...it'll werk fer you"
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Netti; Before you go spinning your wheeles on his sign design, find out where this guy's budget lies at your next Szalonna outing...and get some up front money...
J.G.(Kuchma)Kurtzman
-------------------- John Kurtzman J.G. Kurtzman Sign Shop 97 Taylor Ave. Norwalk, Ct. 06854
----------------------------------- Creative communication since 1959 Posts: 213 | From: So. Norwalk, Ct. USA | Registered: Sep 2000
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posted
Foolish me, I forgot!!! you can go FRP on the oval shapes and reinforce it with an metal inner sleeve. That way there are not weight issues, easily paintable, easy to fab, install, and you can make it any size you want. Sorry for not thnking clearer sooner
Rick
Posts: 1540 | From: Hemet,CA U.S.A. | Registered: Jun 2001
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