Time Saving Tip for Sandblasted Signs: Art Sign Works

There’s something very interesting going on in Murrieta, CA. Art Sign Works has an ingenious way of saving time and money when working with Precision Board Plus.
They’re a very busy wholesale sign shop and though their company is small, it’s run like a well-oiled machine. Enrique, the Big Cheese, believes that to utilize his employees the best way possible, he lets the machinery do a lot of the work.

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When they get a sandblasted job, such as the sign featuring the Aztec Calendar, they first CNC route PBLT-15 to the desired depth of the background, before sandblasting. This allows the sandblaster to be used for a shorter period of time, freeing up an employee to work on another paying sign. After routing, the sign will get a quick sandblast to get the required texture.

After priming and painting, Kevin the lead designer says they use 1-Shot lettering enamels “because of its vibrancy”. In the case of the Aztec Calendar, a vinyl appliqué was applied under a separate piece of PBLT-15, to not only save time on hand painting, but to create a 3-D effect as well. As with all their signs, it was then coated with 2 coats of clear coat to preserve the quality and luster of the paint.

Art Sign Works ships their signs all over the country and if you’d like to find out how they can help you, give them a call at (951) 698-8484. If you’re lucky, Christie will answer the phone. Besides being really nice, she’s very knowledgeable!

Teaching The Architects of Tomorrow: Studio Mode

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Utilizing the latest in CNC technology, Studio Mode examines the materials, tools and procedures of craft with the goal of shedding new light into the field of architecture. Instructors Ronnie Parsons and Gil Akos teach future architects and engineers at the Pratt School of Undergraduate Architecture in Brooklyn, NY.

They recently exhibited several projects using Precision Board Plus HDU at the Intersections Exhibition held at the New York City College of Technology. The exhibition was a symposium on the topic of leading edge technology and design.

Studio Mode projects are very research oriented, and often require lots of material in order for students to experiment and test design ideas in the digital crafting field. Because of this, Coastal Enterprises donated pallets of Precision Board Plus and students have used it for several projects. Using , students create their own tool paths instead of using generic models. Precision Board Plus is then machined to create digitally-fabricated prototypes for display at the Intersections Exhibition.

Studio Mode is a design studio and research collective committed to design as a form of applied research. Case studies and examinations of different materials and processes by which they are formed are a large part of the research performed by Studio Mode. The evolution and contextualization of these procedures in a broader social and cultural domain is the primary objective and means for bringing interest and significance to design. Students who graduate from Studio Mode typically move into architecture and industrial design careers. More info can be seen on Studio Mode’s website at studiomode.nu.

Marvelous Mixed Media Monkey: Soha Sign

Probably two of the nicest guys you’ll ever run across. Mike Starks owner of Soha Sign Co. has been making signs since birth, and Heath DeWallace creative director/artist was the only guy in his kindergarten class that did something with his finger paint other than eat it. Both Mike and Heath love a tough challenge and enjoy the process of implementing mixed media developing techniques for finishing Precision Board Plus. One of the latest jobs they completed using mixed media was a monkey made with Precision Board Plus, real (close your ears PETA) Bear Fur, and Bamboo.[divider_padding]

Creating 3d signs and sculptures from pictures and drawings are another specialty of the Soha Sign Co. Check out my buddy Frogger, this little guy was inspired by a drawing and then brought to 3d life by Heath, finally perched on top of another mixed media structure they craftily created.

Working in the great northwest can prove to be challenging when it comes to creating signage that lasts through the long cold and rainy seasons. They have their work cut out for them when it comes to mounting signs in that rugged environment. What Mike likes to do is build u-channel aluminum frames around the board and secure the frame using spacers keeping it directly off the wall which allows for the expansion and contraction of both surfaces.

From making toothpaste with silicon, ice cream from spackle, monkeys with bear fur, and over 22,000 signs under their belt it is pretty safe to say if you can imagine it they can build it! To see more signs from SohaSign, visit their website at www.sohasign.com.

Quality Meets Innovation: M&M Signs & Graphics

M & M Signs and Graphics in Chantilly, VA, is a full-service sign company that uses Precision Board Plus for many 3-dimensional signs. Originally started over 20 years ago by Mehdi Amirgholi, the business is now run by his son, Paymahn.

 

The most recent sign project was for a sandwich shop aptly named “Sandwich Republic”. Routed Precision Board Plus PBLT-15 was used, and it was coated with Ronan Aquacote and One Shot Paint. A careful look at the pictures really shows their years of experience working with HDU. M & M Signs also sent pictures of the first documented use of Precision Board Plus for backlit channel letters, which you can see on our blog: PBLT-15 Exterior Channel Letters.

Paymahn has no formal art training and is entirely self-taught. From the moment his father introduced him to sign making, he was fascinated by both the mechanical and artistic aspects. After his father passed, Paymahn went to work in his shop and has currently been making signs for over 18 years. Time flies when you’re making signs!

Many more pictures can be seen on M & M Signs and Graphics website.

Which Precision Board Plus HDU Density Is Right For You?

Offering densities from 4 pcf. to 75 pcf., we often get questions from customers asking which density will work best for their application. This can be anything from sign making, mold making or sculpting, to using as a core material for marine applications.

First off, what is high density urethane? High-density urethane is a polyurethane substrate made up of millions of tiny closed cells. As the density (pounds per cubic foot) goes up, so does the thickness of the individual cell wall. Since the cells are not interconnected moisture cannot enter PB. This means Precision Board Plus does not warp or crack from water penetration, which is why it stands up so well in harsh weather conditions and exterior applications. Also, the fact that Precision Board Plus does not outgas makes it a popular choice for many tooling applications.

Check out our Material Selector Chart:

 If you have any questions, we offer free technical support and can be reached at: (800) 845-0745.

Request a free sample of Precision Board Plus here.

To see our router bit selector guide, check out: http://www.plasticrouting.com/BitSearch.asp?Page=Material.

Our FAQ’s also address many questions about Precision Board Plus:

Signage FAQ’s

Industrial FAQ’s

Marine FAQ’s