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Advice on fixing hanging swing panel
Hi All
I recently did a job for an existing customer of mine and after quoting for a swing sign he opted to get his own bracket and panel made up (I still did his fascia sign)
This is the bracket which he has fitted himself;
http://www.metalhangingsigns.co.uk/larg … p-269.htmlhe had a wooden panel made up from 18mm ply and wooden framing and painted to match his fascia. The panel weighs 10kg and is 1m wide by 500mm deep.
Now he has asked me to fit the panel up for him as it has no fixings on it to hang up. I have these 2 fixings but am very unsure if the eye bolts will be strong enough, the "L" shaped brackets would have been perfect but due to the size of the panel the eye holes are not close enough to use.
http://www.jagsignsupplies.com/aqshop/c … .php?id=98
http://www.jagsignsupplies.com/aqshop/c … php?id=518I want to go give it back to him as I don’t want the risk of it coming down or am I just over precautios and these eye bolts will be OK?
or do I walk away? because it is hanging over the street.
cheers
Warren
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10 Replies
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How about a bit of chain between L brackets and sign frame, personally I would not trust eye bolts alone and if it were me I would either walk away or get a discliamer signed – after all he has tried to cut corners on price I guess and now wants you to fit it rather than giving you the job start to finish – is that correct?
John
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Depends on how it’s been framed Warren.
Is the frame rebated with the panel in the rebate
or has a frame just been applied to both faces? -
Warren,
Use the corner bracket with stainless shackles. Also fit with long screws placed into pilot drilled holes to ensure they catch the ply panel. (Also get a disclaimer signed!)
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Warren,
I would say that you should never rely on woodscrews when in tension, for me that’s a rule of thumb especially when you have a hanging sign. I would also say that you shouldn’t screw down the end grain on timber and especially into the edge of plywood or MDF.Far better that all the fixings are all in shear load if they can be, swinging signs have a nasty habit of loosening nuts and bolts and particularly woodscrews, caused by the continual motion.
Can you get something made that’s similar to my sketch? 3mm folded mild steel, with a coat of paint, or stainless, an eye bolt with a machine screw thread fixed with a nyloc nut should be ok (even though it’s not in shear). Slipped over the edge of the panel and a stainless bolt and nut through the bracket and panel. Join the two eyes together with stainless screwed links and advise the customer that they should be checked each year, you’ll be surprised how much they wear.
Steve
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I would get the local forge to make up a "U" bracket ie a flat bar right across the top with 90 degree bends at each end going down some 200mm or more.
The eyes for fixing would be welded exactly where needed.
It would screw to the panel along the top but the real fixings would be from 3 screws down each side.
The guy looked to cut corners by doing this himself but still wants the expert help when it doesn’t work out.
If he says there’s a cheaper/simpler/better way then let him do it. -
The bracket Steve has drawn, is exactly what I have and do use. I weld my own up, but they can’t cost much either way. The best way of doing it is a pin, tube and a ball bearing. Bit over-engineered, but it’ll never squeek and you can tension it so it doesn’t swing wildly on a windy day.
In this instance, if he’s bough the bracket, I’d probably just give him the sign and leave him to it.
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Thanks guys, in light of all the comments I am going to give it back to him. I can’t use Steve’s method due to the wooden framing stapled around the edges of the face, the sided are bare ply and you can still see the layers through the badly painted paint job.
If he wants me to get a new full width bracket made up like Peter suggested then I will do it that way but otherwise it’s down to him.
He also made comments like "I’m the professional and know what I’m doing" and "I have the correct insurance to cover it" 😮 He’s obviously realised it’s a bit risky the way he has had it made by a local carpenter and wants me to suss it for him.
I’m walking unless he pays to get it done my way.
Cheers
Warren
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quote Bob Clarkson:The bracket Steve has drawn, is exactly what I have and do use. I weld my own up, but they can’t cost much either way. The best way of doing it is a pin, tube and a ball bearing. Bit over-engineered, but it’ll never squeek and you can tension it so it doesn’t swing wildly on a windy day.In this instance, if he’s bough the bracket, I’d probably just give him the sign and leave him to it.
There is a company called Halls Stage which does a lot of very good/useful fittings, which are ideal for this type of thing, under the section flying brackets used for flying scenery, for serious weight loadings regards Graham Shand
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Hi Warren,
We would supply only in this instance. I wouldn’t fit and guarantee any sign which I did not have full control over the complete process from start to finish. I cannot warranty somebody else’s work and I know my liability insurance would not cover the sign in any eventuality in this instance.Peter
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I would walk away and tell him to contact the company who supplied him with the sign in the first place.
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