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Recent content by iam808

  1. Working with Cedar

    Amusing update to this project. Got a call 2 weeks ago that the finish is failing. So I make may way over and yeah, the sign is a mess. Not just the finish but the wood is splitting. Nothing I can do about it onsite so I take the sign down and bring it back to the shop. Proceed to ignore it for...
  2. Cutting Tactile Letters

    It stays in place alright, a little to well! I think I need to tape to the MDF...D/F tape releases easier from then from PVC Tiny little tabs... I think that might help a few of the tight areas. No, I'm replacing suite numbers on a sign, but not tenant names.
  3. Cutting Tactile Letters

    I have a directory to update, in an office building. All the copy is Rowmark tactile, which I have a decent size piece to work with. My end goal is to cut the letters, leave them in the skeleton (or carrier) and then install on site. I've outsourced this plenty of times but this order is so...
  4. Hovering Clients

    I like leave long pauses before asking them to repeat the question. Unless it's directly related to what I'm currently doing and then I'll explain until they get tired of listening.
  5. Adhesive vinyl sq ft pricing - what does that include?

    Cut/Pick/Tape of easy weeding is a sqft price. But if someone needs a complicated design or small text the shop rate gets added. Funny how I consider cut vinyl to be specialty now.
  6. Coro sign handles?

    Piggy backing off the spatula idea, use a 5 gallon paint mixing stick
  7. Is 751C out of stock?

    Oracal has been having trouble for awhile now. My Fellers rep said 3M is also beginning to have supply issues.
  8. CO Experienced sign shop leader needed in Frisco, Colorado

    That is some great custom work - there is a very small pool of people who could "jump right in" and take on projects like that. I'm not surprised you've had trouble with the 50k range, any one who know what's involved here wouldn't find the offer enticing. In my experience a person with 5...
  9. French Cleat - Second Surface Acrylic

    Like JBurton wrote, I used a full coverage, double sided tape adhesive. Similar to the 3M467MP but from a local supplier. It's also worth mentioning that if the panels are large enough, they will bow. You may need to put a center block across the middle to keep it flat. I actually built a frame...
  10. French Cleat - Second Surface Acrylic

    I've done this twice...because the first time it failed. Fairly large panels. The second time I mounted 1/8" PVC to the back of the acrylic and then cut my cleats out of 3/4" PVC and glued it together with PVC glue. Signs have been up for a few years now in a high traffic area with no issues...
  11. Question How do you estimate/quote job?

    I use Freshbooks as an alternative to Quickbooks and I recommend it, especially for smaller shops. The mobile app can be a little wonky but it's proved invaluable to me for on the fly changes and immediate payments without a card reader, etc. Writing a proposal is particularly useful. They...
  12. Anyone seeing loads of material shortages yet?

    Step Stakes - None of my suppliers have the standard economy step stakes. They're saying sometime in June.
  13. Working with Cedar

    Gino - thank you. I am using white clear heart. So how many have you done of the years? Steps are: Stain, and then two coats of gloss clear urethane (Minwax Helman Spar Urethane). Mask & carve. Apply sealer to lettering, (going to go with SR's suggestion of Man O' War). Paint letters, remove...
  14. Working with Cedar

    Thanks for the discussion, very helpful. I think I'm going to take a little from each post and do some test work. SignosaurusRex, the Polycrylic is called out for interior work, have you had any issues using it for exterior?
  15. Working with Cedar

    I need advice on how to work with cedar. The customer is asking for a white washed background, V-carved copy, paint filled black. For the white wash, I'm testing thinned Ronan Aquacote. It achieves the look but I'm not so confident on how well the paint mask will stick throughout fabrication...
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