Hi all,
I was up in Grand Teton National Park the other day and noticed a small routed sign next to one of the rest rooms. On close inspection, the material seems to be 1/2" thick white PVC sandwiched between two layers of medium brown PVC at about 1/8" thick. The lettering was routered into the surface, revealing the white. The whole principle is the same as the engraved name plates we've seen all these years. With this material, there would be no painting or finishing required.
Has anyone seen this substrate? Product name? It certainly looks interesting, and might be cool if the lettering were 3D carved into the surface, allowing for the extra 1/8" thick surface. (just outline all lettering by 1/8", then apply the normal 3D carving passes on a CNC router system)
Mike Jackson
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This is an interactive Bulletin Board on the topics of Sign making, design, fabrication, History, old Books and of coarse Letterheads, Keepers of the craft. The Hand Lettering Forum features links to resources, sign art history, techniques, and artists profiles. Learn more about Letterheads at https://theletterheads.com. Below you'll see Mchat has been added as a live communication portal for trial, and the Main forum Links are listed below.
This is an interactive Bulletin Board on the topics of Sign making, design, fabrication, History, old Books and of coarse Letterheads, Keepers of the craft. The Hand Lettering Forum features links to resources, sign art history, techniques, and artists profiles. Learn more about Letterheads at https://theletterheads.com. Below you'll see Mchat has been added as a live communication portal for trial, and the Main forum Links are listed below.
Interesting new substrate
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Interesting new substrate
Mike Jackson / co-administrator
Golden Era Studios
Vintage Ornamental Clip art
Jackson Hole, WY
Photography site:
Teton Images
Jackson Hole photography blog:
Best of the Tetons
Golden Era Studios
Vintage Ornamental Clip art
Jackson Hole, WY
Photography site:
Teton Images
Jackson Hole photography blog:
Best of the Tetons
Mike,
It is a great product called HDPE - high density polyethylene - AKA: ground up plastic milk jugs with color added.
I wrote an article for SignBusiness about it back in May 2001 - also, not sure which month in 2003, but another article on HDPE we used for some ticket kiosks in Chicago - then another small blurb about it in SB in May 2004. It is a co-extruded plastic that is rolled together (all 3 layers simultaneously) while still viscous - to some degree. We pushed the limits on that first use we wrote about in May 2001. We cut separate letters and glued them into the HDPE (only one adhesive that works) and even used colored epoxy (SignShine, TC Resin, whatever the name is now, etc.) There are ways to make it look better - but that adds one more place of failure - which you don't get using it as is.
It goes by many brand names - PolyTone, PolyCarve, Densetec Sign Board, ColorCore - and comes in 1/2" thick or 3/4" thick (very heavy) 4 x 8, 4 x 10 and 4 x 12 sheets.
Best uses are in signs susceptible to vandalism - parks, nature areas, etc. This stuff takes a hammer like you wouldn't believe - can be wiped down with all types of caustic chemicals like lacquer thinners and is pretty doggone colorfast considering it is plastic - and is fairly bullet-proof to all types of inflicted damage. The first one we put out is over five years old now and still looks great. The park district's and conservation district's/nature conservancy's love it - and we love the material for what it offers in terms of signage that needs to be tough.
It was originally designed (plain colored HDPE) for stall walls in bathrooms. Better than stainless steel in that application - and impossible to write your phone number or bad limericks on.
Hope this helps!!
Jay
It is a great product called HDPE - high density polyethylene - AKA: ground up plastic milk jugs with color added.
I wrote an article for SignBusiness about it back in May 2001 - also, not sure which month in 2003, but another article on HDPE we used for some ticket kiosks in Chicago - then another small blurb about it in SB in May 2004. It is a co-extruded plastic that is rolled together (all 3 layers simultaneously) while still viscous - to some degree. We pushed the limits on that first use we wrote about in May 2001. We cut separate letters and glued them into the HDPE (only one adhesive that works) and even used colored epoxy (SignShine, TC Resin, whatever the name is now, etc.) There are ways to make it look better - but that adds one more place of failure - which you don't get using it as is.
It goes by many brand names - PolyTone, PolyCarve, Densetec Sign Board, ColorCore - and comes in 1/2" thick or 3/4" thick (very heavy) 4 x 8, 4 x 10 and 4 x 12 sheets.
Best uses are in signs susceptible to vandalism - parks, nature areas, etc. This stuff takes a hammer like you wouldn't believe - can be wiped down with all types of caustic chemicals like lacquer thinners and is pretty doggone colorfast considering it is plastic - and is fairly bullet-proof to all types of inflicted damage. The first one we put out is over five years old now and still looks great. The park district's and conservation district's/nature conservancy's love it - and we love the material for what it offers in terms of signage that needs to be tough.
It was originally designed (plain colored HDPE) for stall walls in bathrooms. Better than stainless steel in that application - and impossible to write your phone number or bad limericks on.
Hope this helps!!
Jay
Denver Chapter of the Letterheads