• I want to thank all the members that have upgraded your accounts. I truly appreciate your support of the site monetarily. Supporting the site keeps this site up and running as a lot of work daily goes on behind the scenes. Click to Support Signs101 ...

Mounting vinyl onto wood

Pideas

New Member
When we produce wood signs, we print onto vinyl and then mount onto 1/2" MDO wood. We use a RTG (ready to go) wood with one side painted. We normally mount on the unpainted side so both sides of the wood is protected. For single sided signs, do you mount on the painted side of the wood or the unpainted side?
 

Signstein

New Member
The painted side is considered the "working face", so you would mount to the painted side. Though, if its exterior, you'd still have to seal the edges plus prime and paint the back anyway.
 

Pideas

New Member
stopped using Mdo years ago. it delaminated (wood layers start to come apart) so bad even if you seal the edges, Switch to ACM panels.
we have one customer who prefers it and continues to use it. Most of my other customers have moved over to ACM.
 

Stacey K

I like making signs
I didn't even know anyone still offered painted one-side MDO.

It's a kinda well-known fact, that if you paint one side of plywood or any wood for that matter, the wood will tend to cup. Ya need the same tension coming from both sides when dealing with wood. ACM, not at all.
I didn't know that...I've never really used it though but good to know!
 

Stacey K

I like making signs
It depends. If it's a sign that is meant to be there for a long time and is of a very professional nature then 6mm but it's heavy. You can also use Alumalite which is light but you should use an edge cap for a more finished look. If it's a work site sign screwed to 2x4's, a sign at a baseball field advertising a sponsor, then 3mm.

There is a cost difference between Alumalite and 6mm. Sometimes the customer doesn't care about the weight so in that case just use the 6mm. If they do and they want a nice finished look use the Alumalite and the plastic edge cap. I once made an oval sign from Alumalite and a flexible edge cap. It still looks great after 8 years! The edge cap is very cheap and easy to apply with a little silicone to hold it in place, Liquid Nails or whatever.

 

Texas_Signmaker

Very Active Signmaker
I do wood signs often because a few regulars spec it. Get the two-sided ready to go boards from Grimco or Nglantz. Edges and both sides are painted. Not sure why you'd only get one side painted...
 

Pideas

New Member
I do wood signs often because a few regulars spec it. Get the two-sided ready to go boards from Grimco or Nglantz. Edges and both sides are painted. Not sure why you'd only get one side painted...
I only use the one side because we mount vinyl to the other side. I'm not sure if there's a benefit to mounting onto painted wood vs unpainted.
 
Top