I have customers coming in, telling me they want Coroplast signs, because a certain car dealer in town tells everybody willing to listen, that his signs have been up for 25 years and he has never even touched them. I know those signs from up close; it's regular 4mm Coroplast alright. I haven't been around here long enough to actually know the age of those signs, but this is ridiculous. If you want to give me your expert opinion on the durability of Coroplast, I'll print it out for the next one that comes in with this story... Thanks in advance.
PS: Would you want to buy a used car from that dealer?? Posted by Jillbeans (Member # 1912) on :
As the Coroplast Queen I can verify that I do have 10-year-old hand painted corosigns in existance. BUT They are seasonal ones like "perennials" etc. or Christmas signs. These are only up for a short time each year. I highly doubt that Coroplast was even available 25 years ago, let alone that such material could withstand a brutal winter or two. Let's string this particular dealer up on a chain-link fence with wire ties and see how well he holds up! Love...Jill
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
this is 2004 so minus 25 would be 1979...PLOTTERS DIDNT COME INTO FULL SERVICE TILL THE MID 80'S!!! i think this guy is a "real used car salesman"!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Lotti Prokott (Member # 2684) on :
Never mind plotters, how long has this material been around at all?
Lol, Jill, I like you're way of thinking!
[ April 15, 2004, 01:20 PM: Message edited by: Lotti Prokott ]
Posted by Dale Horn (Member # 4037) on :
Hey those are my customers! One positve spin you could put on it when he goes into the "How much are you quoting ? - that's too much mode(it's always too much). Say hey " you got two decades out of the last ones".
I have one customer that "does it all" cuts meat sells vehicle licences, merchandise. They bought just the letters from me (rated for 1 year). Still going strong after 3 years. Gotta love Saskatchewan. Any one ever take chickens for work? I know this kind of haggling is enough to drive business people over the edge. Makes 3 tier selling real interesting.
Posted by Lotti Prokott (Member # 2684) on :
Hey Dale, you can have those customers back...what were you thinking, sending them my way!? Im not sure if I ever took chicken. I do remember taking Perogies, Buffalo meat, elk sausages, car repairs and farm equipment Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
....ya better tell them people to check the mileage on the cars they are buyin' from that guy too . . . . . he likes to change numbers
Why would he make up a lie about his signs?
Because some people lie just to keep in practice Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
I worked for a sign company in New Mexico that had coroplast signs screwed into the adobe walls of his shop for all 5 years I lived there, & I wouldn't be surprised if they made it the last 10 years too. why wouldn't they? No stress or strain from wind, & plastic has been plaguing this planet based on it's half-life of way too long when we want to throw it away. I think Murphy's law is the only factor in favor of it breaking down when you want it to last.
Posted by Michael Latham (Member # 4477) on :
Coroplast is one of those "plastics" that will be around for 25 years easy, may not look good or the lettering/paint is faded or gone, but the base coroplast should last and last and last. If these signs are protected from the elements, htey could be 25 years old...If Coroplast was around!
Posted by Mark Sheflo (Member # 3608) on :
Hate to rain on the parade....
From Coroplast.com
Coroplast began in 1973 with a sales office in Montreal selling corrugated plastic to the Canadian market. The Granby, Quebec manufacturing plant opened in November 1975. Early market milestones included the use of Coroplast as the sign substrate in promoting the name changes of Esso/Humble Oil to Exxon at service stations across North America. Coroplast‘ was used extensively as the sign substrate for the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games. Sales increased steadily and the Granby manufacturing plant increased its size and capacity in 1981 to include two 48 inch-wide extrusion lines. In 1998, an 80 inch-wide extrusion line was added.
Mark
Posted by Neil D. Butler (Member # 661) on :
Right on Mark, I was screen printing coroplast in the mid 70's, and as far as the durability of coro goes it may last a lot longer than MDO these days, especially the Half in. thick type, I have more faith in that than I do mdo.
Posted by Bob Rochon (Member # 30) on :
Like any substrate, it has its limits, I just saw a real estate sign that was a 4'x6' on an aluminum frame with 3 huge holes in it the other day ( we all know how real estate people can be cheap )
funny, it was replaced with an MDO sign.
so THAT sign didn't last 25 years.
the MDO wont last long either, it wasn't even primed on the back.
It's funny how so many signmakers want to make thier signs last forever but charge prices that only put one meal on the table if that.
[ April 16, 2004, 07:25 AM: Message edited by: Bob Rochon ]
Posted by Bill Modzel (Member # 22) on :
Over 10 years ago I used some missprinted coro to build a roof on my deer hunting blind. I just punched holes in it and wired it to some supports between a few trees. I've replaced some of the support limbs but the same coro is still there. Amazing stuff.
Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
Yep, Coro being a plastic isn't going to deteriorate....unless you punch a hole through it with your fist or run it over with a Hummer.
Although it isn't anywhere near 25 years old...I did have a "firewood for sale" sign stuck out in my front yard all winter and I just brought it in and it looks like brand new......we had a veeerrrrry cold and long winter.
Unless someone steals it...I bet it will last a millenia. The vinyl letters will probably turn white though.
NASA should put one of those in a time capsule and send it up in space with a CD of Deep Purple's greatest hits. Posted by Kissymatina (Member # 2028) on :
quote:Originally posted by Sheila Ferrell: ....Because some people lie just to keep in practice
Priceless Sheila. Posted by Murray MacDonald (Member # 3558) on :
Here's a shoemakers kids story...about five years ago I did our logo on coro for a trade show booth. When we bought our building, we were too busy too do a sign for the front, so I stuck the coro sign over the double doors. That was 41/2 years ago , it's still there, I STILL don't have time, and it still looks pretty good. It ain't vynull, it's One Shot. One of these days.... MUR
Posted by Lotti Prokott (Member # 2684) on :
Hey you, hailed Queen of Coroplast, you have been entirely justified now; how about that?!
I do have a serious question though: Have I been lying to my customers all these years by telling them that this material is only fit for short term applications?? I feel like suddenly everybody is making opposite statements to what I usually hear from you signmakers. Posted by Paul Luszcz (Member # 4042) on :
We just replaced the Coroplast signs at a famous museum here in Plymouth.
They were installed "temporarily" ten years ago.
They looked like metal signs that had been sitting in acid. The plastic face was nearly gone in some places, showing the flutes and the back face.
I don't know if it "oxidizes" or deteriorates in the sun, but they will not last "forever".
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
Lottie, I use 1/4" coroplast occasionally. I report it as temporary use to my customers, always telling them 2 years max.
I have never, and don't forsee, a need to use the thicker stuff because I think it is TOO EXPENSIVE FOR THE PRODUCT THAT IT IS . . .I even think the 1/4 is too much. That stuff should sell for $5 a sheet.
My one experience with the 3/8 thick was when we removed a Pepsi-cola sign that was about 3/8" thick coroplast. I'm sure this sign was NOT up over 10 years. It was yellow, and VERY brittle and mildewed. Mabey it does better in colder climates, but the the brutal heat here will basically disintegrate it.
Pepsi-cola and Coke use it here a lot. They put their logo on about 1/3rd of it, cheap black vinyl for the customer's name and put up these signs for "free" . . . . . and that is one reason I don't like to use it.... I do NOT wanna be identified with that stuff.
I use it for "future home of..." const. signs. Some realty signage, political signs and sometimes for sale advertisment stuff.
It has a place and is handy for some jobs . . .it made great easles at Dixie.... makes good signs for church yard sales and stuff like that too.
Em' used it for a slip-n-slide under the hose last summer . . . . . ....but I will never use it for anything remotely long-term.
And I will never beleive that it can last 25 years in the weather and un-coated.
(edited to put portion of second paragraph in bold copy)
[ April 18, 2004, 09:46 PM: Message edited by: Sheila Ferrell ]
Posted by Neil D. Butler (Member # 661) on :
Sheila, I Disagree on the Half inch thick Coro... This is a very rigid sheet, I installed 2 4ftx24ft Half in coro signs 4 years ago, among many others, 1 is facing south, the other south east, they are as good today as the day I put them up, mdo will not perform the same way, Are they for the very long term?, no I don't think so, but I bet they last 10 years, and 10 years usage in the sign world is not bad at all, for "Economical" signs. Having said all that, I do educate the customer on the more Durable Dibond, and the Pitfalls of Mdo as well, and let them make the decision.
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
Coro can be wonderful stuff...ot junk, depending on your area!
In the northern climates, it is pretty wonderful, and will last for a ery long time.
In the southern climates, with the intense Sun, it will degrade fairly quickly! The Sun will cause it to oxidize, then it will yellow, chalk, and become brittle.
[ April 16, 2004, 03:05 PM: Message edited by: Si Allen ]
Posted by Tasmus (Member # 445) on :
In my experience, after two years (or less) coro becomes brittle and crumbles to the touch. I don't think this is temperature related nearly so much as to UV. I suppose the different suppliers use varying chemical compositions, but in my experience it will get crazy brittle in just a couple years.
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
LOL, Si. I love it when you back me up :x
NEIL!! I will never argue with a guy who can open his front door and access a huge deep-freeze full of beverages, lol Posted by Jon Butterworth (Member # 227) on :
I Agree with Si ... must be the UV factor "down under" (Rt was muttering something about that!) but Coro doesnt last more than a year or so.
Goes yellow and crumbles Posted by Tim Whitcher (Member # 685) on :
I have to agree with Tasmus. I sold some "temporary" coro signs to a guy down the street. Within three years, with a south facing exposure, the face of the coroplast had disintegrated, the vinyl was fine, but the coroplast was crumbling away. I guess if it were sheilded from direct uv exposure, it would last quite a long time, though.
Posted by Michael Latham (Member # 4477) on :
Boy, ya'll must have some BAD sun. I double checked soem signs I had done in hte begining, (5yrs ago, old owner). They look fantastic! Must are somewhat protected from hard sunlight but.... When I moved into this building I lost 2 weeks of prep between shops, close one and open next day in new shop! Coro went up on old sign out front, still looks good! 16 months only though. P.S. the sign still looks like crap, the corplast still looks and feels good.
[ April 17, 2004, 10:35 AM: Message edited by: Michael Latham ]
Posted by Tim Whitcher (Member # 685) on :
Coroplast has practically become a generic term for corrugated plastic. There are many manufacturers of this stuff, and I'm sure some fail before others. Personally, I think the stuff just looks like crap, new or old!
Posted by Bob Stephens (Member # 858) on :
Coro is worth a fortune if used right.
Posted by Laura Butler (Member # 1830) on :
I guess they don't make corplast like they used to.!!!
Posted by david drane (Member # 507) on :
In Australia Corroplast is manufactured and supplied by a Malaysian company called Nylex. It is the same product you use in the states except it is called Corflute. It is available in many different thicknesses and is available in UV treated as well which is more expensive but lasts much longer, "you get what you pay for".From memory I think it became available sometime in the late seventies and was produced as a packing material. As the company found out that a bright spark screen printer was using it for signs the price immediately doubled. I remember that it knocked me around somewhat because at the time I had a good market in real estate signs, because I was the only one in the area with a metal cutting guillotine, because metal was the only available material. The other printers had to wait to get a plumber to cut their steel. So corflute became very popular because it could be cut with a Stanley knife, did not rust and was light weight and did not require painting first, so my metal signs market quickly evaporated.
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