Recommended thickness of angle iron – Box Signs

[Robert Lambie]

Hi David

I often use:
2mm aluminium, by 50mm x 50mm Angle

If the pan is large and in two or more parts:
2.5mm – 3mm thick Aluminium by 75mm x 75mm Angle

You will find that when you have a rigid level shelf to slide the pan onto, it gives you a much better fixing, and allows any panel joins to close neatly and flush.

additionally, I always use spacer bars riveted to create a frame. so the whole thing sits square and is much faster and more secure to fix onto.

[David Stevenson]

Thanks Robert.

So when you say make a frame, do you mitre the corners and use angle pieces riveted on to join them, or just cut the ends square and rivet them then? Also when you mention spacer bars I take it’s a vertical bar in the centre to keep the frames shape?

We deal with these guys so going to get some ordered up – https://www.aalco.co.uk/online-tools/product-finder/default.aspx

Thanks

[Colin Crabb]

we use 3mm for the frames, nice an solid.

[Jeff]

2mm top and bottom. i only do the sides if it is over 3 or 4 feet deep.

[Mark Johnston]

in the past we would use 2×2 wooden batons but now use 2mm angle on the top and bottom full length.
if the pan is deep i would add two for the side also, but not as a complete frame.

[David Stevenson]

Thanks as always folks for your help. We we’re getting a bit tired working with wooden batons, especially when it was warped and you were trying to join panels together. Going to get some aluminium ordered up and use this going forward. Initially I’d thought about making complete frames no matter the size of the sign but based on the comments here it’s overkill for small signs.