The DiBond Mistake

[joe]

A few years back I learned a valuable lesson about DiBond. That was how much it moves with temperatures. On this project I didn't allow enough room for expansion. Once the Sikkens had set up I applied my favorite adhesive, E6001, and applied my letters.

One of the advantages to this glue is it remains flexable for some time. This is an exceptionally strong glue. But no blue can with-stand the letters pushing them out of the letter well.

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=28496&stc=1

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=28497&stc=1

[chunkstyle]

Woah...
Thanks for sharing. I've wondered how much a difference the aluminum skins make on the dibond compared to regular .25" PVC sheet stock.
What do you plan to do to fix it, reduce the font size slightly?
What is this EM6001 glue? I've searched the forum and turned up a reference to it by you earlier but a Google search turned up an Elmers CraftBond glue. Is this what your using?

[joe]

I'm firmly in the corner with DiBond. That was a failure on my part. We re-cut new letters, profile about 1/8" smaller and they worked fine. There's a different problem when painting PVC black. It becomes even more un-stable than DiBond.

The adhesive I now recommend is E6001. It's the same as the 6000 only thicker. You can get it in a caulking tube for approx. $9.00

https://www.amazon.com/E6000%C2%AE-Medium-Viscocity-1-0-Adhesive/dp/B000XZTD14?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

[knight_toolworks]

is it the dibond moving or the wood shrinking with the weather? but yes the outlines need larger for that. for little letters the flow is nice but that on really little letters. walmart sells a small tube with a needle tip good for those small letters.

[joe]

I'm not at all sure. As we know damp wood will shrink and this wood is directly from the forest. So I'm sure that's a factor. Also the aluminum composite materials are famous for expanding. Like I said it was my mistake by not allowing plenty of room around the letters. One needs to keep in mind it's not the routed area, the pocket, that's responsible for being read. Lets say we allowed a full 1/8" border around the letters, it's doubtful it would be noticeable.

We have another rough cedar sign in the shop having DiBond letters. For sure we'll consider our former mistake.

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=28537&stc=1

[knight_toolworks]

yes so a combo most likely. maybe I will do a dibond test to see. I know what wood does over time someone brings me a slab to my shop if it sits a day it warps no matter how dry.