Signs & Methodology

This is a beginner's guide to the basics of casting concrete   For specific details, search online for how to create concrete casting forms. To cast concrete with lettering and a logo if desired, you need a form, concrete and letters. The form can be on a flat surface, into which you can pour your concrete, or the form can be erect with a bottom, sides, a front and a back. Be sure to mix sufficient smooth concrete so that a spill or leak won't scuttle your casting pour. Stir and poke the concrete to reduce incidence of air pockets. For the sake of simplicity, this article focuses on using a flat form or pan for making pavers. After deciding on the form or pan shape and size, follow the basic preparation instructions. I Reverse-cast metal letters with a 7-degree draft for casting f you're casting pavers , especially those with a pattern, design or wording combination, you'll likely want to have a reusable form with multiple-use letters. Letters made to be ...

What kinds of letters are there? Metal: Foundry cast letters,  Flat metal cut letters. Fabricated lighted and plain letters  All are available in custom paint or metals: Aluminum, stainless steel, brass and copper finishes. Plastics: Heat molded letters, Injection molded letters, Molded lighted letters, Flat cut acrylic, Metal film laminated letters Economy : Painted foam letters Metal laminated flat-cut foams What's the best letter to use for my building, monument sign or inside lobby wall? In the past, letter materials had a lot of impact on the cost of the letters. Today with modern tech and recycling, we've been able to significantly reduce waste so many of the letters are similarly priced and warranted for life with the exception of the lighted letters. So if you want a specific "look", that will determine the materials you order. We're available to answer your questions in basic and detailed technical specificati...

Wait, what? Covering over Awnings can be simple Craft ideas below   So what's the scope of this #DIY craft project? We're going to go over how you can cover an awning that may have out-of-date writing on it to update the business name and information. To repair a tear on an awning tent or sail, jacket, canopy or flag, look here. You can cover over old names and information with DuraStik Why would you need to cover an awning? In the "old days", awnings were decorated with a special paint. The paint won't come off, so the best practice is to cover over with more pain- which can look pretty tacky if it's not done right. Modern awnings may be painted or if they're back-lighted, may have an area where light from behind passes thru the letters. This is called an eradicable awning. How can you use DuraStik self-adhesive woven fabrics? • When you're moving into a new store with an awning, • If the information on your awning is out of date, a...

DIY Craft Project: How to add your name to old awnings and cover over previous names, and repair sails, tents and more. This is a practical Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Guide on covering over old awnings, covering old business names and adding your own, or repairing canopies, tents, sails and covers. What is the purpose of this article? We're going to look at low-cost options that may save you hundreds of dollars over replacing an old awning. We'll also cover how to cover up old business names on awnings, repair smaller non-structural tears, and even repair tents, sails and pop-up canopies! Where do I start? For the purpose of clarity, I'll refer to awnings, but this also works to apply in general to tents, canopies, sails, sport team uniforms and to just about any woven fabrics. Will it work on my fabric? Before going any further, you'll need to see if your fabric (awning, tent, jacket, sail, anything) has been treated with silicone, as nothing will stick perman...

" How much is a Sign? " While I'd love to have $17 million dollars* for every time I've been asked "How much is a sign?", I just have to stop and smile at the innocence of the  question .  (*Really, how much could anyone make if they only get a nickel for every time they hear a question?) The reason I get asked "how much is a sign?" at least once a week is likely due to signmakers having made very little progress over the past 40 years in educating the public at large as to the very wide variety of types of signage, identification, branding and directional information systems. Even the word "sign" can mean to put your signature onto something and translates poorly. We just don't have the vocabulary for the myriad of products and categories of signs, so smiling and taking a deep breath is probably a good response. I can hear someone's eyes rolling in their head already. Boring, perhaps but critical if you find yoursel...

Most of us have done this at one time or another;  "We've tried to save some money and time by going directly to a printer (or sign maker), instead of consulting with a graphic designer or marketing person directly. We think we knew what we wanted" even though if they had to put it into words, it might sound like this, "I ... really don't know why I did that" or "I can do a much better job, I've got PhotoShop!" "Oh yeah, that was a waste" or perhaps "I wanted to use every typestyle known to mankind on my 2 x 3.5" business card." The stuff of designer nightmares.  Okay, one more. "I've always liked the Park Avenue script font, but I want it in red with a blue outline and a drop shadow, set into an arch, in ALL CAPS on a brown background that's not too you know, brown, but brown enough. But not brown brown." This is a symptom as yet without a name. Perhaps we can refer to it as "The (wha...

Which is Better? Paint Mask or Stencil? This is a brief article to determine the best product for your project, using a side-by-side comparison of features and drawbacks to each method. Let's start with Stencils. What's a stencil?  Stencils were made of oil board, a resin-impregnated paper card stock, roughly from the 1920s to the 1990s. At that time, several specialty plastics and metals became more popular replacements for the paper and not as easily damaged. Currently, most street markings like the word "STOP" or turn lane arrows are made in sections from metal panels due to their size and the need for flat storage between uses. Polycarbonate plastic and styrene have all but replaced the original oil boards for stencil material. Stencil shows letter bridges to keep letterforms intact. How is it used? A stencil is essentially a panel with cut-outs in it, which mask the non-paint areas. The cut-outs are the place where paint will be brushed, rolled or...