Star Board and Color Core

[genek]

My salesman brought me some samples of Star Board and Color Core by Yesterday. I thought I would post the Pictures so that the newbies would know what some of you are talking about when you post on theses products.

[steve_g]

Good thinking and considerate... Thanks for making this a friendly place!

SG

[RossMosh]

I was actually disappointed with my sample of ColorCore. It's advertised as a very rugged material but taking a finger nail and scratching at the material a bit left some very noticeable marks. I wouldn't say it's a bad product at all, but it marks up a bit more than I'd ever have expected considering it's advertised as for use on playgrounds.

Here is a link to a picture where you can pretty clearly see how it gets scuffed up pretty easily:
http://www.kingplastic.com/wp-content/gallery/king-colorcore/111_1.jpg

[genek]

Most Sign Usage will not be scratched by children and adults. I would not worry about that. Signs are not meant to last anyway... They will hold up in wet climates better than most material. Most of the color core is used for smaller signs. Most signs are not viewed up close.
I can scratch wood with my finger nail. I can push my finger through Hdu...
again I would not worry about being able to scratch it with your Nail.

[scottp55]

Nice to know it scratches with a fingernail like soapstone, Tosses out a bunch of applications. How is Starboard? Similar?

[joe]

Ross,

Thanks for the heads up on Color Core. That stuff looks temporary and cheap. Neither of which meet my standards.

You can build a fun and wonderful, money making,l business by using the best materials and treating them properly. It's up to everyone to make the choice.

Joe Crumley

[RossMosh]

Most Sign Usage will not be scratched by children and adults. I would not worry about that. Signs are not meant to last anyway... They will hold up in wet climates better than most material. Most of the color core is used for smaller signs. Most signs are not viewed up close.
I can scratch wood with my finger nail. I can push my finger through Hdu...
again I would not worry about being able to scratch it with your Nail.

My primary business is engraving laminated plastic (Rowmark plastic) and coated for small signs and plaques. I can tell you that ColorCore marks easier than most Rowmark products. This surprised me as I expected ColorCore to be a tougher material. When you market something as a product to be used at ground level on playgrounds, I expect it to be another level of durability.

Again, I'm not saying this is a bad product. I'd use it if the right job came around. Even though I found the surface to scuff very easily, it's still a good product as the cap thickness is 10% of the overall material thickness. This means that even if the cap scuffs, the sign will last a long time. The material just didn't match my expectations and I thought it was worth giving people a heads up.


Ross,

Thanks for the heads up on Color Core. That stuff looks temporary and cheap. Neither of which meet my standards.

You can build a fun and wonderful, money making,l business by using the best materials and treating them properly. It's up to everyone to make the choice.

Joe Crumley

Joe, it's actually neither cheap or what I'd consider temporary. It's about 2x the price of 15lb Duna. Based on what I've seen of your work, I'd agree it's probably not a material for you. Just like everything, this material has it's time and place. Signage in/around a public building that doesn't need to be ADA compliant but durable would be an application I would say it's perfect for.

[joe]

Like you say, I don't meddle in this trade but 1/4" DiBond looks like a good option to me.

Any work that comes my way for less than $2k is more than likely a wash. I'm so glad there are all those vinyl and engraving guys. For me, life is for creating beautiful pieces of work as best I can. I'm always challenged by what can be done.

I send lots of customers to other shops. That way I have more fun and make more money.

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

[genek]

I got my sample of color core out, and tried to scratch it with my finger nail. the only thing it done was wear my nail down, no color change.. how old is that play equipment? what company made that material..

[twelchPTM]

possibly you got a bad batch, I use colorcore all the time and some of the smaller pieces get knocked around the shop due to my "explosive" creative process and they don't get marked up all that often.

[RossMosh]

I got my sample of color core out, and tried to scratch it with my finger nail. the only thing it done was wear my nail down, no color change.. how old is that play equipment? what company made that material..

That photo is from ColorCore's official website.

Also, I want to clarify again. It's not a scratch. It's a scuff mark of sorts. It's not horrible but I was surprised that it marked up so easily considering it's advertised as being something you can use on a playground. I guess it is very durable but I was just expecting the finish to be a little tougher.

[blackhawk]

I have had great experience with Color Core. I have made quite a few signs with it. I actually made 4'x4' yardage marker signs for the local golf driving range. Two years of being smashed by golf balls and they look as good as they did when installed.

[RossMosh]

Sample of KingCore. Simply ran my thumbnail back and forth with medium light pressure. Not a scratch but a scuff. From a distance, probably not an issue. Same type of "test" on a piece of Rowmark plastic resulted in no scuffs.

Make of it what you want.

[genek]

what i saw on my test was a shinny spot and some of my nail powder. at a distance i could not see

[twelchPTM]

the scuff you see is actually your nail. the texture of the plastic is actually "buffing" your nail. the reason it happens with one brand and not another and for some people but not others is because for one everybodys nails are different in hardness, and the plastic manufacturers all apply a different finish to there product -some rougher then others

[andracke]

Where are you guys buying this colored plastic? I have tried contacting people about some it but am not getting any good responses.

Thanks!

[genek]

For King Color Core and Starboard go to http://www.kingplastic.com/

Contact them and ask for nearest distributor to your shop.

[blackhawk]

harborsales.net is where I get my colorcore