Removal of 10 ft panels up on lift

[gnubler]

Any tips on removing 10 ft wide Lexan panels high up on a directory pylon sign? Replacing four of the panels with new ones and moving two existing ones to a different position on the sign. When pulling out the old ones, do you remove them in one piece, or cut them down with a saw as they're being pulled out? All the old ones are trash. We'll be up on a boom lift ranging from 15-25 ft high for this one.

 

[gnubler]

Good point. But sliding out a 10 ft piece of Lexan...hope it's not windy that day.

 

[2B]

Good point. But sliding out a 10 ft piece of Lexan...hope it's not windy that day.

as long as you have a "shelf" on the bottom of the bucket, you align the shelf to the cabinet and just slide it out of the cabinet and onto the bucket.
easy and straightforward

 

[Gino]

It's too dangerous to be cutting things that large up in the air. I highly doubt your insurance would cover you if a cut-off got away and decapitated someone. If you wanna be sure, take a second bucket along and have ample man & lift-power up there and work together.

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

I have two square tube "forks" on the bottom of the basket that we slide faces out and rest them on the forks. 10' is nothing, even in the wind... especially with two people. I refaced an entire multi-tenant sign yesterday, 26 panels in total, half were 12'... in the pouring rain. Took about 6 hours total because some of them didn't fit correctly.

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

Yea, once they get that big I use two trucks because those big faces always get hung up somewhere and you can't reach. I have one bucket and the other one acting as a crane operated from the ground. I did a 20' flat face with one bucket once and that was hell.

 

[Hero Signs]

There are methods to do it with 1 truck but you need a material handler preferred, or 2 man bucket. FYI removals are easy you can drill holes. installation we have made our own carriers, preferred or use a series for needle nose vice grips. Oh ya we install lots.

 

[2B]

There are methods to do it with 1 truck but you need a material handler preferred, or 2 man bucket. FYI removals are easy you can drill holes. installation we have made our own carriers, preferred or use a series for needle nose vice grips. Oh ya we install lots.

to add to this, we find that vacuum suction panel grips a VERY useful

Amazon.com

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

I use C clamps with a 2x4 on faces

 

[2B]

Yeah, but lexan faces have a great deal more flex than granite, at least in my experience with these trying to move stuff in the cnc room with cheap suction cups. I don't know how I'd feel about this in the air. Do you use these to actually bare the weight, or just to push/pull?

True, this is primary for pushing / pulling and for alignment into the trim cap channels

If it weight-bearing, it is for short distances and always close to the ground or some form of physical support

 

[Rocco G]

I also use c-clamps (only the older USA made Vice-Grip ones with the swivel pads) and clamp them around the tubes on my basket. 6 x 8 faces are not problem this way for one person and even larger with two people. The OP doesn't mention the height of the panels. I'm guessing these are in a multi-tenant sign so they can't get all that tall. Also, a pair of "duck-bill" vice-grips are very helpful in pulling the face towards you. irwin 8R IIRC.

J Burton, I'm going to investigate those kant-twist thingies.

 

[gnubler]

Thanks for the input, everyone. I shared this with my installer and he really liked the c-clamp idea for this one.

 

[WB]

I'm sorry it's late and reading makes me sleepy..
I used to have a set of "Forks or fingers" I attached to the bottom of bucket or lifts. , could be C-Clamped on the front and ratchet strapped around and then I'd have straps and ropes to hold and wrap around whatever sign face your taking down. This was years ago.. I'm sure the legal restrictions have changed ,,lol

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

 

[GAC05]

Tex what happened to your green lift - you trade it in for a yellow DeWalt model to one-up Mose?

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

The green ones were rentals... the yellow one is what I bought.... matches all my tools