Installing 1/4" PVC Letters

[Tony Rome]

Hey guys,
This will be my first time installing PVC (maybe Gatorfoam) letters onto drywall.
I have done some research and I am fine with the attachment (I will be using 3M DS Tape)
It is the lining up on the wall I am concerned about.
It is a long sentence containing 6 words (25 letters).
My question is how do I line these individual letters up straight?
I saw a video where I guy had a stencil, taped it to the wall and put the pieces in like a puzzle, is that the best way?
If so, how do I make this stencil? I have a plotter but it needs to cut all the way through for a stencil not just score to weed, unless there is something I don't know about.
This is interior by the way on painted drywall and I will inform the customer they will need to repaint.
THANKS!!!

 

[Billct2]

You can make a spacing tape, a 1" wide strip of paper that has the bottom of the letters marked, tape to wall and apply letters. Gemini had these, you can see how they work on their site.
The other thing is to do a paper "stencil" and cut out the letters. No need for centers.

 

[Tony Rome]

Thanks I will check them out.
By the way do you guys recommend I use Harbor and their cut shop (Buy the 4x8 sheet of PVC and send them the cut file to cut each individual letter)
Or is it less expensive to find a company like Gemini that specifically deals in PVC Letters (maybe they stock them and will be cheaper)?

 

[Kottwitz-Graphics]

If you order from harbor, you will have to finish the letters (clean all the edges), but that's not too big of a deal...

I make an install pattern with my plotter (pen attachment on paper) and use a pounce wheel. I pounce the pattern and install with double sided tape....

 

[Tony Rome]

If you order from harbor, you will have to finish the letters (clean all the edges), but that's not too big of a deal...

I make an install pattern with my plotter (pen attachment on paper) and use a pounce wheel. I pounce the pattern and install with double sided tape....

What do you recommend, (Harbor cutting vs Pre-Cut) do you know what is less cost and besides Gemini do you know any other companies I should look into?
Thanks

 

[Kottwitz-Graphics]

What do you recommend, (Harbor cutting vs Pre-Cut) do you know what is less cost and besides Gemini do you know any other companies I should look into?
Thanks

I can't say which would be cheaper. I was not aware that Gemini had flat pvc letters. I have only used their molded lettering and the thick acrylic lettering. The only way to determine would be get a quote from both.

As far as any other vendors, I'm not too sure. I do a lot in house with my own equipment, the only time I go thru harbor is if it's too large for my machine (I only have a 27" x 48" bed) or if I just don't have the time. Anyone with a router could produce pvc letters.

 

[visual800]

here you go, i posted this on my facebook page cause some one asked how the hell we get stuff straight

 

[Gino]

Produce the sentence on your plotter with an outline only on paper. Get yourself a pounce wheel and pounce the important areas. The wheel costs a few dollars. Tape it to the wall with blue painter's tape, put your powder on and you're good to go. Save the pattern, in case they want another site done.

 

[DerbyCitySignGuy]

I saw a video where I guy had a stencil, taped it to the wall and put the pieces in like a puzzle, is that the best way?
If so, how do I make this stencil? I have a plotter but it needs to cut all the way through for a stencil not just score to weed, unless there is something I don't know about.

We generally use whatever cheap/free/scrap vinyl we have laying around, cut completely through to create a template, then just reverse weed and use the backing paper to create our template. It's by the far the fastest/easiest way, in my opinion.

 

[tbullo]

I put the VHB tape on the letters. I then stick these letters onto a clear liner that is over top of my pattern. Then I transfer tape them in place. Go to job site and line up on wall like vinyl. Tape top and pull liner out from behind and stick to wall. Pic below is after liner was pulled.
These letters were 1/2'' pvc with brushed metal face.

 

[J Hill Designs]

I put the VHB tape on the letters. I then stick these letters onto a clear liner that is over top of my pattern. Then I transfer tape them in place. Go to job site and line up on wall like vinyl. Tape top and pull liner out from behind and stick to wall. Pic below is after liner was pulled.
These letters were 1/2'' pvc with brushed metal face.

thats pretty ingenious thanks

 

[Billct2]

I like this idea. I remeber one of the plastic letter companies (maybe Scott) would supply letters prespaced on transfer tape

 

[tbullo]

Yes. All the work is done in the shop. You get to the job and if the customer knows exactly where they want it, you are done in minutes and the customer is amazed. I've been doing it like this for years.

 

[Tony Rome]

here you go, i posted this on my facebook page cause some one asked how the hell we get stuff straight

I think I like this the best.
So would all I have to do is print (are use plotter pen) a few inches of the bottom for reference and then just make sure the tape line is straight and pretty much eye it up for spacing with the guide I printed?

 

[visual800]

I think I like this the best.
So would all I have to do is print (are use plotter pen) a few inches of the bottom for reference and then just make sure the tape line is straight and pretty much eye it up for spacing with the guide I printed?

its just that easy sir

 

[ams]

Use VHB tape for mounting. Only as a last resort you can use super glue but not recommended (works well tho)
Remember that once the letter is on there, it's going to rip paint and drywall off the wall when removed.

As for the pattern, you need a pattern. Get a roll of brown craft paper, place all letters on it exactly how you want it, use a pen and draw around them. Then cut out little notches 2 or 3 per letter. Put it on the wall and use a pen and mark the notches on the wall. Remove the pattern and stick up the letters. Super easy.

 

[J Hill Designs]

Use VHB tape for mounting. Only as a last resort you can use super glue but not recommended (works well tho)
Remember that once the letter is on there, it's going to rip paint and drywall off the wall when removed.

As for the pattern, you need a pattern. Get a roll of brown craft paper, place all letters on it exactly how you want it, use a pen and draw around them. Then cut out little notches 2 or 3 per letter. Put it on the wall and use a pen and mark the notches on the wall. Remove the pattern and stick up the letters. Super easy.

a) superglue?!?
b) pen plot the letters to save (lots of) time

 

[rossmosh]

I've cut a good amount of PVC. It's one of the more underrated materials in the sign industry IMO. It does have a few downsides. One is that you should assume you have to paint. I can tell you I worked at a very large sign shop running one of their CNC machines. They only had blue chip clients. Pretty much every letter we cut was sent to the paint deptarment. This included white PVC letters being painted white and black being painted black. It was done to account for any surface issues and to keep the letters looking as consistent as possible. My opinion is white PVC you can typically get away with not painting but any other color, it's hit or miss. A lot of PVC doesn't come masked and as a result, the finish will often be less than pristine. PVC paints extremely easily so that's the plus side, but I think it would be questionable to expect to buy a piece of black PVC and expect the surface finish to be "perfect". If you are going to buy PVC, I recommend Palight primarily because it does have a masked face. The trade off is the edge quality isn't as good because it's a bit less dense of a PVC compared to other manufacturers.

 

[J Hill Designs]

I've cut a good amount of PVC. It's one of the more underrated materials in the sign industry IMO. It does have a few downsides. One is that you should assume you have to paint. I can tell you I worked at a very large sign shop running one of their CNC machines. They only had blue chip clients. Pretty much every letter we cut was sent to the paint deptarment. This included white PVC letters being painted white and black being painted black. It was done to account for any surface issues and to keep the letters looking as consistent as possible. My opinion is white PVC you can typically get away with not painting but any other color, it's hit or miss. A lot of PVC doesn't come masked and as a result, the finish will often be less than pristine. PVC paints extremely easily so that's the plus side, but I think it would be questionable to expect to buy a piece of black PVC and expect the surface finish to be "perfect". If you are going to buy PVC, I recommend Palight primarily because it does have a masked face. The trade off is the edge quality isn't as good because it's a bit less dense of a PVC compared to other manufacturers.

we typically color the face with cast vinyl and then cut, leaving the edge black
If I want high end painted letters I will use gemini FCO aluminum

 

[ams]

a) superglue?!?
b) pen plot the letters to save (lots of) time

Like I said, it's not recommended and I've had to do it sometimes but it works great.
Not everyone has a pen plot.