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.
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.