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What do you do about vandalism?! I've had 4 of my HDU signs vandalized. One...twice! What do you do about it? Kids!!!!....they have body slammed two of them...broke them in half. How is the construction on yours to keep them durable? Any help? Judy
-------------------- Judy Hilliker/owner Hae Jude Custom Signs Silver Creek, NY www.haejude.com Posts: 65 | From: Silver Creek, NY 14136 USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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That's really infuriating, I know. How thick HDU are you using? In my experience, I use HDU very little, and when I do, I put a crossbar behind it top and bottom. It means a little more priming and painting, but a 2x4 is harder to break, anyway. There are also metal studs that could be used. When we have vandalism it's usually little delinquents throwing rocks at the raised letters, and my bugaboo is replacing stud mounted letters when the studs on the new letters aren't in the same position as the old!!!
-------------------- Steve Sill Americana Signs 301 E. Main St Front Royal VA 22630 Posts: 6 | From: Front Royal VA | Registered: Dec 2003
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On a d/p sign greater than 36"w, I recommend 3/4"-1" SignFoam over a core of mdo. This system is both strong and resilient. And in 15 years of using SignFoam, I have yet to see it fail.
Bear in mind, however, that nothing is vandal-proof. The problem is not with the signs, it's with the neighborhood morons.
(sp)
[ December 30, 2003, 10:53 AM: Message edited by: Steve Purcell ]
-------------------- Steve Purcell Purcell Woodcarving & Signmaking Cape Cod, MA
************************** Intelligent Design Is No Accident Posts: 900 | From: Cape Cod, MA | Registered: Oct 1999
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Judy, once a group of kids get going on signs as you describe, there's not a lot you can do except reinforce your signs better or go to different construction. Or dream the impossible dream they will get caught in the act.
There's a ground sign here in town that was a hard coat over a foam of some kind. Once the kids figured out that the sign was not concrete, they picked at it and picked at it. This went on for over a year. Then one morning half the sign was gone. The sign is now concrete.
I think the answer to why kids do it is like the question of why people climb Mt Everest. Because it is there and because they can. It's a game to them. They just don't appreciate the damage they are causing. There are no consequences because no one ever gets caught. I have seen many many vandalized signs and know of only one case where anyone was caught and punished. In that case, the kid was tagging walls with a symbol. He was very proud of that symbol because he also used it to decorate all his school books. That's how they got him.
Wish I could give you a happier answer. Vic G
-------------------- Victor Georgiou Danville, CA , USA Posts: 1746 | From: Danville, CA , USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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Hi Judy, I do not try to vandal proof a sign anymore. If you can build it, the can destrot it! What I do is inform every customer to make sure thier new sign is "insured"!!!! That way it is vandal proof...........I can build as many as they can destroy!
-------------------- Tony Vickio The World Famous Vickio Signs 3364 Rt.329 Watkins Glen, NY 14891 t30v@vickiosigns.com 607-535-6241 http://www.vickiosigns.com Posts: 1063 | From: Watkins Glen, New York | Registered: Sep 2001
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Hi Judy, I do not try to vandal proof a sign anymore. If you can build it, the can destrot it! What I do is inform every customer to make sure thier new sign is "insured"!!!! That way it is vandal proof...........I can build as many as they can destroy!
-------------------- Tony Vickio The World Famous Vickio Signs 3364 Rt.329 Watkins Glen, NY 14891 t30v@vickiosigns.com 607-535-6241 http://www.vickiosigns.com Posts: 1063 | From: Watkins Glen, New York | Registered: Sep 2001
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Thanks for the input...has anyone here done any wood (I was asked about that too)like (cedar/redwood) for the carved look like HDU. Is it cost effective? I figured the wood is probably twice as much if not more. Do they even look as smooth as the HDU when finished? I've only used HDU. Judy
-------------------- Judy Hilliker/owner Hae Jude Custom Signs Silver Creek, NY www.haejude.com Posts: 65 | From: Silver Creek, NY 14136 USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Judy If you figure materials only you can do a blasted sign in redwood for about the same price as hdu I think there may ba a little more work involved since the wood comes in 2x4 2x6 2x8 etc and you must glue the blank..stain...etc If you want to try some redwood.. call Matthiews and Field in Rochester they have 2 locations.....one on the north side of town the other in Henrietta.. I can dig out a phone number for you if you want they have some excellent redwood to choose from.
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