A sign is your chance to show off what makes your business special, and when your business is signs, you want it to really shine!  Mayfair Signs in Chilliwack, BC, Canada, specializes in powder coating of sign frames, something not many people are doing.  They recently created a CNC routed Precision Board HDU sign for their mailbox with a powder coated metal frame inside to protect it from the elements.  Kevin fills us in on the benefits of powder coating and why they prefer Precision Board for their sign clients.

Kevin & Darren of Mayfair Signs recently created a branded sign for their mailbox post.  They offer signs, sandblasting and powder coating and really wanted the sign to show off those techniques.  They used Precision Board PBLT-20 to fabricate the sign, which is 28″ x 15″ and 3″ thick.  Darren did the design with Enroute Software and cut the Precision Board with their MultiCam Apex3r CNC.  The cut time took about an hour per side with approximately two hours for painting.

The sign is attached to a metal post that has been sandblasted and powder-coated so that they could show off the powder coated look.  The HDU sign itself has a metal frame inside it for stability and resistance to rust.  “When we do a metal frame inside an HDU sign, we’ll sandblast and powder coat it.”  Kevin adds, “It really cleans off the metal and etches the surface for the powder to stick to it.”

Kevin routed a slot into the two halves of the Precision Board and then attached the metal frame using PB Bond 240.  “Where the eyelets are sticking out of the sign, they can be exposed to rust if not properly coated, and that rust can go down inside your sign.”  Kevin adds, “That’s why we powder-coat the inside metal as well to protect the sign.”

Mayfair Signs puts powder-coated metal frames inside all their signs for this reason.  Whether it’s a hanging sign or a wall-mounted sign that has metal bolts going into a wall, the powder-coating protects the metal elements of the Precision Board HDU sign from the weather.

Powder coating is a protective coating that is applied as a free-flowing, dry powder. The main difference between conventional liquid paint and powder coating is that the powder coating does not require a solvent to keep the binder and filler parts in a liquid suspension form. The coating is typically applied electrostatically and is then cured under heat at 400 degrees Fahrenheit to allow it to flow and form a “skin”.  It is used to create a hard finish that is tougher than conventional paint.  Kevin says it has been used in the automotive industry for years, especially when you see black rims on cars.  Mayfair Signs not only does signage, but also specializes in automotive, motorcycle, snowmobile parts, rims, household fixtures and more, and offers over 50 colors of powder coating.

Kevin & Darren prefer to work with Precision Board HDU over wood as a sign substrate.  “It’s just so easy to work with, especially when machining on a CNC.  It cuts like butter.”  They add, “This material resists weathering, lasts up to 10x longer than wood, won’t absorb water, chip, crack or peel, unlike conventional materials.”

Mayfair Signs is family owned and operated. They have been making and selling solid cast aluminum house signs, cottage signs, custom garden plaques and address plaques for over 30 years. They have over 40 different sign shapes and sizes and more than 450 emblems in their cast aluminum line of signs. They guarantee high quality workmanship on all the signs they produce. All work is done on site.  Visit their website, drop them an email, or give them a call at 866-823-4141.

Coastal Enterprises offers free samples of Precision Board HDU if you want to try it for yourself.  Our website offers numerous resources, including how-to videos, helpful blogs, and a newsletter sign-up,  so you get our Monthly Blog Roundup and won’t miss a thing!