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how do i attach a 4×8 HDU sign between 2 posts?
I am looking for a method to attach a 1" thick 4 x 8 HDU sign to the rails between 2 posts without having any fasteners through the face of the sign. I have thought of bonding the HDU to a plywood or aluminum backer and then screwing through the rails into the back of the sign or fastening a track of some sort to the back of the HDU and installing it to the rails. How do you guys handle this sort of install?
Adrian
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7 Replies
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First off, 1" HDU, 4’x8′ between posts will need a 1/2" plywood backing or it will be in 2 pieces before you get off your ladder. Epoxy adhesive will work fine (use it on the edges of the plywood too before painting).
1" angle iron attached along the edge of the plywood (with the angle away from the edge verses overlapping it) to attach it to the posts is about the easiest way.There are other ways too…….take your pick! 🙂
Joe,
Makin Chips and Havin Fun!
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Thanks Joe. The posts will have horizontal rails between them to mount the sign too.
Not a lot of response to this question….. It’s either so simple, no one thinks it’s worth answering or not many people know the answer? I was hoping there was some commercial system available that I haven’t heard of.
I’m reluctant to bond plywood to HDU until I research the different expansion rates of the 2 materials. I’m also considering glueing dibond to the HDU. Any thoughts?Adrian
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Dibond will work and you won’t have to worry about sealing plywood or MDO.
I’m with you…….where are the other opinions????Joe,
Makin Chips and Havin Fun!
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Joe,
I’ve done some more digging and I have found a large outfit that backs up their HDU signs with PVC. I only used the stuff once and it warped in the application I used it in. I’m a bit shy of the stuff now. It was the sawdust impregnated stuff though. The name of it escapes me now. I believe it was from Intecell.
This big outfit that uses PVC also uses 3M uhb tape to bond the two, as near as I can figure out. I think I’ll send them an email and ask for all their trade secrets. Worst they can do is say "no".Adrian
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the lack of replies is probably more to do with the product HDU is not a common used material in the UK. I have worked with it a few times, love the stuff and think it is a great product. but i do not really have the type of customer base that requires its use and i find it a difficult product to sell due to its high price tag over here. i am being sent info on HDU that is being sold in the UK at a much more competitive rate very soon. so maybe things will change… to date, i have 3 sheets of the stuff sitting in my router room, i plan using them on a tutorial or something for our reception area. just never get round to it. 😕
anyway, as i said, love the stuff, great product!With regards to fixing it between posts. yes, i agree it would need to be mounted onto something rigid. i would have thought a .5" ply would be good, but it would weather and rot, were as the HDU will not. Dibond is a good lightweight solution, but i think i would bond it to aluminum. then using .75" tech screws drill through the horizontal bars right into the back of the aluminum and into the HDU. (job done!) If you use Dibond, the tech screws will just thread it and pop back out.
use "open" threaded techs for soft metal.
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Adrian lack of replies means no suitable answers sorry 🙄
Lynn
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quote Lynn:Adrian lack of replies means no suitable answers sorry 🙄
Lynn
Thanks Lynn. I didn’t realize HDU was not widely used over there.
Adrian
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