The InterSign Group: Classic Style, Wood Not Required

Photo 11 Finished sign with Mark

Signage professionals and followers of the Coastal Enterprises blog will know the name of Mark Roberts. As the owner and operator of The Intersign Group for thirty-nine years and counting, Mark is an undisputed master of the sign creation process from concept to installation. We like to think of Mark as the embodiment of one of our favorite mottos: “Why use wood?” He has proved time and time again that old standards shouldn’t be followed blindly, creating incredible dimensional signs with the look and feel of wood, but with the durability and customizability of Precision Board. Not only is HDU easy to work with, it is impervious to moisture, rot, termites, bark beetles, and many other environmental hazards that spell doom for a wood sign. Mark’s latest success story comes from Pasadena, Texas, where a local dental practice had its sign damaged by graffiti and asked Mark to design a replacement. Mark saw that their aging redwood sign wasn’t in great shape in the first place, so he decided to go with a material that he knew could stand up to foul weather and long, hard years of exposure: Precision Board Plus. Click here to learn more about The InterSign Group and see some of their amazing custom creations.

Mark decided to use 1.5″ PBLT-15 for this particular project, striking a delicate balance between durability, weight conservation, and cost-efficiency. We think he made the smart choice here; the versatile PBLT-15 is one of our most popular densities for signage, and for good reason. He started out by creating patterns for the sign text, then using his router and Dremel to cut down the surrounding material and create raised lettering. Mark likes to use an emery board to round out the edges of raised letters by hand, giving every sign a highly professional look and feel. At this stage in the process, Mark knew that this sign needed a little something extra, and he decided to go for broke: Instead of leaving a smooth background, he set to work with carving gouges and created a fully custom faux wood grain.

Photo 04 Carving the grain into the high density urethane

Mark creates his backgrounds with great care to make them as realistic as possible, and this time was no different: this was the longest step in the process, but the most worthwhile to the overall project. Check out our blog posts on sandblasting and using our Textured Surface Finish for other ways to create a natural faux wood grain.

Photo 07 Applying the FSC 88 primer

The background was finished, and now the sign needed painting. Mark started off by applying two thin coats of our FSC-88 WB primer to every surface of the sign, and allowed them to dry thoroughly. Afterward, he painted the sign with a latex semi-gloss, a good choice for any exterior signage. After applying a muted beige paint to the letters and borders with a sponge brush, the sign was all but finished.

photo 09 Mark sanding the top of the sign

The only step left was installation. Mark and the InterSign team dug two holes 30″ deep, lined the holes with Sonotube concrete forms, and inserted the sign posts. They carefully added the bags of concrete, simultaneously agitating the concrete and adding water to ensure a rock-solid foundation. Finally, they bolted the finished sign face to the embedded posts, a process made much easier by the relative light weight of the PBLT-15.

Photo 10 Installing the bolts to attach the legs of the sign

There you have it, another incredible signage project by Mark Roberts and The InterSign Group. Every time they complete a project like this, they prove once again that wood is not required to create an elegant, classically-styled sign. All you need is a creative spirit and a steady supply of Precision Board! Click here to learn more about The InterSign Group and see some of their other brilliant HDU creations, and check out the article Mark wrote about this project for Sign Builder Illustrated. Ready to start crafting your own faux wood masterpieces? Click here for a free sample of Precision Board and get ready to modernize your dimensional signage!

Why does the owner of InterSign Group use Precision Board Plus?

Photo 21 final photo of Kiddie Coast sign

If you haven’t seen it yet – be sure to check out the latest issue of Sign Builder Illustrated!

This particular article was written by Mark Roberts, owner of InterSign Group in Houston, TX. Mark has been in business for 38 years and has been using Precision Board Plus HDU for at least 15 of them.

In this write-up you’ll see how Kiddie Coast came to life. The project took Mark about 3 weeks of production time from start to finish which included digital printing, carving and painting of Precision Board. This article also offers you, the reader, tips and tricks on how to create a beautiful sign such as this one.

“The ease of working with Precision Board’s larger sheet sizes and multiple densities, helps with any job he’s working on. Precision Board Plus is my preferred HDU material. I have always had success with it, and am an extremely satisfied customer,” says Mark.  He also uses the FSC-88 WB Water Based Primer/Filler as it allows for fast coverage of HDU, dries rapidly and sands easily.

If you would like to see more of Mark’s fabulous work, or would like information about his company go to http://www.theintersigngroup.com/ or call him at 713-941-6338.

Coastal Enterprises offers samples of all products. Don’t forget to contact Coastal Enterprises Company for all your HDU. We are here for YOU!

Watch our training video on FSC-88 WB Water Based Primer/Filler.

Callahan’s Is Coming….

Every day that goes by Dan seems to be making great progress on his storefront. Our temporary window graphics are holding up and today we got the light box sign installed.

Now that the cold weather is setting in we need to complete the awning then focus on the graphics inside. This will be an awesome project and we will surely be paid in free Callahan’s hot dogs for life (wink, wink).

Rad and Mark were busy cutting the graphics and applying them to the sign face. Once completed Greg and Holin ran the panels out and installed onsite.

– Steve

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Published with permission from KDF Custom Graphics. Source.

Coastal Enterprises Offers New Incentives For Distribution Abroad

Worldwide Demand Creates Global Sales Opportunities For Precision Board Distribution

Coastal Enterprises announces it has initiated a new “International Pathways” program to meet growing demand for distributors in Europe, South America, Africa, Australia, Mexico and Asia. The program identifies immediate Precision Board Plus HDU sales opportunities for distributors currently serving the aerospace, composites, marine and signage industries.

Through state-of-the-art sales and training webinars for distributors and customers alike, a pre-qualified leads program, multi-lingual online resource database, and inventory incentives, International Pathways streamlines bringing a product to market and identifying applications within markets serviced.

“Because the distributors we are targeting already serve the aerospace, composites, marine or signage industries, many of their customers already have applications for Precision Board”, says Kellie Miller, Customer Relations Manager at Coastal Enterprises. “A natural sense of wanting to help your customer only comes with accurate knowledge of the product you are presenting and that’s what we communicate in our International Pathways program.”

As a firmly established tooling board and sign substrate manufacturer, Coastal knows what customers want with a rigid polyurethane board. Precision Board Plus high density urethane (HDU), provides an economical advantage in many applications, such as 3-d signage, prototyping, thermoforming, composite layup tooling, pattern making, model making, vacuum forming, high-temperature composite tooling and tool proofing.

“One of the key benefits of Precision Board is the time it saves over other materials, such as metal, when being CNC machined”, says Danny Lotz, Sales Manager at Coastal Enterprises, “Precision Board HDU also offers more flexibility for design changes, which is becoming increasingly more important as many businesses transition to a LEAN Manufacturing doctrine.”

Precision Board Plus is also an industry-leading sign substrate used for dimensional signage. According to Lotz, “The absence of wood grain, ease-of-cutting or sandblasting, and custom-sheet sizes save a lot of the hands-on labor/bonding time required with other substrates. In addition, because it is certified eco-friendly, Precision Board offers a long-term, sustainable solution that is attractive to both environmentally-conscious customers and sign shop owners.”

Distributors interested in attending a Precision Board webinar, or obtaining more information on available opportunities, should contact Kellie Miller, Customer Relations Manager at Coastal Enterprises, at hdu(at)precisionboard(dot)com.

Coastal Enterprises has been an innovator and leading manufacturer of urethane products since 1973. A large inventory, fast shipping, and comprehensive product line provide a secure foundation for distributors interested in expanding their product line. Coastal manufactures Precision Board Plus HDU, along with a full line of “companion products” including primer, hardcoat, texture finishes, and adhesives. See our press release on PR Web.

Imagination Takes Flight: Our Interview With Dan Sawatzky

Dan Sawatzky is an award-winning, creative force in the sign industry, best known for his elaborate and innovative 3-D creations. Coastal Enterprises has worked closely with Dan for years and consider him to be a good friend as well as a loyal Precision Board customer. We took a moment to reflect, with Dan, on his 3-D journey.

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Coastal Enteprises: How did you get into the sign industry?

Dan Sawatzky: I got into the sign industry at the young age of fourteen. I somehow figured out that people would actually pay me to do seasonal (Christmas) splashes on commercial windows. That first year, working on my own, I made $700 after school and in a couple of weekends. That was a fortune back in 1979 – more than my dad made working full time. I was hooked for life!

CEC: Where did you learn to make such awesome creations?

Dan: The year after Janis and I were married (almost 40 years ago), we visited Disneyland. I immediately knew this is what I wanted to do for a living. Of course back then I had no idea how to do it but in the next ten years I figured it out and managed to build a business doing just that. A number of years ago I was offered a job working for Disney Imagineering – the people who design and build Disney Parks. I never seriously considered the offer but took it as a vote of confidence. They are the very best in the business no doubt.

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CEC: Do you have a favorite project that you have made? If so, which one?

Dan: There have been so many cool projects through the years. Doing entire theme parks including design and construction is a real kick. While there were many highlights through the years and so many wonderful crew that helped me, I would have to say the current project is my favorite…..but then again a VERY COOL project is already designed and scheduled to begin right after the current ten-month project is done. And it is in Trinidad!

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CEC: What advice would you give to someone new in the sign industry?

Dan: Follow your passion. Don’t worry about the money. Build samples and they will come.

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CEC: Your Sign Magic workshops are known as great learning experiences that cover everything from textures to CNC techniques. When is the next workshop, and how can people sign up?

Dan: We offer two workshops, Sign Magic and Sculpting Magic. The Sign Magic workshop was October 11-13, 2013 and the Sculpture Magic is this week October 18-20, 2013, and we still have a couple seats left. After that we normally have one in spring, but that looks to be put off because of the big ten-month project. The fall 2014 is still up in the air but somewhat doubtful for the same reason. So it may be a while before the next ones. If someone wants to attend a workshop they better sign up FAST! 🙂

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CEC: As a well-established, award-winning 3-dimensional sign artist, what are your thoughts on where the 3-D sign industry is headed?

Dan: When I talk to people they wonder if I have enough work to keep me busy. It makes me laugh for we are currently booked solid for two and a half years. While our customers may be few and far between, there are also only a handful of people who do this kind of work. That means I can charge what I need in order to make a good living. For those with a passion, some talent, and a drive to do top notch work, there are unlimited possibilities – more work than is imaginable. 

CEC: Is there anything you would like to tell our readers?

Dan: Traditionally, a dimensional sign is a board that has a sandblasted or routed hole in it in the shape of letters. In our shop the flat and square substrate is the only way our material comes in the door. The different ways we can work it to create absolutely fabulous works of art is unlimited. A sign in our shop is anything that advertises our customer’s product, service or business. That leaves things pretty wide open.

“I don’t want to do all the signs in town – only the most creative ones.”

– Dan Sawatzky

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Head on over to Dan’s blog if you have a second and delve into some of the wonders crafted by the Imagination Corporation. When you’re finished there, be sure to request a sample of Precision Board and try your hand at something 3-dimensional!

This is one of the latest projects by Dan Sawatzky, made for fun in a contest among other well-known sign makers, out of his trademark favorite Precision Board PBLT-30:

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