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Sandblasting removes passivation and introduces contaminants that can cause stains and rust. So if you sandblast to etch the graphics, it sounds like they want you to passivate the sandblasted area before you paint fill. Passivation will keep the metal from rusting, and it may help the paint to...
1.4mm tip is recommended for Matthews.
Of course, orange peel is when the film is not flowing well enough. Have you tried a slower reducer? You did not mention which one you are using. If you are using 6379 (the fastest), try using 45280, the next slowest. I frequently mix them together, also...
I remember constant sore and sometimes bloody fingers and an aching back from building channel letters back in the day without today's automated equipment. The only power-assisted tools we had were a shear, a slitter and a notcher. Mind-numbing work in a cold shop till I never wanted to see a...
I prefer a flexible face for a sign that size, assuming the client would spring for a retro kit.
If not, a hanging bar is essential at this size, in my opinion. Also, a pan face is more rigid and more resistant to blowout than a flat face.
Brad in Kansas City
Most logo revisions are unpopular. Remember when Gap, the clothing store, tried to change their logo? The hoo-ha was deafening, mostly from the armchair (wannabee) designer crowd. The online disapproval was so loud that the company reverted to its old logo. (This was also a comment on the...
If you can't stud mount make sure you use an adhesive that does not dry hard. Silicone or Lexel has a much greater chance of sticking to the acrylic. These adhesives allow movement, whereas a hard glue does not. The bond to the brick is not nearly as much a problem as the bond to the plastic...
It goes without saying that the flexible face should be thoroughly cleaned. It may look clean but have a layer of grime that is not apparent.
Also, it is important to not forget to squeegee a second time after pulling the premask. This is standard procedure for installing any vinyl, of course...
Carefully job cost this. Track time on each phase. As you become accustomed to installing letters, you will become familiar with the time needed for various wall types and situations.
Job costing is essential on new types of work. It should also be done periodically on familiar work.
Brad
I have used pads a handful of times in 45 years. The additional adhesive area is generally unnecessary. And on smaller letters, they are unsightly, in my opinion. If you are worried about standing off the letters on the same plane with each other, you can use sleeves for spacers. Gemini may sell...
Industry standard calls for a concealed stud mount. Adhesive alone will result in a substandard install that may fail.
Ask Gemini for a drilling template. Make sure the letters line up with the template I have received templates before that had mistakes, though it's rare.
Tape the pattern to...
I always stocked a box each of 1/4-inch and 3/16-inch diameter S-hooks in stainless steel. They are hard to find in stainless, so I ordered them.
One disadvantage of an S-hook is that it will sometimes allow thin material, like .040" or .063" aluminum, to find its way through the closure when...
.080" aluminum is the industry standard for street signs.
Also, chains allow unwanted sideways movement and contact with the post. Better to use a single link.
Brad in Kansas City
Thanks for all the replies.
As you can see from all the pictures, the truck he is looking at is a F450 chassis, a box truck with duallys. The tool boxes are all opened from the outside. The reach is 40 or 45 feet, long enough for parking lot lights. Weight capacity is 300+, like a typical...
Thanks for the replies.
I was hoping someone had experience with the latest generation of Van Ladder.
A lot of the past complaints have been addressed on the latest version. No tower penetrating the interior. Lots of accessible tool boxes. And they are putting it on a heavier vehicle. It's...
A flex face normally requires a reinforced cabinet to handle the stress placed upon it by the tensioned face, unless you use a retrofit kit. A retrofit kit uses a frame that carries the tension of the face. They are not cheap, but they work great. You can do a homemade frame of welded 1-inch...
Paint
Always water base on masonry. The alkali in masonry is the natural enemy of oil based colors like One Shot.
You can use house paint, but the pigments are not as pure as a mural paint like Nova Colors. House paints have lots of titanium dioxide diluting the pigments. Of course, if the...
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