what are the different materials available i can use?

[sammyr]

correx is the fluted boards used for estate agents signs

foamex is an expanded rigid foam used for panels in panatrim, although 10mm & above can be used without trim

suppliers:

william cox http://www.williaamcox.co.uk.
amari plastics http://www.amariplastics.com/links/suppliers.asp
rightons
adp

these are all natiuonal suppliers & so just look on the net or phone book

[Robert Lambie]

hi paul.. just on the boards for a few moments mate.. if i dont reply soon reply and remind me.. ill try knock you up a short list of this and that to try out..

its actualy a good question you have asked. many are unsure..
its down to trial and error.. so why not ask here and save yourself some coins 😉

[Lorraine Buchan]

Interesting post how about listing an expected life span as well?

[sammyr]

lifespan of what?

[Lorraine Buchan]

Life span of the substrates.

i.e forrex classic, doesn’t hold it’s colour in outdoors use as long as forrex top does

[Henry Barker]

I hardly ever used Forex outdoors on a “permanent” sign, beacuse of the way it looks when it gets hot and when its cold up here it beacomes very brittle, that said I use alot of it for indoor signage.

For outdoors I use 2mm aluminium, which I laminate with vinyl or paint if the primary colours that it is supplied in are not suitable. We bend the sides 25mm all round so that whem mounting you see no screws on the front side.

[sammyr]

OTHER THAN WHITE, FOAM BOARDS ARE NOT FOR EXTERIOR AS THEY ARE NOT UV STABLE, IF COLOUR b/g IS NEEDED, OVERLAY WHITE WITH GOOD VINYL.

ALSO, CONSIDER USING IN PANATRIM AS THIS MAKES SUCH A BETTER LOOKING SIGN.

TRY REYNOBOND FROM AMARI PLASTICS, GREAT COLOURS, ALL EXTERIOR, ASK FOR SAMPLES………THEY WILL SEND THEM.

[Gi Graphics]

quote Robert Lambie:

hi paul.. just on the boards for a few moments mate.. if i dont reply soon reply and remind me.. ill try knock you up a short list of this and that to try out..

Hi
You did say to remind you. So here it is 😀
Your help would be appreciated.
Cheers
Paul

[Gi Graphics]

Hi All
Just another gentle reminder. It seems as though my original post has slipped by. Some sort of list of common materials would really be of help.
Regards
Paul

[Lorraine Buchan]

Well i’ll list what i know:

Correx/Euroflute – used for eastate agents boards & normally screen printed various thicknesses sheets 8x4ft

Forex/Foamalux/Foam PVC – Rigid Foam PVC Light weight, marks easily, used as a cheaper alternative for shop signs that don’t require back illuminating, only white is uv stable various thicknesses sheets 8x4ft

Forex top/Foamalux ultra – as above but with a harder shiny gloss surface on one side, more durable, colours uv stable thickness & size as above

Dibond/Alucolour/Rynobond – PVC (i think) sandwiched between two thin sheets of aluminium. Don’t know sizes or thicknesses.

Perspex/Plexiglas – used for shop signage that requires backlighting
Again I don’t know sizes or thicknesses.

Please don’t shoot me down (:) as these discriptions are by no means gospel and i’m sure i am lacking in many details and descriptions. I was only having a go at helping out

You can get all of these sheet materials from the likes of Cox plastics, Armari Plastics, Europoint Display, Brett Martin (Think they are part of Cox or vise versa)

I hope this sheds a dim light

[Phill Fenton]

Forrex, Foamalux and similar are lightweight PVC boards used for lots of signs. Only white is strictly speaking suitable for outdoors as coloured boards of this type will fade. There are gloss versions of these called Forrex top/Foamalux Ultra. These are slightly more expensive and because of the gloss finish the coloured boards will not fade under UV so are deemed suitable for outdoors.

Acrylic (e.g. perspex) is much more expensive than the above but has a good gloss finish. Opal acrylic is white but allows light to pass through so is used for lighboxes.

Both the above benefit from being fitted in panatrim type frames as this allows the material to expand and contract without the panels warping

Correx is a fluted plastic – just like corrugated cardboard only made from plastic. Very cheap to buy and also very tough. For example these are used by estate agents for “For Sale” signs.

Dibond and similar are aluminium/rubber core composite materials. Very tough and durable. Won’t expand and contract in sunlight in the way that Forrex foamalux and other plastics will. Ideal choice for a tough durable exterior sign that is to be fitted without a pantrim type of frame.

These are the main materials that we use as they require no further preparation prior to lettering (any wooden board for example would need to be painted or varnished first) – but there are lots of others.

I hope this helps 😀

[Phill Fenton]

Darn! – Lorraine beat me to it 😆

[Henry Barker]

Everybody has mentioned Forex and Foamalux and Dibond which is strong and versatile and great for outdoors but you can make loads of good looking exterior signs using aluminium sheets like those called Signicolor from Alcan or from Alumax Coated products (UK) Ltd
in Corby Northants, not sure they sell direct but I have some of their materials here available in 1.6mm or 2mm, most of my signs that are around 1200mm x 2450mm are 2mm aluminium smaller are 1.5-1.6, you can paint laminate and turn around in a fast time.

And they last very well outside, much better than plastics.

[Gi Graphics]

😀 Thanks folks,
Just what I needed. You’ve been a big help.
Regards
Paul