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One man fitting
Hi All
Need some advice about fitting.
I know how to fit a tray or frame sign on my own but am trying to figure out the best way to attach an acrylic sign on stand-offs on my own.
The sheet size is 2200mm X 900mm, it will be fixed on to 10 25mm X 25mm stand-offs. Due to the weight I won’t be able to do it the normal way of attaching one fitting in the middle or corner, hang it on the one fitting and swing in to place.
Any tips and ideas on the best way to do this alone 😕
cheers
Warren
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33 Replies
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Hi Warren
I think there does come a time when you need some help. The sign is nearly 8ft x 3ft and in acrylic, there is some weight there! How high is the sign going? What is the access like? How much preparation can you do with the fixing positions/stand offs before you lift the sign into place? Your whole problem is getting the first fixing into place if you are on your own. Personally I would get a bit of help from a friend.
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Warren,
Like Craig said, you’d be better off getting help. If you can’t in your situation I would attach a piece of right angled ally to use as a shelf while you attach the sign to the fascia. But like Craig said, getting help is the safest way to do it.Karl.
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Hello Karl
Not been on for a while
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Had a few problems. Mostly at home. Been off work for about 4 weeks and things have gone pretty much t*ts up. Had a firm go bust on me as well and it’s hit hard.
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Sorry to hear that. Dig deep mate and all will be well. In Yorkshire we say ‘arse up head down’?? Hope that helps 😕
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Cheers mate. Just lacking the energy at the moment but giving up aint an option. I’ll be spending less time on the boards for the near future till it’s sorted.
Karl.
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Best of luck to you. You will be back!!
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Warren,
to fit on your own, I would hire a manual fork lift type device, most hire centres do them, they vary in the weight they can lift, but a simple one would only cost £20 or so for the day,something like this, but a lighter version,
http://www.jewson.co.uk/en/templates/to … prod450139No sorry, thought your sign was heavy, I would just (space allowing) put the ladder in the middle, and suspend the fascia from a rope round the top rung, and standing on the ladder, position it
Peter
Peter
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Warren, I wouldn’t even consider trying to fit something like that on my own, if you were to have a problem the insurance company would just walk away from you. I am sure you must know someone who could help you to install it or if not then consider subbing the fitting out.
Karl, sorry to hear about your problem, keep your chin up mate and I know you will get through it. I know myself just how difficult it can be at times but if you are determined ( and I know you are) you will be able to turn things around.
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Thanks for the comments Martin, Peter and John in the other thread.
I may be down. But i’m not out yet. Getting back on the straight and narrow won’t take long. I hope.Karl.
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Lynn’s more sensible than me Warren, she says to use the sucker things!
I have them in my kit, but always forget to use them, the type that glaziers use for lifting glass?
Peter
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Warren, again as I said in the other post, please use thinner and lighter materials. Remember the customer has no clue, you are the guide and if it falls it will be customers responsibility to the public person, then he be after you for incorrect installation. sorry mate.
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As I see it the difficulty would be in trying to align the sign so that it can be pushed onto the locators. Holding it up while at the same time trying to align and adjust the position of the sign will be difficult on your own.
I would arrange a couple of slings fixed above the sign panels final position to rest the panel in. The slings can be tightened or loosened until the panel is in its correct position before pushing it onto the locators.
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Thank you everyone for your comments.
Unfortunately I do not know anybody near me who can help me so I have to either do it by myself or sub the fitting out.
I am thinking of using Karl’s idea (thanks Karl and welcome back), I will get a piece of right angled ally and drill the holes in the same position as the acrylic,I will attach it in the exact place the acrylic will be using small screws (this will mark the position at the bottom for the fixings) Then I mark the top positions, take the acrylic down and then take off the ally angle. Now all my positions are marked, attach stand-offs and then carefully lift the acrylic up and it should fit bang on the 10 locator’s. From the middle position I can reach 6 of the 10 stand-offs so can put those in and then go to either side and put the corners in. ( I think I will incorporate the sling idea in to this to steady the acrylic while I fit it)
Hope that makes sense and will work OK, see any problems I might come up against?
Customer wanted 10mm acrylic but am using 8mm to try lighten it a bit, I cannot afford to turn this work away so have to keep trying to come up with ways of getting them done. I love challenges anyway so all is good.
cheers
Warren
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Bob down to the pub or bookies and get hold of one of those idle doley layabouts, take him with you bung him a tenner drop him off back at pub, job done.
regards
Tony
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Warren try to get help. . there is absolutely no easy way of doing these types of jobs on your own. You will end up dropping the sign and breaking it or falling off your ladder and breaking yourself. . either way you’ll be out of pocket !
I appreciate its hard to find hired help. . I’m in the same boat. . although I am lucky enough to live in an area where English are out numbered 2 to 1 with polish who are happy to work all day for £40. . .I try my best to finish all my jobs in the workshop then fit as many as I can in a day getting my moneys worth !
put an add in the local newsagents window saying you need a casual worker. . . also have a word with your public liability insurer regarding hired help and make sure you are covered.
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Warren
i would try to get help, where are you based maybe a board member is close to you. Also is this interior or exterior sign only in my opinion a 20 Kilo (2400mm x 900mm x 8mm) sheet on 10 plastic locator’s is maybe pushing it. Just my opinion (which doesn’t always account for much, so the missus tells me) 😀 & don’t know the install brief but i would either increase the locator’s or include some permanent fixingsKev
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Hi Kev
The locator’s are not plastic, they are aluminium I think (from Fairfield displays) They are very strong, I also intend fixing them to the frame part of the building and the other parts will be fixed with hollow anchors. Each locator is 500mm apart which is not far.
I suppose when the acrylic arrives tomorrow I will be able to gauge how heavy it really is.
Cheers
Warren
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Hi Warren,
i know what type you mean nowKev
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Hi All
The sign I am doing is basically the same as this but with vinyl lettering.
http://www.uksignboards.com/viewtopic.p … ght=bridge
cheers
Warren
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Whereabouts are you Warren?
Gordon
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Winchester, Hampshire. 😎
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I’m about an hour away just the, other side of Devizes, I’d be willing to come over and give you a hand just to get a bit of experience (I’m very new to this) Let me know if you can use me.
Gordon
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Hi Gordon
Thanks mate, I will let you know if I can’t sort anything out.
much appreciated.
Warren
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Warren
fit the back part of the Locator’s then get a couple lengths of studding to screw in to them, either chop down some long bolts or visit B&Q. Then when you lift the panel in place you have something to hang it on while you fit the rest of the thumb screws. You can always spin a nut on for extra safetyKev
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Whether you fit it alone or with help I wouldn’t use the sign as a drilling template. Make one from a bit of lightweight foamex or something. No point carrying a heavy panel up a ladder until you have to. Speaking of ladders, how high up is it? Job would be a lot easier if you were standing on a platform, then you could do it on your own easy.
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I hope nobody from the HSE is reading this thread !!!!
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quote Peter Shaw:I hope nobody from the HSE is reading this thread !!!!:lol1: I know, you can’t even get one man window cleaners around here now.
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Hi All
I’m going to use Andy’s idea and make a template with Foamex. This way I only have to lift it once straight on to the stand offs.
I have found somebody to help me to all is good.
Thanks everybody…
….. signing out before the HSE catch me :lol1: :lol1: :lol1:
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follow up………..
Job done today, went like a breeze and all the fixings went in well and tight. Had 1 small problem but got it sorted and customer was over the moon.
I still think it looks too good for his building but that’s what he wanted and he’s very happy with it.
got paid so no worries :2thumbs:
cheers to all for your help and advice, all much appreciated.
check it out in the portfolio section
http://www.uksignboards.com/viewtopic.p … 030#234030cheers
Warren
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great work warren..
i love the sign and you must be proud…
although, i must say that if you fit single handed you do leave yourself open to hazards pal, i was fitting a sign a few years back and the ladder slipped from beneath me causing me to break my ankle, foot, heel and crack a bone in my leg… was on crutches for 6 weeks and was incapable of doing serious work for that amount of time. Its not worth taking chances and i always send my guys out in pairs.
hope you get many more great jobs pal
roffs
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well done Warren mate!….I know what its like to head out into the unknown….glad it worked out so well for you! Great advice for everyone on this topic too! 😀
Pity you couldnt have gotten some video footage and pics while you were fitting it too for goodness sake! 😀 😀 😀
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Thanks guys
You know I was going to take pictures step by step as I used 3 suggestions from here to get the job right and it went well. I was just more focused on not messing up and of the holes or how it would turn out I forgot to do it and only remembered half way through.
I could do some pictures and explanation if wanted as I still have all the templates and stuff I used 😕
cheers
Warren
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