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How many screws?

Posted by Nathan on 22 January 2006 at 19:21

As I’ve never really drilled anything in my life I’m unsure how many screws I should be using when fitting a sign. I recently used a screw every 300mm on a sign of 96″ x 12″, I decided not to use screw caps as I felt they looked a bit over powering with the amount of screws I used. Am I being over cautious?

Thanks
Nathan

Peter Normington replied 19 years, 11 months ago 3 Members · 10 Replies
10 Replies

John Childs

Member
22 January 2006 at 19:57

Nathan,

That’s a bit of a “how long is a piece of string” question.

What was the sign made of? How heavy?
What was the solidity of the base? Stone? Brick? Metal cladding? Tissue paper?
What sort of screw? One inch? Twelve inch? Stainless steel? Aluminium?

Do you have more details?
Nathan

Member
22 January 2006 at 20:22

John

What was the sign made of? 3mm Alu-Panel
What was the solidity of the base? Metal roller shutter box
What sort of screw? 1 inch self tapping screw

Thanks
Nathan
Peter Normington

Member
22 January 2006 at 20:33

one each corner and one top and bottom in the middle per panel. 3mm + 1mm (galvanised roller shutter box) 5mm long screws ar adequate. Depending on how its been made, you can sometimes use the screws that hold the box in place.

Peter
John Childs

Member
22 January 2006 at 20:33

I’d probably have gone with one screw every two feet, top and bottom, twenty in all. but I have a tendency to over-engineer so I wouldn’t be surprised if somebody comes along and makes a good case for using double sided tape.

At least on a flat roller shutter case there is no chance of the wind getting behind the panel so it is fairly safe whatever you do.
Peter Normington

Member
22 January 2006 at 20:36

John I was going to suggest ds tape, but a roller box is ususlly removable if the roller shutter needs maintenance. so however its fixed, make sure you do not restrict access.
Peter
John Childs

Member
22 January 2006 at 20:51

Peter,

I hate double sided tape, or adhesives of any sort. I am an engineer of the old school and much prefer a positive fixing. Old dogs – new tricks. 😀

I think your six screws is a bit light and, like I say, I have a tendency to overengineer, so I suspect that the true way lies somewhere between you and I.
Nathan

Member
22 January 2006 at 20:53

Thanks for the advice. I haven’t used any double sided tape as yet, do I get this from the regular sign suppliers, Europoint etc.

Thanks
Nathan
Peter Normington

Member
22 January 2006 at 21:05

quote John Childs:

Peter,

I hate double sided tape, or adhesives of any sort. I am an engineer of the old school and much prefer a positive fixing. Old dogs – new tricks. 😀

I think your six screws is a bit light and, like I say, I have a tendency to overengineer, so I suspect that the true way lies somewhere between you and I.

I am of the “old school” to john, and an engineer, trouble is things move on, aeroplanes are now “stuck together with superglue”
adhesives are stronger than mechanical fixings in some circumstances, but they need to be used correctly.
Peter
John Childs

Member
22 January 2006 at 21:16

Yeah Pete. I know all that and I believe it. I really do.

It’s just that when I lay in bed, listening to the wind howling through the eaves, I really do drop off to sleep easier knowing that my signs are held up with nuts, bolts and big fat washers rather than a bit of sticky tape.

I can’t help it.

😀
Peter Normington

Member
22 January 2006 at 21:21

John,

You are probably right

Peter