what size of large flat cut lettering panel can i cut?

[Fred McLean]

Di-Bond is the way to go.Large locators if the wall is flat enough
We use PENLOC 2 part adhesive from Eurobond to stick the locators on

Hope this helps 😀

F

[Andy Gorman]

I think I would have it made as a built-up. Even an inch deep would give you room to hide some more substantial fixings and would make the sign more rigid. What about brass locators? They are a lot safer than the plastic ones. Or maybe some ali angle on the back, you know what I mean.

Just thinking out loud, so the above may include some gibberish.

[Rodney Gold]

See what you can get in a 3m length , 5mm pex would work and be pretty rigid. you will need 4 locators , top , bottom , left and right and these will need to be screwed into a wall etc , however I would rather use mirror tape to hold in position and then used marine silicon sealer for pefm fixing (the mirror tape is only to hold it till the silicon gels)

[Phill Fenton]

I took Andy’s advice and priced this up to do it as a built up Aluminium panel with 50mm returns.

However, my client has decided that they would prefer this to be made out of clear acrylic – which I have reservations about. I am concerned that the panel will warp if made from acrylic, and a build up of dirt behind the panel will quickly make the sign look bad. I am also unsure about how to hide fixings and even what fixings to use if using acrylic. Am I right to be concerned or is it feasible to do this in clear acrylic?

[Robert Lambie]

quick reply… I’m with you on that phill… the rear will get filthy and they will not be able to access it to clean it other than you remove, they clean, you fit back on. you just have to look at the back of a panel that’s come out of a panatrim sign to see the results..
although neon/electricity actually attracts the dust build up, look how grubby the clear boxes get. 😕

[Andrew Boyle]

3M x 760mm [the 760mm not too bad] 😀

maybe make it out of 10mm acrylic and use the 30mm dia half on half off fixings from albion [or someone]

about 8 fixings and make up a drilling layout with fixings attached….

you’re not going to be able to hide the fixing so maybe make it part of the design…..

this option would also allow very easy removal for cleaning….

done internal 3050 x 1500mm but I’m sure it would be fine

😕 (?)

[Robert Lambie]

i am not sure "where" your graphics will be on the face of the sign but if fixed by locators there is always the option of having the locators glued "behind" letters/logos etc on the face of the panel… giving it a floating appearance?

again, depends on how much coverage the design has.

[Andy Gorman]

It’s hard to comment without seeing the design but can you hide brass locator fixings behind the text/whatever. The only reason I keep mentioning brass locators is that some of them screw into the acrylic and would be stronger. Downside is they need to be near the edge so you can get a spanner on them. I’m never happy using nylon locators on large stuff because they perish and can be in the habit of popping out if there is any movement of the panel.

[Robert Lambie]

100% correct Andy, that’s what i was thinking… i was "guessing" the logo not to be on the perimeter/design as that’s exactly where you would need those locator’s. i agree also that it is far better to have the brass as oppossed to the nylon ones, but access is a nightmare ide imagine?… i hate doing stainless built-ups with brsss fixings as they cut the hell out of your knuckles when you try tighten the fixings. 😕 :lol1:

[Andy Gorman]

I’ve lost a lost of knuckle over the years, but they are very secure fixings.

I suppose you could use chrome stand-off fixings and just make a feature of them. Quite a few needed for a 3m panel though, and I wouldn’t stand it off too far – probably an inch, otherwise the leverage might be too much.

[Phill Fenton]

Thanks for all the replies. What’s the consensus then? Are we saying that a 3m acrylic panel will be OK providing the right fitting are used? Won’t it warp if there is no allowance made for expansion and contraction in sunlight?

[Andy Gorman]

3mm sounds a bit thin for that size. Of course 10mm would be great but costly. Expansion through heating would depend on the content. Clear acrylic isn’t going to get too warm, but the bits with graphics on might.

[Rodney Gold]

Extruded pex tends to expand in the direction of extrusion , cast will expand equally in all so try use cast (pricier than extruded)
We just make the holes of stand off’s slightly oversize to compensate and dont torque down the retaining nuts/whatever to real tight so it allows for expansion. at the worst you will get a 1% expansion rate over the whole thing , which is about 3cm over its longest dimesion , so you will need about 15mm clearance each side. IE if you doing a 10mm hole , the hole needs to be "slotted" to be 25mm in the side to side direction. The 740mm dimesnion isnt going to be the problem.
I think doing this in clear pex is not a great idea due to the fact you cant hide stand offs and the rear cleaning issues. Advise your client of this. I think 10mm is total overkill for this sign , 5-6mm will be just as good and a hang of a lot cheaper – here in SA , 10mm is way more than double the price of 5mm and of course its way more difficult to process.
What goes on the clear panel anyway?