Riddle Me This:

IHI

My sgin guy landed a job for the city that is restoring a library and converting it into office space and the city wants the signs to look era specific as they put it, match the woodwork inside wainscoting. So now he called me to build these sign blank frames so he can letter up the aluminum and insert it into/onto these frames and then hang them where they need to go, 8 signs will be outdoors and 2 indoors, all frames must be painted flat black. 6 of the exterior signs will be attached directly to the concrete facade.

Interior wainscoting is nothing more than butt jointed 1x4/6 oak and fancy 1/4 round (with profile routered into it for texture) that runs around the inside perimeter of the 1x's. Pretty simplistic picture frame more less.

NOW the question of the day, what type of material could be used for exterior signs that will hold upto weather, be paintable, easily cut/routered, etc...Thicker the better since we need to countersink through flat backer where sign will go to attach to building so sign will cover anchors for a clean install. Initally he was talking about rabbeting out a small space of the oak 1x's so the thin aluminum will sit in the channel, then the attachment point came up. Then he thought about installing the 1/4 round stuff after he hangs it on the building and then sticks his sign in place, but I'd rather not have any visible nail holes or "joints" where water can penetrate.

Any more questions give a shout, just thinking you guys have dealt with more composite type materials than I have that may be suited for this type of project.

thanks

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Robie

I use MDO (Medium Density Overlay) quite a bit. It's what they use for the big, green highway signs. It comes in 4 x 8 sheets, is waterproof, as long as it doesn't rest on the ground. It's basically well-made plywood with waterproof glue used to glue the laminates together. It's also primed, ready for paint.
You won't find the voids you typically find in regular plywood. It can be routed and sanded smooth. I'm using it to replace arches on an old porch I'm re-doing.
It's about $77.00 per sheet here in Delaware. You'll have to buy it at a plywood distributor or wood supply house...the big boxes don't carry it (around here anyway).
Great stuff!

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If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters. ~Alan Simpson

IHI

That sounds exactly like what I'm looking for, this way I could custom route the exterior to a profile to match existing as closely as possbile.

Can you order it in any thickness? I would love for the meat of the frame to be 1-1.5" and start rabbeting from there, if I have to glue 2 sheets together to achieve, so be it, but would be easier to just order it up if they offer thicker materials.

thanks

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firemike

MDO is the way to go!

IHI

Just got of the phone with menards, they carry 3/4" MDO $53.99 and 1/2" $42.99.

Got my woddy now, so back to drawing board for final design

thanks a bunch guys!

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Robie

MDO comes in 1/4", 1/2", 3/4" and 1" thicknesses. Although it's already primed, I like to give it 2 coats of an oil-based primer before I paint.

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If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters. ~Alan Simpson

IHI

I'm not doing any painting on these items, just the milling and assembly, I guess he's going to take it to a buddy with a body shop and have them sprayed there, assume with a sealer, primer,paint,then top coat to try and preserve the wood for as long as possbile since it'll be outdoors 24/7.

I have a larger sign I have to design with some real simple stair stepped elements for depth, but nothing fancy since everything in the building itself it pretty cut and dry, actually I found it weird inside since typically buildings of this nature/era were noted for intricate wood working designs, this place is very simple in element, which will make my job alot easier.

In all being a city project since it's being taken care of by grants they go low bids only, and like I told my buddy as much as him or I would love to go nuts with details and build for longevity minus typical maintenance, the jobs I've seen around town often reflect the low ball bid they were won by, and even for future reference the city could care less if you did an ooutstanding job that will last for 50+yrs since they're still erquired to go with the low bid on teh next project. I'm just hoping my buddy bid it high enough to cover the expenses for material and my/body shops labor to get a good final product.

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AAPaint

Here's a riddle for you....

How long is a piece of string?

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AA Quality Painting & Pressure Washing LLC
Jacksonville Painters
Jacksonville, FL.

IHI

I know this one....it's either bobbies or beer???

Oh, BTW AA, i forgot to give you a big on your new website!! Looks great, I seen your post and checked it out then wife sidtracked me before I could respond there. Looks great and once we pick back up I'm going to seriously talk to your designers.

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painterman

Try finding a product called Extira. This stuff is awsome. It is an exterior mdf material. I have used it for just the type of application you are talking about.

Stan

AAPaint

Thanks IHI. I'm quite happy with the way it has turned out. Although I'm sorry I couldn't offer advice on your thread, I can answer the riddle!

Riddle: How long is a piece of string?
Answer: Twice the distance from the middle to either end!

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-AAPaint

AA Quality Painting & Pressure Washing LLC
Jacksonville Painters
Jacksonville, FL.