how to make trim for round sign face?

[biggmann]

We are looking to make a round sign on the top of the pylon like the one in the attached picture. The actual sign construction is not an issue but I cannot figure how to attach the acrylic sign face to the round sign. I thought using gem trim like channel letters but that doesn't seem right. Any suggestions on how to accomplish this?

 

[signbrad]

I assume the sign in the picture is not small. An eight or ten foot diameter cabinet on top?
Plastic trim cap is not a suitable retainer for a face like this.
Use .080" aluminum to fabricate a retainer. I would cut the face of the retainer with a sabre saw by hand. Then weld the return to the retainer's face as I bend the return flush to the edge of the face. It's been many years since I've fabricated a curved retainer like this, but I think that welds every inch or so is about right, butting the return piece against the back of the face piece. It's time-consuming, especially for me since I came up as a painter, not a fabricator. When I was asked to fabricate in the shop it was because everyone else was way busy and they were fairly sure I wouldn't screw it up.

On a round cabinet you can make the retainer in two pieces, a top and a bottom. Leave the bottom piece attached permanently to the cabinet. The top half can be removable so the sign face can be lifted out for servicing.

If you are having a capable fabricator build the cabinet, they should also be able to fab the retainer for you if you don't want to try making it yourself. .080" aluminum is easy to burn through if you're not used to welding it.

The illustration above is showing the back side of the retainer, of course.
I think I could have fabricated one of these in the amount of time it took me to figure out how to do the drawing in Signlab.

Brad in Kansas City

 

[The Hobbyist]

To get a clean look without a strip of metal folded over the edge, think about cementing a ring of polycarbonate or plexiglass to the back of the sign substrate that fits JUST inside of the can. You can make the ring first to make sure it fits into the can and comes flush to the front edge. Make the strip 1-1/2" or whatever will fit. Cut slots in the ring to clear any sheet metal or frame metal that might be in the way.

When you insert the ring into the can, use screws through the can AND through the ring to hold the face in place. v This will work well for signs of an odd shape. Make sure the insert fits inside of the can with very little space.

You will end up with a plex face that has a small lip (1/2" ??) that extends beyond the edge of the can, and a good bite into the ring every 12" or so.

 

[Kottwitz-Graphics]

I assume the sign in the picture is not small. An eight or ten foot diameter cabinet on top?
Plastic trim cap is not a suitable retainer for a face like this.
Use .080" aluminum to fabricate a retainer. I would cut the face of the retainer with a sabre saw by hand. Then weld the return to the retainer's face as I bend the return flush to the edge of the face. It's been many years since I've fabricated a curved retainer like this, but I think that welds every inch or so is about right, butting the return piece against the back of the face piece. It's time-consuming, especially for me since I came up as a painter, not a fabricator. When I was asked to fabricate in the shop it was because everyone else was way busy and they were fairly sure I wouldn't screw it up.

On a round cabinet you can make the retainer in two pieces, a top and a bottom. Leave the bottom piece attached permanently to the cabinet. The top half can be removable so the sign face can be lifted out for servicing.

If you are having a capable fabricator build the cabinet, they should also be able to fab the retainer for you if you don't want to try making it yourself. .080" aluminum is easy to burn through if you're not used to welding it.

The illustration above is showing the back side of the retainer, of course.
I think I could have fabricated one of these in the amount of time it took me to figure out how to do the drawing in Signlab.

Brad in Kansas City

Dead on advice...

 

[TonyC]

I assume the sign in the picture is not small. An eight or ten foot diameter cabinet on top?
Plastic trim cap is not a suitable retainer for a face like this.
Use .080" aluminum to fabricate a retainer. I would cut the face of the retainer with a sabre saw by hand. Then weld the return to the retainer's face as I bend the return flush to the edge of the face. It's been many years since I've fabricated a curved retainer like this, but I think that welds every inch or so is about right, butting the return piece against the back of the face piece. It's time-consuming, especially for me since I came up as a painter, not a fabricator. When I was asked to fabricate in the shop it was because everyone else was way busy and they were fairly sure I wouldn't screw it up.

On a round cabinet you can make the retainer in two pieces, a top and a bottom. Leave the bottom piece attached permanently to the cabinet. The top half can be removable so the sign face can be lifted out for servicing.

If you are having a capable fabricator build the cabinet, they should also be able to fab the retainer for you if you don't want to try making it yourself. .080" aluminum is easy to burn through if you're not used to welding it.

The illustration above is showing the back side of the retainer, of course.
I think I could have fabricated one of these in the amount of time it took me to figure out how to do the drawing in Signlab.

Brad in Kansas City

Best advise. +2