Monument Signage Design - How to Fabricate

[rdm01]

I've got an initial very rough idea of a sign for a local company who has reached out for some ideas. At this point it is essentially a footing with a cabinet, and a fabricated steel logo attached to that. The cabinet would be wrapped to create a wood look. Originally they wanted actual wood, but I don't think their budget allows for that.

The footing is pretty straight forward, and the dimensional logo can be subbed out to Gemini. The cabinet construction has me a little concerned. Without a whole lot of metal fabrication capability, I'm wondering the best way to produce an aluminum cabinet this size.

While we're still in the design phase, the sign will be around 12"-18" deep, 6'-8' wide, and about 6'+ tall. All sides would need to be flat and wrapped.

Is there a good way to start to look into producing a box like this, or vendors that I can look into?

 

[DirtyD]

You can build the cabinet out of aluminum angle or aluminum square tube. Then skin the framework with aluminum or polymetal.. Pretty simple really

 

[GVP]

If by 'wrapped', you mean digital vinyl applied I think I would be concerned about the durability. Depending on which direction it faces, you could have a problem with fading over a relatively short time. Have you considered something like Texture Plus - they do some very nice faux wood panels?

 

[rdm01]

The wood panels are awesome. I will look into those, thank you for the recommendation.

So essentially weld up a frame, VHB on a polymetal skin, and apply finish/dimensional logo.

I'll have to figure out how to attached to a footing, but some brackets or rod poured in shouldn't be that hard.

 

[BIG EASY DOES IT]

Use angle to make the box and mount the wood to it. Depending on the gaps inbetween the wood you might need a backer behind it so you don't see all the way through. Please make this out of wood slats and not a printed sheet with a dimensional logo over top. Your finished product will be way nicer.

 

[rdm01]

Use angle to make the box and mount the wood to it. Depending on the gaps inbetween the wood you might need a backer behind it so you don't see all the way through. Please make this out of wood slats and not a printed sheet with a dimensional logo over top. Your finished product will be way nicer.

I can't think of a way to attach wood slats to an aluminum frame without an excess of visible fasteners on the face of the sign.

 

[fresh]

I can't think of a way to attach wood slats to an aluminum frame without an excess of visible fasteners on the face of the sign.

Get a Kreg Jig. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF6DkNOwZ6M

 

[BIG EASY DOES IT]

I can't think of a way to attach wood slats to an aluminum frame without an excess of visible fasteners on the face of the sign.

Have the box open from the top. That way everything can be made working up to the top. The top piece drops on and bolts. Only visible fasners on top.
The wood slats can be drilled through the back side of the angle iron into the wood. Then there are no visible fastners. If all the wood is the same width then it should be pretty easy to measure out the centers and pre drill the wood and angle iron.

You could also think about building each panel out separately and mounting them to your base afterwards.

 

[rdm01]

All very good suggestions. Thank you. May take a while to noodle this one out fully.