sign bonding problem

[Lynn Normington]

Colin this may be completely mad and I don’t even know if it exists. you know the rubber that holds car windows in place ?? can you buy it in clear or white and obviously a lot smaller than the car stuff 😳

the men with white coats are here to take me away 😀

Lynn

[Colin Aburrow]

Thanks for trying Lynn

[Dave Bruce]

How about a small bead of silicone on the flat of the dibond, put oil/vasalene on the acrylic face (to stop silicone sticking)then screw together with clear film but not to final tightness. When silicone is dry remove acrylic and clean, trim silicone to give straight edge, inside and out, place print inside and screw back up squeezing silcone to form seal.

Just an idea, never tried it yet.

Dave

[Nick Minall]

how about laminating it first or laminating to one of the sheets?

[Colin Aburrow]

Thanks guys

Dave sounds like a good idea but was hoping to make quite a few of these and I can see using silicone could take up to much time and space. The other problem would be when these are joined together the silicone could effect how print image is seen.

Nick I want to be able to change printed image so laminating would be out.

I think I have given myself an impossible task here.

Thanks

any other ideas greatly welcome

[Nick Minall]

How about a small bead of Vaseline round the edge first?

[Peter Normington]

colin, I havnt got my head around this one, how big is the overall size when the sections are put together? and how will they be joined, I have a few ideas, but before I make a twit of myself, can you post a drawing, to show what you mean?

Peter

[Checkers]

Man, you want it all, don’t you 😀
Print the graphics in reverse on clear, adhesive backed, removable media and laminate to the clear acrylic.
I don’t recall if this was the exact stuff, but it may be worth investigating…
http://www.sihlusa.com/data_sheets/3648.pdf

Checkers
a.k.a. Brian Born
Harrisburg, PA USA

[Colin Aburrow]

Hi Peter

I have tried to attach drawing but not sure how to attach. The size for each panel is 1189 x 841mm A0 and there would probably be 8 in total 4 top 4 bottom. They will be screwed to wall.

Thanks

Colin

[Colin Aburrow]

Hi Checkers

Would be perfect but I can’t use any adhesive as it will affect the end result. I am not making this easy am I.

Thanks

Colin

[Lynn Normington]

colin just quote the guy for new signs every time I don’t think there is an easy solution apart from maybe self cling but that would need printing 🙄

Lynn

[Colin Crow]

Not an ideal solution but you could put some clear removable vinyl through the cutter to produce exact size strips to wrap over the edges a bit like double glazed panels are sealed. Obviously these will remove easy but have limited life. I have also found that Oracle 751 cast clear removes easily from acrylic surfaces – (I use pieces to protect my mobile phone screen!) so would be longer lasting and very clear.

Good luck

[Colin Aburrow]

Lynn I can’t use cling as it has the same problem as adhesive it affects end result. Can’t throw away as each A0 back panel is worth £400 each.

Colin I think that some sort of water proof tape or edging strips or something like that is going to be the answer just finding right one.

Thanks

Any more suggestions welcome however daft they might sound.

Regards
Colin

[Fred McLean]

Is there such a thing as clear instant gasket for car engines and the like?
Sounds as though this would be what your after 😀

[Checkers]

Hi again Colin,
I’m a little confused when you say that the adhesive will effect the final result. What would be your concern?
The reason for asking is because I’ve used a similar material with aqueous inkjet and the results were pleasing. The graphic was easily removed without issues.

Checkers
a.k.a. Brian Born

Harrisburg, PA USA

[Colin Aburrow]

Hi Checkers

The adhesive will affect the light transmission. What I am trying to achieve has to be totally transparent. Sorry I can’t go into to much detail but if this product works the way I hope it will then it is something that I am going to Patent so you can understand me being a bit secretive. I think I might have solved my problem by using waterproof tape around the edge. I have ordered some sample tape to test. Once I have Patent sorted I will post more details.

Thanks

Colin

[David Rogers]

In short – from personal experience you can’t make a good seal to keep, say a paper print from being affected by moisture (even if you think it’s perfect) with either silicone or tapes.

I DID have some sucess on a very small scale (A5) by using a hot glue gun and chamfering the edges of the material and filling the gap with the glue.

The trouble with taping just the edges of large sheets is when it’s exposed to heat & light. It ‘blows’ and bubbles badly as the face & base materials have different expanion coefficients.

Dave Bruce’s idea is actually quite a good one as it’ll allow for a small amount of movement. But again – the gap it will create can lead to moisture ingress / condensation.

Seriously, I think cheap vinyl digi-prints is the way forward! Even if you mount them on 0.75 mm Polycarbonate or 2mm acrylic it’s still cost effective and guarantees a stable result.

[Colin Aburrow]

Hi Dave

I am at the moment testing using clear silicone smeared around the edge which seems to be working ok. I know what you are saying about the tapes but I am running out of options. Somehow I need to stop condensation/moisture getting in.

Thanks

Colin

[Dave Bruce]

Colin would it not be better leaving a vent hole(s) in the bottom edge thus not allowing the ‘space’ to expand and reduce condensation.

Dave

[David Rogers]

quote Colin Aburrow:

Hi Dave

I am at the moment testing using clear silicone smeared around the edge which seems to be working ok……… Somehow I need to stop condensation/moisture getting in.

Thanks

Colin

The first time is moves / expands it’ll break the seal if it’s just a smear on the egdes…..just a thought. ps. How thick is the clear front? The thicker the better.

[Colin Aburrow]

Hi Dave/David

Dave not sure that will work as this will be creating more areas for condensation/moisture to creep in.

David you are probably right about the movement. Materials are 3mm Alubond & 3mm Cast Acrylic which are screwed together so I hope there won’t be to much movement.

I think I will also try Colin & Checkers ideas regarding using cast clear removable vinyl reverse printed and apply to acrylic but I think I will still need to seal to stop condensation/moisture creeping in as this is leaving water marks on acrylic sheet.

Thanks

Colin

[Lee Attewell]

Any problems with leaving a defininate gap between the alubond and the acrylic? Why not print on waterproof material and use a spacer between the two substrates?

[Lee Attewell]

Oh I get you now…

Try out this system mate…http://www.snapperframes.com/

This will sort you out.

I use these quite a lot, and they’re beaut.

[Shane Drew]

I use these guys in oz (snapperframes are good too)

Vista is a brilliant system, and I think will fit the bill for what you are looking for, if I read it correctly

The UK agent is here http://www.vistasystem.com/UK-Home.html

Cheers

[Lee Attewell]

Ohhhhhh I like the look of those Drew…

I’ve just emailed them for info…Cheers.

Hey, as an aside (I know I’m thread hijacking for a sec :D) I need to get a supplier for pop up displays…I’m currently buying from Spandex, but they’re well…Crap! Any suggestions?

PM me if you don’t want the thread hijacked any more buddy :biglol:

[Colin Aburrow]

Hi Shane & Lee

They look great but not quite what I was looking for. I want to be able to but them up together to create one large image. I am planning on having them A0 size and there will be 8 in total 4 top 4 bottom so do not want anything in between each as it will spoil the overall look.

Thanks

Colin

[Shane Drew]

Sorry Colin, didn’t read it right the first time….

Lee, sent you an email mate

Cheers

[Lee Attewell]

Thanks Drew -)