HDU or blue SM foam or ???

[brian]

I'm giving a quote on some large letters (12-14")for a commercial appilcation.
I been reading on this forum that 1.5 hdu was pricey but was not prepared for 400.00 per sheet.
That's were my question comes in is SM foam cheaper in the long run.
I know it's cheaper to buy,but what I'm concerned about is does it need extra coatings or backings to make stand up over time vs the hdu.

The letters will be applied to a flat wall( I will not be hanging them)
We don't get the extreme heat or cold as some places do so that is not a problem.
Are there other products that would work for this type of application like extira??

Brian

[brian]

though I'd include a drawing of the project
I'll be doing just the large lettering

Brian

[bleeth]

Pink (or blue)foam requires a lot of prep work before it is ready, particularly if you are going for a high finish. Basically you have to coat heavily (there are several products used by different folk) and then sand and then finish it, wheras HDU is ready for primer with little work. That being said there is a lot of pink foam used outdoors as well.

[brian]

Thanks Dave
Just trying to weigh out,labour VS material costs,
I did do a search on this subject but there seems to be alot of different idea's and materials that certain people prefer.
Sometimes the hardest thing about living in the great white north is getting these products.Often they are under different names or just not available.

Brian

[joe]

Dave,

I've posted to adnosium how to quickly coat-out BLUE FOAM. I hesitate the use of HDU for letters. It's too expensive and deliclate. Styrene foam from Dow is fast to coat-out and will last for years. Perhaps even longer than HDU.

Brian,

Sherwin Williams has recently come out with a concrete texture paint which comes in three versions. They will mix the color into the solution. Two coats is all you need. We coated out a few signs with this stucco paint and it went on like a dream. Since it's an acrylic latex base it takes a few days to harden up. That's ok, you can start installation in one day.

Odd as it may seem, I've drifted back to the cheap, cheap white beadboard panels. Not because of the cost. It accepts latex paints better than the pink and blue styrene and can be sanded extremely smooth. You can't sand styrene. It costs less than half too.

Joe Crumley
www.normansginco.com (http://www.normansginco.com)

[rej]

i like to use celtec pvc for letters. i have several signs with them up to 24 inch letters. if the letters are white, thats even better.
i just cut alot of 16 inch letters out of pink insulation board for a carpet store. worked good. sheets were 26.00 for 2 inch thick

the pvc letters were put on the building(wood siding) using small headed stainless screws right thru the face of the letters. you can't see them 5 feet away. been up 3 years and looks like they were put on today.

[bleeth]

Thanks for the reminder Joe-Gettin a little forgetful as the years roll by!
The reason you found so much information Brian is that so many different bottors have their own preferences.
Here's an easy rule to go by: Joe knows.

[dakers]

http://polyplasticforms.com/letters.html
to see interesting use of foam letters


www.signletters.com is Gemini's web site.

for the cost and ease of install i like Gemini for standard letters.
no painting,
good install methods, install patterns available. great product to pass on to customer who installs themselves. plus lifetime guarantee, easy to replace damaged letters in future and cost effective.

they sell wholesale if you set up account.

[brian]

Thanks for the info.
I'm kind of leaning towards the polymer coating from industrial polymers ,it seems to be fast and pretty fool proof.

Brian

[randall_e]

Joe, What white beadboard panels are you using?

Randy

[dakers]

Brian, great you are on track
i ran into this site and think i may get some of these tools for foam cutting. they are so economical and it looks like fun.

http://hotwirefoamfactory.com/home.php

[upsman]

Brian, great you are on track
i ran into this site and think i may get some of these tools for foam cutting. they are so economical and it looks like fun.

http://hotwirefoamfactory.com/home.php

Hi Dick, I got one, it did not work on 2" blue foam. The tool broke after 10 minutes of cutting. Tried calling the company got no answer left 3 messages and 3 emails they never got back with me. You can make your own for a lot less money. Do a goggle search on How to make a foam cutter. Click video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9IMIoJw61M (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9IMIoJw61M) you can check this one out there are a lot more.
I also tried most of their other products.
The 028B-32 - Foam Fusion (32 oz ) very strong, works well a little goes a long way.
The 025 - Foam Coat (3 lbs) , 025Bulk - Foam Coat (25 lbs)

I use the foam coat on a foam knife project I did last month the product works well but it takes time to get the mix right. Make small batch. It dries very fast! The foam coat works grate on projects without 3D.



Hope this helps you

Tim

[dakers]

i wondered about those tools. seemed to economical.
thanks much,