First sign Job – No Parking – what materials and charges?

[Kev Mayger]

Ashby’s do aluminium sign blanks 0118 981 5343. You could get the blanks in from Ashby’s already coated white then apply reverse cut lettering in red.

Kev

[Andy Gorman]

There are a lot of ways of doing this. Aluminium is more vandal resistant; foamex is cheap but warps easily; Perspex is available in colours but can be smashed. Is graffiti a potential problem? If so, apply the graphics in reverse to the back of a clear perspex panel and flood with red vinyl.

As for suppliers – loads about, where abouts are you?

[Russell Pavey]

Thanks Kev – will give them a phone and find out there costs.

Andy – don’t really think that vandalism is going to be a major prob (had never actually thought of that though). I’m based in Totnes, Devon.

Is Perspex a better choice of material to acrylic as I have just contacted a plastics supplier near to us and he recommends white 5mm acrylic with polished edges. Could I then use the white material to show through as the white letters required or would it be best to apply the white lettering on top of the red.

[Andy Gorman]

Perspex and acrylic – same thing.

Either of your methods will do. Coloured sheet material is usually a bit dearer than white, so it may be cheaper to use red vinyl for the background. Depends how expensive your vinyl is.

[Russell Pavey]

Super stuff Andy

Thanks very much for your time and answering simple newbie questions.

[Martin Pearson]

Russ, what are these signs going to be fitted to, thing you need to watch with acrylic is it is quite brittle and if you are installing on an uneven surface it is quite easy to break or crack it if you haven’t got a lot of experience fitting.

[Russell Pavey]

Martin

I’m not going to be fitting these myself although they want holes in each corner (do I drill these after applying the vinyl?) but I think they are going to be on the side of a building or wall in the car park. Would using a thicker acrylic ie 8 – 10mm sort it?

Thanks

Russ

[Martin Pearson]

Personally I don’t think I would use acrylic, different signmakers have their own ways of doing things so some might.
I would give the customer 2 prices, one for Ally signs and one for foamex. Explain the difference in materials so customer can make choice. You may not be fitting them but you want the customer to come back in the future so it’s still important to get things right.

[David Rowland]

Hi there, I do suggest you have a good look through the threads on this board, at the top there is “search the boards” and it will show lots of discussions about materials etc.

Here is one we was talking about and that was the life of Foamex, how long and what thickness to choose for outside signs

https://www.uksignboards.com/viewtopic.php?p=87394&highlight=foamex#87394

[Russell Pavey]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Will take your advice Martin and use a 10mm Foamex option rather than acrylic.

Will look through the past posts Dave to see if I can spot a good supplier of Foamex. I have been using the search facility but have found some of the terminology used in some of the previous posts a bit above my knowledge of sign materials. I do appreciate the link you sent about outdoor sign materials but am know wondering whether its Foamex or Dibond thats best to use.

[Dave & Rob Lowery]

I find di-bond the best material for this type of sign. It’s rigid and drills easy and comes in all the primary colours. 2mm thick should do this size.
Regards
Dave

[Guy Burt-Davies]

definately Dibond, Foamex will be alright in the short term but for durability and longevity Dibond would be a much better choice.

[John Harding]

Im with kev Mayger

Get the blanks from ashbys specify radiused corners and fixing holes faced in the vinyl of your choice (or powder coated) just add your letters, deliver and invoice sorted 😀

they supply posts as well if required for self supporting signs

John