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I have a customer that wants their faces of their channel letters changed to a different color. The existing faces are painted. I thought about putting translucent vinyl on acrylic, but what's the best method of cutting the new acrylic? I have a hand router. Will this do the trick or can I clean the paint off of the existing with denatured alcohol? Also, will the jewel-lite trim need to be replaced? You can tell I don't have a clue on this one.
-------------------- Jeff Poitevint Sign-A-Rama Augusta 4015-M Washington Rd. Martinez, Ga. 30907 706-364-6393 augustasigns@comcast.net www.augustasigns.com Posts: 102 | From: Augusta, Ga. | Registered: May 2004
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Your on the right track.Better to make new then try and clean the old. Two ways to do the faces.... A. make a rubbing of the "can" and mount to the plastic and cut,Replace the trim cap. B.turn the "cans over and use double stick tape the plastic to the back,use a 1/4" router bit with an oversize bearing.rout the leters and make the face side and trimcap. Use #3 or #4 thin glue at first the follow with #16 heavy glue. Let sit an hour and you'll be good to go.
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Is this is one of those jobs where you need to try to keep down labor?? Or materials??
Is there a difference??
It could'nt hurt to try a little 5 minute denatured alcohol test in one corner to see if that paint will come off.... if it does'nt work, what have you lost?? You gotta replace 'em anyway, right??.. . . .If it works pretty well, in that case, you could try the transluscent on clear. This would be a quickie, low material-cost solution replaced by ONLY time.
However, if the trim-cap is really faded & crispy, you need to go with new stuff.
New letters obviously require time AND material. Oh well. That's what we do ain't it??
But still, sometimes, it IS possible to renovate somethin'.
Also, try 'conditioning' the trimcap. They may make something that'll do that these days.
If your goin' with new material to cut the letters anyway, better to buy the colour acrylic you need rather than use transluscent vinyl over clear. It comes in a good variety of colours.
A band saw, and a scroll saw (for the inside cuts) are the easiest way to cut the new letters.
I'm terible at usin' a hand-router unless I'm just cuttin' straight . . but if you're that steady with it, go for it, but bear in mind, unlike wood, the plastic tends to melt and ball-up as it cools, possibly making it difficult to move as slowly and precisly as you need to . . .play around with it.
For making the new faces, another way similar to James description, after removing the old letters, turn the bare cans face down on the new material & draw around them. Use a straight edge to clean up lines. Cut leaving the line.
If you've never done trim cappin' . . .your in for a real treat. . . . how many letters was that again??
-------------------- Signs Sweet Home Alabama
oneshot on chat
"Look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, work like a dog" Posts: 5758 | From: "Sweet Home" Alabama | Registered: Mar 2003
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the trim is always sun burnt, Almost always is brittle so bad that its a waste of time to salvage it..
good luck
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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quote:turn the "cans over and use double stick tape the plastic to the back,use a 1/4" router bit with an oversize bearing
Jim B.: What a slick little idea. The router bearing gives you a nice clearance, too, doesn't it?
I still hate trim capping. I'd rather eat chitlins.
Brad in Kansas City
-------------------- Brad Ferguson See More Signs 7931 Wornall Rd Kansas City, MO 64111 signbrad@yahoo.com 816-739-7316 Posts: 1230 | From: Kansas City, MO, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Depending on what color neon you have and the color you plan to use on the faces, you may have to change the tubing. A company I know had a mismatched combo and ended up with flaming pink letters when illuminated. It made the job a bit hard for them to collect on.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5084 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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