Radio Station Sign

[Christmas_nolagirl28]

So we're in Louisiana where weather goes from humid to cold to thunderstorms in a matter of days. We had a few signs up during our Halloween display (though it wasn't for lightorama) and those did not make it past a week each. I've searched the forums and see some people have wooden signs, others light up signs, others cardboard like signs.

 

I'm wondering what's the most durable and easy to manage set up wise since we aren't electricians. We were thinking of a wooden sign that can be lit up but aren't so sure since we're having issues with our radio transmitter especially when its windy. Do you normally have a few back up signs? What materials do you use?

 

Thanks

[htebault]

I built a wooden frame aound the radio sign that uses incan's. The back side is covered in heavy plastic to protect it from rain. This is the third season and it is hanging in there.  The sign is powered by one channel on the LOR controller.

[Orville]

Like the above, I use one channel to control my sign using a background sequence{to constantly keep it lit} and lit with multi-color M5 L.E.D.'s around it.  Originally I had my sign made at a sign shop for $15, they used CORO for the sign and stick on lettering,  I built a study wood backing with a cross beam across the middle to hold it.   It has been in high gusty winds, rain and thunderstorms and survived with no damage.   Had to flip it over and use the back side since the radio freq. I had used for years now has a station on it.   So the new sign is handwritten and then sprayed with a clear acrylic sealer to keep it dry and the grease pencil I used for the lettering from running in rainstorms and hopefully fading from the sun.

 

Would have just peeled the letters off and gotten new stick ons, but I had coated that side with the same acrylic spray and when managed to tear off the FM freq, it left very visible marks and numbers, so I'd have had to peel off everything, paint the coro and redo the entire thing, was cheaper to just reverse the sign and do it by hand, then spray with the clear acrylic sealer.

 

So my sign may not look the best, but funny thing is the handwritten sign is more visible and easier to read than the original side with the press on sticky lettering! LOL

[Jaynee]

I made ours using a sheet of coroplast and spray painting using stencils.  Then I sprayed a waterproof shellac over the entire thing.  The coroplast sheet is then screwed into a metal real estate sign frame that I got at Lowes.

[SparkDr]

I use a scrolling LED sigh that I picked up on the secondary market and have mounted inside our picture window facing out into the street.  It covers show times, tune to info, headlight off reminders, etc and is easy to change when needed.  It's not the right option for every display, but it may be worth keeping an eye out for one on your local Craigslist for one if it fits your needs.

[robongar]

I went to a local sign making shop, they stuck the message of Yellow letters on black corrugated plastic. It goes in a frame similar to a house " For Sale".

I've had it for 4 years, gone through snow, rain, freezing rain & down to -25 deg C, still as good as new

[Bizywk]

We made a sign two years ago along these lines but with a little twist.     We used two long thin pieces of white coro (about 8in x 4ft), and two pieces of 1"x4" pine.  We slotted the pine about 3/4" of an inch from the edge, and used the wood to build a 4 sided hollow box using finish nails.   Before we put the last end piece on, when we slid the coro into the slots, we hot glued them.   We used a cheap ebay RGB controller and put in a dumb pixel strip.  Wired the AC input to an LOR controller, and put custom black vinyl stick-on letters onto the coro.    Now we have a waterproof, color changing, back lighted sign that will last for a very long time.  If we ever have to change frequencies, its a quick fix.  The sign is very light and stores easily.

 

Here's just one company that will not only make your letters for you, they'll even spell out your message onto a quick release strip.  http://www.customvinyllettering.net/lettering/t-vinyl/?source=bing

 

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[gorichgo]

I went to Staples and made a sign there for only $8.  I get to pick it up today.  You can go online to their website and make them there too.  

Edited December 1, 2015 by gorichgo

[PaulXmas]

I used peg board painted white and used some yellow C6 LED to spell out Tune To 107.5
It can be seen here:

[Christmas_nolagirl28]

Oh wow thanks everyone!! I really appreciate it. It's great to see how everyone has their take on it but there's a ton of similiarities. Thanks again

[BMurray]

We made a sign two years ago along these lines but with a little twist. We used two long thin pieces of white coro (about 8in x 4ft), and two pieces of 1"x4" pine. We slotted the pine about 3/4" of an inch from the edge, and used the wood to build a 4 sided hollow box using finish nails. Before we put the last end piece on, when we slid the coro into the slots, we hot glued them. We used a cheap ebay RGB controller and put in a dumb pixel strip. Wired the AC input to an LOR controller, and put custom black vinyl stick-on letters onto the coro. Now we have a waterproof, color changing, back lighted sign that will last for a very long time. If we ever have to change frequencies, its a quick fix. The sign is very light and stores easily.

Here's just one company that will not only make your letters for you, they'll even spell out your message onto a quick release strip. http://www.customvinyllettering.net/lettering/t-vinyl/?source=bing

.

Did the same this year with dumb pixels. My sign is 2'x3'. Made with 2x4. Its a little heavy. But where it is placed I wanted it to be too much of a hassle to take if someone tried. I spray painted the numbers and letters. It is very bright and stands out well. Edited December 1, 2015 by BMurray