Posts Tagged custom metal signs

If You Are Looking For Durability, Consider Custom Metal Signs

Posted by on Tuesday, 21 September, 2010

When most businesses think of custom signs and banners for their trade show they tend to overlook the value that custom metal signs can add to their display. If you have a large display area and you regularly attend different trade shows or expos you may want to look into investing into purchasing some customized metal signs to use in addition to the regular banners or other signs you use.

Metal signs have one advantage over most other types of signs and banners; they are much more durable and permanent. The cost of investing in a metal sign will soon be offset by the simple fact that you will be able to use the sign many times over. Of course, before going ahead with a custom metal sign you will need to plan in advance what you will use the sign for and what you want printed on it. As far as their design goes, they are usually highly customizable. They can be made from many different types of metal, with many custom sign designers also able to cut the metal into different shapes. Following are some typical uses for custom made metal signs that are used for display purposes.

Information: If you regularly need to display information about a product, such as the material it is made from, size and pricing options, or even POP displays to hold items that you are advertising, you may find that a metal sign better suits your needs.

Logos: Many companies find it helpful to have their logo design placed on a metal sign. The sign will not deteriorate with use and age, and it can be used many times. Frequently these are displayed on a wooden or metal stand which can be moved to any location. They can be placed on the top of cabinets or on counters and desks.

Directional Signs: If you have a large booth or display you may also find it helpful to have signs that point to specific displays or items. Small metal signs, similar to placeholders can also be used to label different sections of a larger display. Some signs can be made with a magnetic backing so that they easily attach to metal display shelves. They can also be made to sit on small stands which can be moved around at will, allowing greater flexibility when it comes to setting up displays.

Aside from the benefit of their being long-lasting, there are other reasons to consider using them. Depending on how they are made and the material they are made from, custom signs on metal can be fairly lightweight. Also, they do not bend, crease or become damaged easily during transportation. These two factors make them ideal when you have to transport them long distances, or ship them on ahead. No special packaging is needed and you do not need to worry how they will look once they reach their destination.

Metal signs are also useful for other purposes. You will frequently see custom metal street signs used around town. Many businesses will print their company name on a metal plaque that is mounted outside of their premises, and metal signs are used internally to point the way to different department sections. Nicely mounted custom made metal signs can also be used as nameplates that sit on desks. They are used on doors and at reception desks, in hallways, lobbies and outdoor parking areas. Basically, wherever you need a sign that is going to last and that looks professional, metal should be your choice.

There are many different choices when it comes to designing these types of signs. Most custom metal signs are made from aluminum which is hard wearing and yet still very light and manageable. They are great in areas that get a lot of traffic or in areas that are exposed to the outside elements. Different thicknesses of aluminum can be chosen, depending on how sturdy you need the sign to be and where it will be placed. Copper, bronze, stainless steel and brushed steel are also often used.

Aside from signs made from solid metal, some use thin layers that are soldered together instead. These are usually cheaper than the solid metal signs and they are generally quite a bit lighter. Thus they are best used indoors or when firmly attached to a building or wall. You can also buy custom metal signs where a very thin sheet of metal is attached to an acrylic backing. Again, these signs are usually quite cheap and very lightweight.

Usually you will be asked to supply your own artwork and graphics, although many companies will also help to design the sign for you for a small fee. You can place graphics on the sign and choose which typeset or font face to use for the text on the sign.

If you want something that is durable and yet looks very professional, whether for a trade fair or for your own business premises custom metal signs may be just what you are looking for. They are relatively cheap and very durable; definitely a good investment for anyone wishing to have a more permanent sign made.


The Metal Sign – A Sturdy Alternative

Posted by on Sunday, 7 March, 2010

Metal is one of the sturdiest materials that you can use to make a sign. Wood signs often require repainting every few years to maintain a good appearance but the paint on metal signs are known to last for much longer. Most road signs are constructed out of metal and if properly made can last well over 10 to 15 years.

Metal signs have hundreds of uses and they can be placed on roads, schools, in front of companies, trains stations, advertisements, and many more. There are hundreds of different shapes and sizes of signs square, rectangle, and circles are the most used shapes. Some signs may only be one foot wide while others are large enough to overshadow a highway.

The most popular signs made of metal are found a sheet of metal that is then painted over with whatever the sign needs to say. The sign is then attached to either one or multiple posts and driven into the ground. Metal street signs and property signs are generally made like this.

Custom metal signs are usually blanks signs that allow the individual to add whatever text they want on it. These types of signs are great for a school or private property as they enable you to put your own personalized text on the sign. Some customizable signs may already have some text on it but with a space to put your text. For example, a sign may have ‘STOP’ on it, but there underneath there is a blank spot where you could put your personal text. Other signs may contain someone’s personal name or address, or the address of a company. The simplest type of customizable sign allows the individual to just paint their text on the sign. These sigs come in a large variety of durable metals such as aluminum and steel, as iron.

Engraved signs are much more difficult to create than normal metal signs. This usually requires the sign to be under an intense amount of heat so the metal is flexible. The outputting text can then be engraved into the metal. Some signs are run through metal stamps, which will cut letters of the alphabet through the metal forming the sentence.

Vintage metal signs can also be found at a variety of places, many of these depict scenes during the 19th and early 20th century. Some restaurants and stores still use these vintage style signs to add a unique and nostalgic touch. Some vintage signs are truly ‘vintage’ and have lasted all the way from the early 20th century. An old metal sign may be found in areas that have preserved structures from the past.

A sign can help to draw in customers or make announcements to people passing by. Making a sign of metal is actual quite simple, all the material you need is found in most hardware stores. Metal sheets can be found in a number of places and metal sign holders can be bought easily as well.

The first thing you’ll need to do is draw the shape and size of the sign you’re going to be building, you should first use a piece of cardboard to draw on so you don’t ruin the metal sheet. Cut the cardboard shape out and trace the shape onto the metal sheet with a marker. Next, you will need a pair of tin snips to cut out the shape from the metal sheet. Be sure to wear gloves when doing this as you could easily cut yourself on the sharp metal.

After you have the correct shape, sketch what you intend to draw on the metal sheet. If you are creating a pattern, first create the pattern on a cardboard sheet and then slice out patterns shapes to trace on the metal. To add text, draw the text on a cardboard sheet and then cut out the letter, now take the cardboard stencils and use them for lettering. It is important to make sure the letters are straight and evenly spaced between each other.

When painting the sign, cover the other areas with painter’s tape and focus on one specific area at a time. If you are using normal paint, make sure that you make quick, light strokes. The lighter the strokes are the better because hard strokes will leave stroke marks after the paint has dried. An easier way to paint the sign would be to spray paint it. Continue to paint each area until it has received the depth of color you want. Now let it dry.

After the paint has dried, peel the tape off another section of the sign and paint that section, you should continue this process until the entire sign has been painted. To mount the sign drill the sheet into a metal sign holder and drive it into the ground.


Metal Signs And Their Many Uses

Posted by on Wednesday, 17 February, 2010

Signs have been a huge part of people’s lives for centuries and have been used to convey various messages from person to person or from business to person. They are used in every country around the world even in the present day. The use of signs is particularly important for businesses, they are a fantastic way for any company to attract attention, this is especially important if you own or are planning on starting a new business.

The most favored material to have signs constructed from is metal, it is deemed as the most durable and robust material to use. When having your custom metal signs made for your new business it is paramount that you take the time end effort to choose the perfect wording to create a buzz and excitement about you new venture. Using phrases like coming soon and grand opening are perfect for generating this type of effect.

Not only are signs used for business purposes they are also common place in many peoples homes too. A particularly popular style of sign to be used both inside and outside peoples home are vintage metal signs. These come in various different shapes and styles and many believe them to give an excellent depth and character to the home or room in which it is displayed.

Half a century ago you would have bee likely to spot an old metal sign dangling from the wall of a petrol station or a restaurant. Over the decades, these signs have gradually been removed and the large majority of them have sadly been destroyed. The few that remain around the world have now become pieces of modern art to many people.

Tracking down these delightful pieces of decoration for your home can be a tricky process, as they are not easily found. Here are a few tips to help you on the way to finding the perfect retro metal signs for your home.

A great place to start is estate auctions; many of the older generation are in possession of these signs purely because they can not bear to through parts of their history away. Many elderly people do not even realize that these signs are highly sort after by many people. Due to this same reason garage/yard sales can also be a fantastic spot for picking up one of these rare pieces for a measly amount of money, a lot of people will classify them as junk and be happy to see the back of them!

Flea markets can be the perfect spot to pick up old bargains too. These can be particularly effective if you are hunting down antique metal signs. A large amount of retailers who deal in antiques of all shapes and sizes, not just signs, pick them up for low sums at flea markets and sell them. If you are not local to any flea markets or you are not aware of any then you could simply visit an antique store for you sign. The only problem with this option is that you will be paying for their profit too. It is infinitely better if you can track down the item of your own accord.

Within your local and surrounding areas always keep an eye out for any long standing businesses such as restaurants or old shops that are under going renovations or remodeling of any sort. The chances are that they may will be doing away will old signs or memorabilia that you may be able to take off their hands either for a small figure or if you are really lucky for free!

Finally, as with almost everything that you purchase in this modern age, the internet really is an endless source of information and items for sale. If you put in the right amount of research, there is literally nothing that you can not lay your hands on. Using the internet to assist in your search opens not only the United States market up to you but the rest of the globe too. With the low postage costs that are now available it now means you can have items posted to you from anywhere in the world. Enabling you to attain unique a wide variety of signs from places such as India, Thailand, and China.

The use of signs in our daily lives is literally something that we could not imagine being without. They are a part of everything that we do on a daily basis, from when we drive to work with the help of metal street signs, to when we use the toilet in a restaurant or bar guided by the use of metal wall signs. Although they have been around for centuries, they are used just as frequently today as they were then. They are a quintessential part of the modern age that we live in.