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I need to come up with a lightweight A-frame sign. I was thinking of using a Signicade plastic A-frame but the client wants an old wood looking sign. I was thinking of painting the signicade and adding a little wood grain effect. Will this work? Thanks!
-------------------- Robert Davis Sticky Sam's Signs (828)488-1715 stickysam@dnet.net The Great Smoky Mountains Bryson City, N.C. Posts: 133 | From: Bryson City, N.C. US | Registered: Jul 2000
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Hi Robert... I was worried about the paint adhering to the somewhat "greasy" texture of the signicade. Couldn't you pull a Dennis Gerathy "Old-Style" and use some T-111 instead? It is fairly thin & lightweight. You could stain it, then add a satin polyurethene finish, then letter it with a dry fitch...it would look awesome. Bill Berberich & I did this on a T-111 barn in Mars last fall & it was sinfully easy to get that "aged" effect. Of course, I am no carpenter, but you would have to build a lightweight frame, maybe using 1-by-whatever, and hinges, etc., but it still seems easier to me than paintin' friggin' wood grain on plastic. Anybody could move it around easily, yet it would be heavy enough to stay up. Just my 2 cents...Good Luck! Love- JILL
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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If the client wants it to look like a PAINTED wooden sign, then MDO will work fine, as long as the laminates showing on the edge aren't a problem.
What you do is get a fine pinstriping brush, and paint the "joints" where the "boards" meet, after you've painted the plywood in the usuall way. Think about colors like antique white, Arizona red, or New England blue. Great pnstriping practice, great results, and you can even age or distress the background. Maybe fake "chip" or "miff" the ends of the fake boards to give it more of a grain look.
Fast, easy and fun.
Edit: the colors I mentioned are for the background color, not the stripes. They should be a grey-brown color, not black.
[ October 02, 2003, 10:03 AM: Message edited by: James Donahue ]
-------------------- James Donahue Donahue Sign Arts 1851 E. Union Valley Rd. Seymour TN. (865) 577-3365 brushman@nxs.net
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what's for lunch, Benjamin Franklin Posts: 2057 | From: 1033 W. Union Valley Rd. | Registered: Feb 2003
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I have tried to paint a Signacade and trust - dont try it. I tried flame treating it and even a vinyl primer (all in seperate sections for tests) and several different paints from urathanes to one shot and even some krylon... It just dont stick.
I get PVC aframes from a company near me called Howmac www.howmac.com and they paint great except for the hinges which are a clear type rubber material. There are very light though and work great for contractors and such for putting behind a truck seat.
-------------------- Brian Stoddard Northwest Signs
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I never found SignCade signs to be all THAT lightweight by the time you add a sign face to them and all. And they're damn ugly.
If you use the T-1-11 you just need a hinge. Cut out some "feet" from the bottom and you'll reduce the weight a bit.
OR, you could cut a hollow-core door in half and just beef it up in the middle with a cut down 2x. Painting a wood door to look like wood would be a lot easier than making a Plasticade look like anything else.
-------------------- :: Scooter Marriner :: :: Coyote Signs :: :: Oakland, CA :: :: still a beginner :: :: Posts: 1356 | From: Oakland (and San Francisco) | Registered: Mar 2001
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what and where to get, any other details?? Always looking for new materials.
Thanks, John / SignRider
-------------------- John Lennig / Big Top Sign Arts 5668 Ewart Street, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada bigtopya@hotmail.com 604.451.0006 Posts: 2184 | From: Burnaby, British Columbia,Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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Hi... T-111 is a substrate commonly used as an exterior covering for sheds, porches, and -in Butler- to trim out the bottoms of mobile homes. It comes in 4x8 sheets, like plywood, but you can get it in either pine or cedar. It is grooved to look like paneling or barn siding, and it is tongue & grooved as well. You can also get it with varying widths of grooving, they are all the same with on a sheet, however. You can get it at Lowe's, Home Depot, etc. I want to say it's around $15/sheet. It can be finished with primer & paint, stain, poly, or even boiled linseed oil. It is a thirsty board to coat out, but it is kinda cool for certain applications. I was thinking, if the lady wants a wooden sign, why fake it with plastic? I agree w/Scooter. love-jill
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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