Creative doesn’t stop with the fabrication of our signs and projects. From the design onwards I try to think of how we will support our projects while we build them, how to safely transport them (without a scratch) and how to securely and permanently mount them in their final home. The Lark Rise Sign proved to be especially challenging. We’ll dig a hole onsite and plant the base into some concrete to keep it upright. To fabricate and paint the sign I welded a flat plate to the bottom of the sign. It bolted to a stand for fabrication and to a post (which will go into the concrete).
I could transport the sign upright as it would have been too tall. So we had to think up something creative. We don’t want to rub any blended paint off of the sign or post surfaces. So the solution was to support the sign by the sturdy metal points. It would be easy and quick to paint on site after the sign is installed. I welded up three metal cradles which I could fasten to the wooden deck of the trailer with some lag bolts. The sign would slip onto the cradle, suspended of the trailer bed for transport.
I’ll tie a red flag to the bottom post and then strap the sign down tight to the trailer real good – all straps will be hooked to the melt parts of the sign. We don’t want any scratches to the finished paint.
-dan
Published with permission from precisionboard.blogspot.com. Source.