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Well if you haven't figured out by now, "Squaw Dog" is from Squaw Valley USA, near Lake Tahoe on the boarders of California, and Nevada in the High Serria. This is my first time posting as "Squaw Dog", however, I have posted some 345 posts in the past, and its great to be back.
What materials do we use at Squaw Valley?
1. Gortex 2. Fliece 3. Anything sheep skin lined 4. Lycra 5. Anything with "Thinsulate" 6. Two pairs of socks 7. Thermal underwear 8. Waterproof Boots 9. Waterproof Gloves 10. Anything with Polypropelene 11. Dark wrap-around glasses 12. Wind & waterproof Jacket 13. Chap Stick 14. "Gators" (waterproof ankle wraps) 15. Krampons & Snow Shoes
So if your coming up to do some skiing, keep those items in mind. (except #15)
Now back to the real materials...
The extreme cold, and weather makes most sub'straits inadiquate. There have been only three I have tested that hold up to these conditions. (here they are with a small discription)
1. FibreBrite; a fibreglass product that is highly durable, strong, and ridged. (in small pieces) The only draw'back I've noticed, the surface isn't smoothe. You can actually see the strands of fibreglass. Another thing to remember, if you try to cut it with either, a table saw, band saw, or scroll saw, you'll have to replace the blade almost instantly.
2. Di'Bond; this material is "Sentra" or extruded plastic that is laminated with a thin piece of aluninium on both sides. You can purchase it in a varity of colors. Its some'what hard to cut, and the easiest way, is to run it through the table saw. Draw'backs; if you bend or "crunch" the corner, you'll have a very hard time getting it back to shape.
3. Lexan; this polycarbonate is mainly used for illumated sign faces. It comes in various thicknesses; 1/8, 3/16, 1/4, 1/2, and all the way up to 6 inches thick. This plastic is not like "acrylic", it will not break, it's flexible, and easy to drill through. The only draw'back is that it is very expensive.
These substraits have all been tested in extreme waether; sub'zero, snow, hail, wind, ice, slush, bright sunlight(UV exposure) and the most important thing, vandels.
There are a couple of questions I have...
What materials do you extreme weathered signers use?
How do you do your installs with frozen hands?
What do you use when your *PHD doesn't work?
When prancing through the snow, how do you keep your toes warm?
How in god's name do you get your vinyls to stick?
Why won't my paint dry?
Epilog: Now that you have some idea what I'm up against. Can you help me? When I was a young boy, my garndfather always told me, "I had to walk 2 miles in the snow to go to school..." Just think, now I have something to tell my grandchildren.
Squaw Dog at Squaw Valley USA
*Post Hole Digger
Thanks, RB
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Posts: 2 | From: Squaw Valley USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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Hi Squaw Dog! Good to hear from a neighbor! Great snow this week, eh?
We're using alot of alumalite over here in Incline along with the old standbys MDO and aluminum.
The Hyatt had their graphics contractor in Florida send them some digital prints laminated to PVC and put them up at the Ponderosa Ranch. Being from Florida they didn't account for our 50 degree temperature swings in the summer and the prints cracked and split as the plastic shrank and expanded. So much for the "Anyone from out of town is an expert" assumption.
We've been running outside to letter trucks whenever the sun peeks through and warms em up- along with using the heat gun.
Hey- we're setting up our sign router- if you guys have a need for the carved look let us know. I've been thinking about getting involved in your big addition but dealing with all the layers of corporate types doesn't sound like fun.
If you're over here stop in but call first- it might be a powder day!
see ya!
------------------ Rick Cooper Sierra Sign & Award Lake Tahoe, USA www.engrave.pctrader.com $$$Letterheads Website Supporter$$$
"The early bird gets the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese."
Posts: 135 | From: Incline Village, NV, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Hey, what happened to those great office pictures? Need a new one with all the snow and snow bunnys! Just about every sign I do down here in Fallon is DieBond. Seems to be the only thing that holds up to all that Sierra Wind you send our way. We've got a panel saw, so cutting is a piece of cake. As for the corners, design em round, or get a big file. We made a couple of foam filled corner pouches with bungi straps that we put on for transport. Seems to ease the effect of poor handling by the install guys. Be nice to see ya again! Robin
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Ricardo, you old dog! I have no idea how to do any of what your wrestling with, nor do I ever want to need to know. All that work should be done during the summer, so the crew could play all winter. Imagine needing to dig your way to the wood shed to get the goods to stay warm? Later amigo.
------------------ The SignShop Mendocino, California "Where the Redwoods meet the Surf"
Oh, for the faith of a spider! He begins his web without any thread.
Posts: 6806 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Hey, Robin, where do you get your Diebond and other sheet goods around here? We've been getting stuff from PSS in Sac but always looking for lowering the shipping costs and hassle for out here on the frontier- you must be in the same boat.
And C'mon, is there really an "Auto Mall" in Fallon?
------------------ Rick Cooper Sierra Sign & Award Lake Tahoe, USA www.engrave.pctrader.com $$$Letterheads Website Supporter$$$
"The early bird gets the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese."
Posts: 135 | From: Incline Village, NV, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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