The Bank Job: Everything’s Bigger in Texas!

The state’s big, the barbecue is big, and the sign hanging at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas is absolutely massive. This enormous sign was built by Museum Arts, Inc., and according to Chris Shin, Head of the Fabrication Dept. at Museum Arts, was one of their most challenging projects.

PrecisionBoardHDUBigSign

Measuring in with a 17′ diameter, this sign required a custom structure just to get it out of the dang building! Crafting this beauty was no easy feat either. The majority of the sign was made with CNC routed sections of 4″ x 4′ x 8′ Precision Board Plus PBLT-15. In addition, to make sure this hanging giant would maintain integrity, a huge aluminum frame was welded together and attached to the back of the HDU with epoxy.

PrecisionBoardhighdensityurethane

For additional protection against the elements, a 2-part bedliner was sprayed onto the Precision Board, creating a strong, weatherproof (and heavy-duty!) surface.

PrecisionBoardHDU

Since you can’t always find Paul Bunyan to hang your sign when you need him, engineers hired by the Bank, along with employees from Museum Arts performed the herculean feat of mounting this sign. The installation was a great example of modern engineering with a pulley system and several guys on the roof and below the sign working together to secure it to the wall.

Needless to say, this big sign gets some major accolades from Coastal Enterprises on its beautiful appearance!

A big thanks goes to Todd Kriechbaum at Port Plastics for sending us these pictures and supplying Museum Arts with Precision Board Plus.

More info about Museum Arts can be seen at: http://museumarts.net

PrecisionBoardWithBedliner

How To Bond Plywood Or Aluminum To HDU

Over the years many of our customers have asked for advice when bonding dissimilar substrates, such as plywood or aluminum, to Precision Board.

Bonding a dissimilar substrate to Precision Board is easy when the proper procedures are followed.

1. Dry fit the pieces you will be bonding together before applying any adhesive to be sure you have a proper fit.

2. Have all of your weights and clamps ready, especially if working with PB Fast Set – it dries fast!

Screen Shot 2013-03-25 at 1.45.37 PM

3. Mist the surface with a spray bottle or a rag. PB Bond-240 and PB Fast Set require moisture to catalyze it and fully cure, which is critical for a strong joint. Both surfaces should be lightly sprayed with water, with any excess wiped away.

Screen Shot 2013-03-25 at 1.45.56 PM

4. Apply the PB Bond-240 or PB Fast Set in ribbons parallel to the shortest dimension. Apply the ribbons in a 3/8″ diameter, 5″ – 8″ apart. The space between the ribbons will allow the dissimilar substrates to expand and contract without over-stressing the bond or the material. Over-stressing will cause delamination or cracking of the weakest substrate.

Screen Shot 2013-03-25 at 1.46.45 PM

5. The next step is to add a 3/8″ ribbon around the perimeter, about 3/4″ from the edge. This serves to seal against water  (both PB Fast Set and PB Bond-240 are waterproof), dirt and other debris from entering between the laminated pieces.

Screen Shot 2013-03-25 at 1.47.08 PM

6. Finally, place the 2 pieces together and weigh down with a heavy object. Be sure to also toenail in screws in several locations to keep your work aligned. When using PB Bond-240, do not move for at least 4 hours. Total cure is achieved in 12 hours. PB Fast Set will be fully cured in 30 minutes.

Screen Shot 2013-03-25 at 1.47.57 PM

You can also check out our video on bonding to see how to properly edge bond and laminate Precision Board.

Don’t forget, we offer free technical support, so if you have any questions or would like to try a free sample, give us a call at: (800) 845-0745!

 

HDU, Aluminum, Vinyl and MDO: Together At Last!

We’re always impressed when we see a sign utilizing so many different materials and we’re really excited about this one. Tom Slade, owner of Moosehead Sign, whom you may remember from our previous blog post: The Maine Signcrafter, made this sign for the Maine Air National Guard base in Bangor, ME.

Consisting of Precision Board Plus, .040 aluminum, vinyl and MDO, this sign has many of the Earth’s elements incorporated into it. Tom started this project out by taking a 4′ x 8′ sheet of .040 aluminum and bending it with a sheet metal brake, forming it into what he calls a “pan face” sign base. Using his Gerber Edge digital printer, he printed out the eye-catching background onto a piece of vinyl and applied it to the aluminum background.

Next, Tom cut out the “Starbase” letters on his Sabre CNC router out of Precision Board Plus PBLT-15. Once finished cutting he used a hand-router to bullnose the edges of the letters and hand tools to spot-check any rough areas. The letters were then mounted onto 1/2″ MDO using PB Bond-240. Tom uses Behr latex paints to finish his signs, followed by clearcoat for an ultra-smooth finish.

Screen Shot 2013-03-15 at 4.42.38 PM
The “Starbase” letters were mounted to aluminum by screwing into the MDO from the back of the aluminum base. It all came together into one sharp looking sign. For more info and pictures from Moosehead Sign, please visit: http://www.mooseheadsigns.com.

The Starbase program is a Department of Defense program designed for elementary school students, primarily 5th graders. They are typically students who live in inner cities or rural locations and are socio-economically disadvantaged, low in academic performance or have a disability. See more info at: http://www.dodstarbase.org.

Copy of DCP_0420

 

 

PB Resin – How To Apply An Ultra-Smooth, High-Gloss Protective Finish To Your Sign

One of the most impressive looking finishes Coastal Enterprises offers is PB Resin. PB Resin is a two-part modified epoxy resin, and can be applied in its clear form, or mixed with lettering enamels to quickly and easily create a high gloss color finish. It can be applied to any density of Precision Board Plus with absolutely no priming or sanding. PB Resin can also be used on polystyrene, wood, stone, steel, aluminum and almost any other substrate.

David Sherby at SherWood Sign & Graphic Design, in Crystal Falls, MI sent in some excellent examples of PB Resin used on Precision Board Plus.

This particular sign, “Lake Mitigwaki”, shows PB Resin applied to Precision Board Plus PBLT-15. The border and letter “A” are 50% Metallic Gold One Shot and 50% Metallic Brass One Shot mixed into PB Resin. The background behind the “A” is PB Resin with various colors swirled together to make it look like a tarnished bronze. The words “Lake Mitigwaki” and the banner are PB Resin with One Shot Chamois mixed in. The maroon lettering and scroll on the banner are made out of vinyl. Dave Sherby and SherWood Sign & Graphic Design can be reached at: (906) 875-6201.

We also offer free samples of PB Resin. If you are interested in trying some, we can be reached at: (800) 845-0745.

 

We recently completed a step-by-step video to demonstrate the process of applying PB Resin, which you can see here: