posted
Customer has a fair food trailer with several broken plastic signs. The white plastic signs are backlit with fluorescents. Is acrylic or polycarb a better choice to make the replacements?
-------------------- Dana Blair Blair Signs Wooster, OH www.blairsigns.com
If sign makers go on strike, is there anything written on their picket signs? Posts: 835 | From: Wooster, OH, USA | Registered: Jul 1999
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-------------------- Mark Kottwitz Kottwitz Graphics Ridgely, MD www.SeeMySignWork.com -------------------------- Imagination is more important than knowledge. -- Albert Einstein Posts: 746 | From: Ridgely, MD | Registered: Oct 2000
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And why is that? Does the poly not yellow as it ages?
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3812 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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-------------------- Dana Blair Blair Signs Wooster, OH www.blairsigns.com
If sign makers go on strike, is there anything written on their picket signs? Posts: 835 | From: Wooster, OH, USA | Registered: Jul 1999
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posted
Polycarbonate is bulletproof to some extend and is the more durable option, but the white isn't as bright. Acrylic is much more brittle, but is a much brighter white an it retains that white color better, as polycarbonate is known to yellow with age.
Either one is a fine replacement option, but if you want the new panels to match the old panels better, go with whatever was used originally. Any yellowing or a dull white color will give you the indication that they are polycarbonate. If they are a very bright white, they are acrylic.
-------------------- John Moritz Simply Signs & Screenprinting 1001 D West Mt. Vernon St. Metamora, IL 61548 Phone 309.849.9016 Fax 309.849.9017 Posts: 24 | From: Metamora, IL | Registered: Jan 2013
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You know, something to think about, Dana....almost any kind of paint or finish color will somehow fade or discolor a little with time.
If you're doing the whole face or job at one time, it will all discolor uniformly.
Given the fact that the polycarbonate will not break, under most any normal circumstances, why go with anything else? Most people would never notice the gradual discoloration anyway.
Used to be, poly was much more expensive than acrylic. Not so much anymore.
-------------------- Dale Feicke Grafix 714 East St. Mendenhall, MS 39114
"I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." Posts: 2963 | From: Mendenhall, MS | Registered: Apr 1999
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If breakage is an issue I would go with the polycarb. We did a lighted sign about 3 years ago in a high crime area. To date I don't see any discoloration. The cost was higher initially but it's cheaper in the long run than replacing the faces.
-------------------- Jean Shimp Shimp Sign & Design Co. Jacksonville Beach, Fl Posts: 1266 | From: Jacksonville Beach, Fl. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I would go with polycarb every time. The slight yellowing takes many years to show up and isn't as bad as you think. In fact most people don't even know it has yellowed until they see a new piece next to it. If you're worried about it, design him something nice with lots of color. It's real easy if they are flat panels. Here's one I did with a minimum of white showing. It is 10 years old and still looks white. Course we don't get a lot of sun up here in the Great Lakes.
[ September 04, 2015, 09:23 PM: Message edited by: Dave Sherby ]
-------------------- Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 sherwoodsign@sbcglobal.net Posts: 5396 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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posted
There is a material called sta tuf. Stronger than acrylic but retains its whiteness.
-------------------- Lynda Yoder Wayne Yoder Signs & Designs 4735 List Rd Grass Lake, MI 5176884951 Posts: 154 | From: Grass Lake, MI | Registered: Feb 2007
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