Need to re-do gold lettering on 10foot fibreglass apple

[signmeup]

This is the Big Apple. It's about 10 feet in diameter and it's about 16 feet tall. It needs new lettering. The lettering is vinyl...or it was vinyl. Now it's mostly glue.

No one remembers who made the apple or obviously what it was painted with. I can tell it was sprayed but that's about it. Under the paint is a layer of grey primer(I assume it's primer) and under that it looks like red paint or gel coat....can't tell for sure. There are no cracks or alligatored areas.

The paint is well adheared to the thing but badly chalked on the south face....which is the face that the lettering is on. I think I need to paint the apple to get rid of the substantial ghost that will be left behind. I thought I would scuff sand the whole apple with 320 in my random orbit sander and re-paint with Rustolium and a foam roller. (It left a decent finish on a test I did with scrap Alupanel.)


Am I on the right track ....or heading for disaster? I haven't given a quote yet....just measured the thing and picked at the edge of one of the letters.

 

[SignManiac]

I'd say you're on the right track for refinishing. Maybe add some generic hardener to the enamel when you paint.

 

[Jillbeans]

Hmmm.
I am thinking maybe a pressure washer would be a good idea too, after the sanding step to get rid of any dust/gunk etc.
I have some ancient Rustoluem signs out there so I can attest to its longevity. You might also want to give Ronan Speednamel a try. I was really pleased with it on my big Wendy's sign from last summer.

I'd make the lettering a little bit smaller, fix the kerning on the "W/I" and maybe paint it in white rather than gold for more contrast.
It actually looks like a fun job!
Love....Jill

 

[signmeup]

So you think I should paint the lettering? I was gonna stick vynull on it again. I suppose I could mask it with paint mask and paint it. More Rustolium?

 

[signmeup]

Jill, it does look like a fun job to me too. I should be able to get paint just about all over me on an odd shaped item like this. I'll already be pink from the sanding dust.

Good suggestion on making the text smaller. It would be whole lot easier to read. It's only 30 feet from the road. I might be able to sneek in a different font too.

 

[Jillbeans]

I know I'd have a hard time vynulling that thing.
I think (if possible) I would project the lettering at night.
A paint mask would be no easier than applying vinyl.
You could use a pounce pattern too I guess.
I think after painting the red part I would wait a few days before doing the lettering.
I used Ronan bulletin enamel on my Wendy's sign but white 1-Shot would probably be just fine.
You could even make a bit of a green spot (I know, no Granny Smiths) blended into the red.
...or even a bruise. Just kidding!!!!!!

 

[Craig Sjoquist]

agrees with your process whatever paint you use is fine... no vinyl just use as a stencil paint away ..remove stencil right after painting ... do not wait even a half hour

clear coat with Ronan UV Aquathane .. it will last 30% to 50% longer maybe more .. being red ?

 

[Craig Sjoquist]

Oh yea ..gold lettering would look alot better with black outline add a shade to the main word oh yeaaa
is it bronze powder gold or imitation gold paint the black will pop it out nice

 

[GypsyGraphics]

Just cover the whole thing in caramel and call it done. nuts optional

sorry... must be getting close to lunch time

 

[signmeup]

Hell....I might as well gild the lettering!

 

[Jillbeans]

Yum! GG you just made my mouth water.

Hey if gilding outdoors you will probably have to go with patent leaf.
It's real easy to blow away a bunch of money's worth of loose leaf if a good wind comes up. Yes, I've done that.
What about a white to cream fade on the name and cream on the subcopy?

 

[OldPaint]

IS IT METAL OR FIBERGLASS???? iam sure you dont want to attack that with an ORBITAL SANDER, you will be there a month. i would find a guy with a portable sandblaster, to get the glue off and some of the bad parts of the paint, and reprime and paint it with a sherwin williams INDUSTRIAL PAINT. expensive but the right paint for the job since its gona be red, and that it is a high fade color. wait a week, and THEN i would draw each individual letter with a card board template that is the width and height of the letters.......because of the curvature of the apple. gold paint is not one of the best for longevity.i would look into some AUTOMOTIVE GOLD PAINT if you want it to last and you would have to brush it quick. and i agree a black line would be the best to make it look complete.

 

[signmeup]

It's fibreglass OP. The orbital is a Dewalt random orbit sander. I once stripped a car to bare metal with it. This just needs a scuff sand to clean off the chalked side and and give the new paint something to grip. The paint is actually in pretty good shape. It's the ghosting that'll look awefull if I don't re-paint it. The glue may tough to remove. There's just a hint of the vinyl left and it's all alligatored and dusty, but just gummy enough to make sanding look like it will be a hard job.

I don't know if I can get Sherwin Williams here. You don't think Rustoleum will do the trick?

 

[Billct2]

Since it's fiberglass I would clean the glue, scuff it, paint with a marine finish and then
(if they'd pay for it) gild, spin and outline the lettering.

 

[signmeup]

Marine paint! My brother was telling me he bought some marine paint for his cape island at some local hardware store. I'll have to give him a call and find out where it was. Thanks Bill.

I just checked my sample of Rustoleum and it's still sticky....that ain't gonna cut it. I want something that doesn't take 3 days to dry. My luck I'll paint the thing the day the Mayflies hatch.

 

[Jillbeans]

I used Ronan's Speednamel on my big sign.
Not sure if it's available up there but I liked working with it.
I had red hands for about a week afterward so I know it's durable.

 

[signmeup]

Thanks Jill. I've never seen it offered anywhere around here. This stuff sounds even better: Ronan Ron-Tech DTM Industrial Enamel .....it's water based. (Same link as you posted)

 

[JR's]

posted by GG

Just cover the whole thing in caramel and call it done. nuts optional

sorry... must be getting close to lunch time

JR

 

[Jillbeans]

I saw that too but would worry if the water-based stuff would fade fast.
Especially red.
(there is a market near here called the golden apple, very hard to read sign, and my son calls it the rotten apple)