Ideas on a Substrate

[captainron19]

I am need of making some outdoor "Snowflake Like" designs but I am having difficulty in determining a substrate to use. The flakes I need to make will be approximately 3 or 4 feet each and somewhat rigid since they will have some lights mounted to them. Someone showed me a design he made and sent me a picture (see below) So you can get an idea of what I am talking about. I would need this to be approx 1" thick or so. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[John Butto]

Starboard or PVC

 

[captainron19]

I thought of PVC but pretty expensive for that thickness. What is Starboard? Never heard of that.

The guy that made the one int he pic told me he used coroflute (assuming it is a form of coroplast but never heard of it)

 

[John Butto]

Starboard is more expensive than PVC, used on boats because of holding up to the elements and cleaning so well.

 

[artbot]

construction styro and paint them with a slow two part epoxy (non yellowing)? spray them with exterior latex white, then dip them in glue and dust them with transparent holographic glitter.

 

[RycckG]

Hello,
I think this would depend on how many do you need and how long do they need to last? I assume outdoor use?

 

[Billct2]

How will they be installed and will they be reused every year?

 

[captainron19]

Yes used every year and outside mounted on a peaked roof for Holiday Season.

Mounting will be done with fishing line to hold in place secured to roof shingles.

 

[RycckG]

If you are doing less than 20 pcs, I would probably look to use PVC. layer several pcs if you cant cut 1"... If you need 200, I would look to die cut 1/4" PVC and layer them. You can hot wire styrofoam if a great option, but I doubt they will hold up for multi uses.

 

[CanuckSigns]

construction styro and paint them with a slow two part epoxy (non yellowing)? spray them with exterior latex white, then dip them in glue and dust them with transparent holographic glitter.

This

 

[Billct2]

Are they on that background?
I think the styro with a hard coat is probably the simplest/cheapest option,
especially if they are on a background.

 

[sfr table hockey]

Depending on the lights they plan to use and how they plan to mount the lights, it may look real nice to have a thin substrate mounted with off sets and run some mini lights behind the snow flake to get a glow. Just not sure if a small run of mini lights would be able to fill that shape with one set so that it would be easy to plug together to the next. Thinking of the icicle lights.

May be too much work.

 

[Locals Find!]

Depending on the lights they plan to use and how they plan to mount the lights, it may look real nice to have a thin substrate mounted with off sets and run some mini lights behind the snow flake to get a glow. Just not sure if a small run of mini lights would be able to fill that shape with one set so that it would be easy to plug together to the next.
May be too much work.

Your idea would work great with some LED rope lighting instead of the mini lights. No bulbs to replace & less power usage also.

 

[Billct2]

I like it