ColorCore and Rowmark - What should I expect to pay?

[jlawren6]

After reading about ColorCore on this on other boards, I’ve wanted to give it a try for some time. I finally have a couple of sign projects for family where it appears the material would work well so I set out this week to find a local distributor in the Indianapolis area. I only found one distributor of ColorCore and a couple of other competitive products (i.e. PolyCarve, etc). The ColorCore distributor quoted me a price of around $160 for a full sheet of ½” (+ freight, crate fee). This turned out to be roughly $40 cheaper a sheet than any competitive product in the area so far. Is this the normal price range for ColorCore or is this distributor just unusually low on price?

Also, since none of the local distributors stocked these materials and all required a full sheet purchase, I also checked into Rowmark Heavy Weights 3 layer material through Johnson’s Plastics and BF Plastics in OH. The biggest sheets they sell are 24” x 48” which is convenient. However, a ½” sheet at that size is just under $100 which makes a full sheet at $400 a whole lot more expensive than ColorCore or the like. Is there something about the Rowmark material that justifies the extra cost?

I’d appreciate any experiences you could share or suggestions on where I could buy these in the Indy area (or even a good online distributor).

Thanks,

Jon

[rookie432]

Nothing about the Rowmark heavyweights justifies the price other than if you only need a 2x2 piece.
exact Same stuff... HDPE.
I have purchased the rowmark for smaller projects but would be interested in your $160 per sheet source as it would be much more prudent to purchase full sheets I think depending on the project.

[jlawren6]

Bill - Thanks. I thought it might just be a convience thing. I was given that ColorCore $160 sheet price by Total Plastics Inc. (www.totalplastics.com (http://www.totalplastics.com)). They have several midwest offices with Cleveland probably being your closest one. There site looks like it has online ordering, but they don't have the ColorCore listed there.

[tim_whitcher]

Problem I've found is a supplier that keeps enough colors in stock, or even keeps it in stock on a regular basis.

[wcsg]

I like newhermes better than Rowmark. I had to many problems finding stock. NewHermes I get a few days after I call

[jhicks]

Ge polymer shapes sells Color core(Made by Kings Plastics in Florida), Laird sells Poly Tone made by(Laminations in Ohio or PA?), Polymer Industries ( Alabama) sells their "Sign Board", Compression polymers sells Poly Carve but was exiting the product line and surplusing their inventory as of 6 months ago.
I have used all of these and they are all about the same except for subtle color differences which they will gladly send sample chips of to you.
Last price paid through distribution in Wisconsin for Polymer Industuries "sign Board" was $175.00/ 4' x 8' 1/2" two color sheets plus freight.

It seems the petro chemical biz is raising prices all the time as I recall buying color core through GE Polymershapes at around $50.00 to $60.00/ 1/4" in thickness but not any more.

I have had great luck with these materials and promote them as the simple, nice, long lasting. easy maintainance material they really are. Just not for everyone or every sign design. BUT its cut, deliver, invoice with no prime, paint, or finish time.

Suggest you find these suppliers on the web, call and ask for color chips and distributors. They have always helped me and generally we find what we need.
Just makes more sense to me to buy several sheets at a time and reduce the freight cost per sheet.
Have fun and enjoy this material for what it is.

Onsrud also has excellent recommendations on proper bit selections but ask about the eased radius corner bits for cleaner area clear cuts.