If you’re curious about using Precision Board high-density urethane for signage, the November issue of Sign Builder Illustrated has a great article featuring Kevin Pirok of Pirok Design in Illinois. HDU’s very low expansion and contraction rate has allowed Pirok to use the substrate with different materials in custom pieces for clients—mixed media, if you will. He finds it easy to carve, easy on his machines, and easy to come up with big ideas for a small shop. Check out these excerpts and then click on the link at the end to read the full article online.
High-density urethane (HDU) has proven a popular substrate for shops looking to create lighter weight custom signage that mimics the appearance and textures of heavier materials.
“If you’re trying to [replicate] a stone, brick, or wood effect, HDU can simulate this very well,” says sign maker Kevin Pirok. “Most of the time, you can’t even tell the difference in which actual material was used in a finished piece.”
Pirok has utilized HDU for projects since opening his doors, as this easy-to-handle substrate allows him the flexibility and ability to custom-cut shapes and letters himself in his shop. In fact, he has been using Precision Board HDU from Coastal Enterprises ever since the product was released nearly twenty years ago.
Pirok mentions an upcoming project where his customer has requested a carved HDU monarch butterfly as part of their logo. “I’m cutting it by hand,” he says. “I’m going to layer up Precision Board to achieve the required thickness.
“From that point, I’ll go in and start carving. Working with this material is like going through butter with a hot knife at times.”
He points out that carving HDU is much easier than carving wood in a variety of ways. “When carving wood, you have to consider the grain direction,” he says, “but with HDU, there is no grain or knots.”
We profiled Kevin Pirok on our blog earlier this year and talked to him about using Precision Board to create dimensional wayfinding signs for Blackberry Farm’s tourist attractions. You can read that blog here. If you want to read the rest of the Sign Builder Illustrated feature piece, you can find that article here.
If you’re in the market for some amazing sign designs or other company branding, you can call Kevin at (630) 365-9870 or visit the Pirok Design website to see an extensive photo portfolio of their work. We think he’s a great guy and does beautiful work, but call to verify for yourself!
Want to use Precision Board HDU for your next project? You can request free samples. Sign up for our monthly Blog Roundup while you’re there. It’s packed with tips and tricks to get the most out of your HDU project. You can also give us a call at 800-845-0745. We’d love to hear from you!