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what way can i cover a blank panel properly please?

Posted by Graeme Speirs on 16 January 2007 at 16:22

hi,
I made a balls up on an order (my fault!) its for an aluminium sign blank which will be mounted on poles and installed into the ground. It is supply only.

My question is I meant for the sign to already be white but it is going to arrive mill finished, do I simply apply white vinyl onto this face and then apply graphics? or is the surface usually bumpy etc, therefore would I need to re-order a white faced sign? Hope this makes sense. the sign blank is from ashby.

cheers
graeme

ps: I dont often do these sort of signs but for supply only I thought it would be easy !!!

Andy Fellows replied 17 years, 11 months ago 6 Members · 8 Replies
8 Replies

Martin Pearson

Member
16 January 2007 at 16:38

Can’t you just get the order changed so Ashby supply you with a white faced blank?
It is easy enough to cover the blank with white vinyl, I have done it for a lot of aluminium blanks. Then just cover with graphics as normal.
Is it being supplied with the channel on the back for mounting onto the posts?
David Rogers

Member
16 January 2007 at 16:49

Mill finish is usually OK, but the alloy is always slightly oxidised / greasy, even if it comes with a coating on.

If you put vinyl straight on – it’ll come straight off!

It will need to be really well cleaned & degreased etc.

The alternative is get it sprayed by a local spray / powder coat company.
Graeme Speirs

Member
16 January 2007 at 19:26

thanks guys, yes there is a channel on the back. The order had already gone through 🙁

Ill pay around when it arrives tomorrow.
cheers
graeme
Andy Fellows

Member
21 January 2008 at 10:57

Hi Graeme, I am interested in how you got on with this problem. Did the vinyl adhere successfully? How did you prepare the surface?

I have quoted for 200 aluminium signs and didn’t think to include the powder coating on the face. When the order came through and I re-checked the quote I noticed my mistake. Faced with an extra bill of £400+ for the powder coating I am unsure whether to take the hit and put it down to experience or carry on and order the blanks mill finished.

A laminated digital print will be applied all over the face (255mm x 360mm).

Thanks,
Andy.
Stephen Morriss

Member
21 January 2008 at 11:45

You’ll have no problems with adhesion Andy as long as you clean the surface properly.
There’s also no point in getting the sign coated if it’s being completely covered. The mill finish is normally a grey coating the same as you see on road signs.

Steve
Peter Dee

Member
21 January 2008 at 11:48

quote Stephen Morriss:

You’ll have no problems with adhesion Andy as long as you clean the surface properly.
There’s also no point in getting the sign coated if it’s being completely covered. The mill finish is normally a grey coating the same as you see on road signs.

Steve

Mill finish is raw aluminium, the grey coating is painted or powder coated.
Stephen Morriss

Member
21 January 2008 at 12:20

Well yes Mill finish is plain Aluminium hence the term Mill finish, however whenever Ashby have sent anything they’ve described as mill finish it’s been the coated Aluminium.
So I should have said the normal supplied plain finish is Grey. 🙂

Steve
Andy Fellows

Member
21 January 2008 at 15:43

When I spoke with someone at Ashby the other day I was told that the blanks needed to be powder coated on the front to accept the vinyl. I phoned again today to clarify and spoke to a very helpful guy called Norman. The aluminium sheets they use are mill finished on the front and grey coated on the back. To apply the vinyl to the entire face requires no coating at all. The mill finish surface has to be linished, which is done by Ashby, and wiped clean.

Thanks for the replies,
Andy.