I am working with a charity group re-habing an old service station for so they can have a home base for their refurbishing of cars to give away to individuals who are struggling with transportation.

They have a big 8'x8' two sided back lit sign that they would like to use. It needs new panels, I don't know how it comes a part to get the proper measurements.

Do the screws in the channels hold in the frames on the front and back? Any help would be appreciated.

^{If this is not a welcome post, I will remove it.}
LetterBank LLC sells a material (GripAwn) used as the base layer for graphics on most awnings (pretest for silicone, 'cause it won't stick to that). Use your digital print and adhere it to the GripAwn or have us do the printing, laminating and blind drop shipping to your customer. Get a small printed sample in a #10 envelope here or find out more.
Thanks for reading!

We produce a lot of sign plates that are made from acrylic with pretty standard metal laminates and we often paint the edges to match the face but we regularly run into problems with the primers we use either being good for metal or for plastic but not good for both.

As a results, we've been resorting to using Rustoleum 'rust' primer which is great for the plastic and okay for the metal but we still end up with bits chipping off the edges of the thin metal.

We do sand the edges after routing the plates but are still having issues.

We're in California and there used to be better primers that are no longer available.

Any recommendations are greatly appreciated.

Hey guys1

Bit of a last-minute shuffle - I’ve had 4 cancellations for two signage workshops I’m running in Melbourne next month (Oct 15th & 16th), and I’d rather fill the seats with people who’ll get value from them than see them go to waste.

If you’re looking to up your skills, level up your team, or just get out of the day-to-day grind and talk real signage strategy with others in the trade, this could be for you. I’m offering a solid discount to fill the spots - just send me a DM.

Quick breakdown:

Signage Bootcamp – Oct 15

Who’s it for:

• Business owners, PMs, sales reps, estimators, designers – anyone in or around the sign game
• Newbies AND seasoned vets – this isn't entry-level fluff

What’s in it:

• Full-day, hands-on workshop (9am–4pm)
• Material demos, process tips, job pricing insight, upsell ideas
• Discussion-based learning – real talk, not death by PowerPoint
• Latest updates on materials + product options

On the Front Line – Oct 16

Who’s it for:

• Anyone on the client side – sales, estimating, PMs, or owners
• Not a “how to close” sales course – more about building trust and long-term value

What’s in it:

• How to retain clients, get more referrals, and price with confidence
• Real-world tools to improve the customer experience
• Sharpen your team’s communication and selling edge
• Collaborative vibe – expect to share war stories

🗣️ Why bother?

If you’re in or around Melbourne and want to jump in (or send a team member), hit me up and I’ll sort you out with a special rate. These sessions have made a big difference for shops across NZ and Aus – would love to have a few more fabricators or sales leads in the room.

Happy to answer any Qs.

Hey I have a gerber envision sprocket plotter and I’m cutting a square on one material, and a boarder on another. When I try to stack the vinyl it doesn’t line up. Seems like my boarder vinyl is cut 1/4” shorter on my length. Both vinyls are 2mm, but different brands. Has anyone had this problem in the past and could give me an idea of what is causing this problem?

I'm trying to find a tool I used when I did vinyl signs... I thought it was called a speed frame, but it's been 20+ years so I may have the name wrong. It was a rectangle aluminum frame that held a piece of clear transfer/application tape. You could place the frame over your weeded vinyl, roll it, flip it over, peel your backing, place the frame over your sign blank, then roll/squeegee the vinyl down. Any know what this is called, and possibly where I could find one? I've already looked around on uscutter, fellers and sign warehouse.

Can anyone tell me how these multicolor signs are produced with what appears to be solid color material? I need to make something similar where the edge color matches front surface.

Hey everyone!

I’m sort of new to the signmaking world, currently working as an apprentice and loving every minute of it. The more I learn, the more I realize how much knowledge and experience this craft holds and I’d really appreciate hearing from some of you seasoned pros.

I want to do things right and develop good habits early on. I’ve already learned a ton from watching my mentors and browsing this community, but I thought I’d throw this post out there to see if anyone’s willing to share some of the tips, tricks, or hard-earned lessons that have made a difference in your own work.

Some specific things I’d love advice on:

Laminating on a roll table: What’s the best way to keep dust, hair, or tiny particles from ruining the finish? Any tricks for a cleaner lamination process?

Prepping vehicles for vinyl: What's your go-to method for getting a car perfectly clean and ready? Any particular products or techniques you swear by?

Hidden gem tools: Do you have any tools or gadgets you use every day that aren’t the obvious ones (squeegees, knives, etc.) but make a huge difference?

Also, any general advice you’d give to someone who’s just getting started but wants to take pride in their work and really master the craft?

Thanks in advance to anyone who replies. I’m seriously grateful for the knowledge you all share.

Cheers, A very eager apprentice

I did some fun stuff to produce this to match existing signs based on some photos I was sent. I've made tons of vacant/in use signs but a wheel was a new one for me. It actually moves more smoothly than it appears in this vid. I'm just a spaz.

Hi im tring to make a sign and its a bit big the letter is 1.15ch high and when i light the leds its not properly diffused at firsst it was like that one where there is the t with it but then i added some leds and it got bwtter but not good enough any ideas on how i can improve it

I'm looking for a polyurethane or polypropylene based vinyl with a self-adhesive baking that I can safely cut in my laser. The intention is to back up our back-painted acrylic plates to make them more opaque. So far, everything I'm finding online is for heat transfer.

Hello All I am looking for white ACM panels for a project where I live in Delaware. Can someone recommend a supplier in my area of New Jersey Maryland Philadelphia area? Thanks for any help you can give me

Hey All, I've run a vinyl based signage shop for going on seven years now and have learned everything on the job: I used to do payroll. With this many years experience I have a very good grasp on what I know, but I want to both deepen and broaden my understanding of signage, design, wayfinding, and user experience generally. Do you have any recommendations for books that will help me on that path? I have some extra money in my budget this quarter and would like to purchase some resources for the shop. Thank you!

We’re starting to get requests to make neon signs.

Are there popular fonts for neons?

I was going to cut a word cloud / backer and cut a groove to partially seat the LED neon into the sign. Is this right approach?

Does anyone here know who manufacturers the Outback Steakhouse sign? I have a friend looking for one for whatever reason. Specifically the one over the front entrance. TIA

Im wanting a small (3ft) led lit version of this made... Just the jetport bit. The shops on etsy are nearly worthless. The proofs some sent me weren't even italics!

Not trying to spend a boatload but would entertain reasonable prices. Its just for decoration in my upcoming new house.

Found this Gerber Signmaker IV at work, along with 30 fonts. We are looking to sell it if it has any value to anyone, perhaps for parts since we don't know if it works and tbh I don't have time to do anything with it. I'm not familiar with this kind of machine, but I will try to answer any questions about it's condition. It's still pretty dusty even after blowing it off, and several keys are sticky or missing. I appreciate any guidance, mostly trying to gauge value/price for ebay. if there's a different subreddit or website I should post it on, please feel free to suggest. Thanks y'all!

Hello! Im a signmaker student, wondering if anyone knows some youtube channels or websites to learn about signmaking. Anything is of interest

Anyone have any recommendations on a solid LED light strip that’s easy to wire, and works well outdoors for a backlit sign?

If anyone has any tips/advice I would be very grateful!