Hi all, I have done a lot of work with wood and clear acrylic on my S5 Pro, and want to branch out into cutting colored plastics and would appreciate some advice as I am having a hard time finding good info online.
I want to make a 3 or 4 colored and multi-dimensional sign for the entrance to our neighborhood. I am ok with trial and error as I work through the learning curve, but ideally I would like the final result to be something that will last ~10 years.
- Is color core HDPE the best material for outdoor signs?
- If I want to cut shapes/letters out of the material and attach to another sheet of HDPE acting as a backer, what is the best method to attach that will last in the elements? I have seen super glue recommended but not sure if mechanical joinery is needed as well.
- Do I have to finish the plastic with any sort of sealant? I would like to use colored plastic so ideally I don’t have to do any painting, but I don’t know if a clear coat would help with longevity.
- If my plan is to cut out the shapes/letters and attach to a backer, what strategies have you used to make sure the final layout is perfect? I have seen people recommend using a laser level but I am wondering if it would make more sense to (very shallow) pocket out the backer where the letters and shapes will go so everything is aligned by computer. I have tried using a level to attach wooden letters to a wooden backer and they never come out perfectly for me.
Any advice or resources would be very much appreciated!