4'x8' Full color outdoor sign

[MAK'n Signs and Graphics]

Looking for guidance on the best material/ wholesaler to use for a 4 foot x 8 foot sign 1 side printed. This is the largest sign I have been asked to quote and I am trying to put some numbers together that make sense. I checked signs 365 and they want $200 to ship a JBond sign which caught me off guard a bit. is there anywhere else that would print that big and not be quite so high on shipping? the other option I have is order a sheet of poly metal from a local place and hand lay the sign, which is doable, but I wanted to explore the option of having it printed and ready to deliver and see what the cost comparison is.

 

[Boudica]

I read your profile ... This is out of your wheel house. I'd suggest building a relationship with a local professional who does do this and either introduce yourself to them and be a connection, or introduce your friend to them.

 

[MAK'n Signs and Graphics]

I read your profile ... This is out of your wheel house. I'd suggest building a relationship with a local professional who does do this and either introduce yourself to them and be a connection, or introduce your friend to them.

ooof! I didn't realize how outdated that profile is! I don't even remember filling that out. I will get that updated to better reflect where we are at currently.

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

rying to put some numbers together that make sense. I checked signs 365 and they want $200 to ship a JBond sign which caught me off guard a bit. is there anywhere else that would print that big and not be quite so high on shipping? the other option I have is order a sheet of poly metal from a local place and hand lay the sign, whi

First you need to find out how the client intends on installing the sign. 3mm is OK for a wall, but I'd use 6mm for anything exposed to wind on both side. You can't beat $200 shipping a 4x8 freight priority... wish I could get those rates. I use S365 all the time for delivering large ACM. I don't know of any other wholesalers that can even come close to their price shipped. Obviously making it inhouse is cheaper.

 

[MAK'n Signs and Graphics]

First you need to find out how the client intends on installing the sign. 3mm is OK for a wall, but I'd use 6mm for anything exposed to wind on both side. You can't beat $200 shipping a 4x8 freight priority... wish I could get those rates. I use S365 all the time for delivering large ACM. I don't know of any other wholesalers that can even come close to their price shipped. Obviously making it inhouse is cheaper.

The sign will be mounted on the building face (only exposed on 1 side). Building is ribbed siding.

 

[visual800]

find a local printing compnay in your area that direct prints to acm 3mil will be fine for this job

 

[myront]

find a local printing compnay in your area that direct prints to acm 3mil will be fine for this job

3mm not 3mil. huge difference. Sorry, pet peeve of mine.

 

[myront]

Looking for guidance on the best material/ wholesaler to use for a 4 foot x 8 foot sign 1 side printed. This is the largest sign I have been asked to quote and I am trying to put some numbers together that make sense. I checked signs 365 and they want $200 to ship a JBond sign which caught me off guard a bit. is there anywhere else that would print that big and not be quite so high on shipping? the other option I have is order a sheet of poly metal from a local place and hand lay the sign, which is doable, but I wanted to explore the option of having it printed and ready to deliver and see what the cost comparison is.

You have everything you need, order the sheet, print, laminate and apply yourself. You'd save ton. If you're swamped, order it complete for the $200.

 

[Applied Graphics WY]

I print mine on Avery 1105, laminate it & adhered it to a 4x8 3mm ACM board that I get from my local supplier. You can also have Signs 365 print it & then you mount it onto the ACM board that way. Much cheaper than buying the sign completely pre done.

 

[ikarasu]

Looking for guidance on the best material/ wholesaler to use for a 4 foot x 8 foot sign 1 side printed. This is the largest sign I have been asked to quote and I am trying to put some numbers together that make sense. I checked signs 365 and they want $200 to ship a JBond sign which caught me off guard a bit. is there anywhere else that would print that big and not be quite so high on shipping? the other option I have is order a sheet of poly metal from a local place and hand lay the sign, which is doable, but I wanted to explore the option of having it printed and ready to deliver and see what the cost comparison is.

If you have a printer and a cutter and laminator.... Why not print it and apply the vinyl to alupanel? You can produce the sign for half the price it costs just to get it shipped.

We only outsource if we're too busy to do it In House, can't do it in house, or if they can do it cheaper than we can.

But if you're capable of doing it, most of the time it'll be way cheaper for you to do it than to outsource it.

 

[Ron at Forest Litho]

If you are making a hard sign like on Aluminum, 1/2" coroplast, etc. the most important thing is to find a local printer because (as you noticed) shipping is ridiculous. What I did is I used Signs 365 and made my customer a huge vinyl sign on their heaviest vinyl with lots of grommets for mounting. since it rolls up , shipping was fair. and htey mounted it on the side of a building using screws and big washers. It was easy, economical and looked great.

 

[DL Signs]

I do tons of 4x8's on ACM & coro... Easy peasy. Print/ lam/ lay/ get paid. Straight aluminum is the best, but costly, ACM is just about as durable at a lower cost, and for temporary signs coro is the cheap solution.

Check with your vendors, I'm sure some carry ACM panels. We have at least 4 vendors that we use (and there's probably more) in a 300 mile radius who stock ACM and deliver free on their own trucks once a week.

Some things like yard signs, etc are cheaper to outsource, but larger signs are cheapest done in house. I just did 16 ACM 4x8's with sponsors for a hockey rink with two day turnaround. Even a slow lazy old fart like me can easily lay a 4x8 by hand, alone, in under 10 minutes each, without breaking a sweat.

 

[Stacey K]

Yup, just order the ACM from a local supplier...Grimco, Glantz, whoever is in your area. Then print, laminate and apply. If you go that route, check back and we can advise on laying the vinyl. You can hand lay it and in that case I love my Big Squeegee. Or if you have a simple laminator, you can push the ACM and print through together to apply.

 

[chester215]

We use 3mm ACM for 4x8' but back them up with plywood when needed at installation.
One of our customers has 4x8 banners made and we mount them to plywood in the field.