Electric Tiki sign: need help! - Tiki Carving

G gavtiki Member melbourne,Australia Joined: Mar 02, 2004 Posts: 13	G gavtiki Posted posted on Mon, May 10, 2004 2:06 AM firstly i think he looks pretty cool as he is.but if u really want to change him i'd make a new one if the face comes out u could replace it with same thickness perspex your best option is to use a hand jigsaw with a fine blade ahardware store carries the fine blades i think there the same as for sheet metal cutting (a lot of teeth per inch of blade )and try to use a jigsaw with an adjustable speed. use this guy as atemplate for your new face.if using acrylic perspex (plastic)leave the gum like paper that protects it on when cutting &just take your time. the actual face will probably be either sprayed on with acrylic lacquer paint (mask &spray which is how most signs were done until about 10 years ago before computer cut lettering . the design was drawn up and cut out by hand and sections removed &painted one by one until the design was complete) or it may be screen printed on but this method was usualy only done inthe case of several signs all identical being done in one hitit too would be acrylic based ink to print on the plastic in both cases u could probably use acrylic thinners to remove the design in if is spray &masked it will probably have scalpel marks where the design was originaly cut if the solvent (thinner)doe'snt eat into the plastic and cause crazing (small cracks apppear ) u will have to wet sand down the panel to remove the old image from the surface with fine (800) wet &dry paper &a lot of waterthats if your plastic is green to start with & not just painted green. easiest solution ..make a new one just keep this guy hes original the wiring part u prbably need to see a elec trician to try to change the sequence the electrical boxe which controls the secquence is called a "chaser" they are sometimes adjustable for speed depending on manufacturer try a illuminated sign shop they would be the best guys to help u they create these things in the first place ..i used to work in one here in oz thats how ive got a bit of an idea ..sorry this is so long hope it helps..

firstly i think he looks pretty cool as he is.but if u really want to change him i'd make a new one if the face comes out u could replace it with same thickness perspex your best option is to use a hand jigsaw with a fine blade ahardware store carries the fine blades i think there the same as for sheet metal cutting (a lot of teeth per inch of blade )and try to use a jigsaw with an adjustable speed. use this guy as atemplate for your new face.if using acrylic perspex (plastic)leave the gum like paper that protects it on when cutting &just take your time.
the actual face will probably be either sprayed on with acrylic lacquer paint (mask &spray which is how most signs were done until about 10 years ago before computer cut lettering . the design was drawn up and cut out by hand and sections removed &painted one by one until the design was complete)
or it may be screen printed on but this method was usualy only done inthe case of several signs all identical being done in one hitit too would be acrylic based ink to print on the plastic in both cases u could probably use acrylic thinners to remove the design in if is spray &masked it will probably have scalpel marks where the design was originaly cut if the solvent (thinner)doe'snt eat into the plastic and cause crazing (small cracks apppear ) u will have to wet sand down the panel to remove the old image from the surface with fine (800) wet &dry paper &a lot of waterthats if your plastic is green to start with & not just painted green. easiest solution ..make a new one just keep this guy hes original
the wiring part u prbably need to see a elec trician to try to change the sequence the electrical boxe which controls the secquence is called a "chaser" they are sometimes adjustable for speed depending on manufacturer try a illuminated sign shop they would be the best guys to help u they create these things in the first place ..i used to work in one here in oz thats how ive got a bit of an idea ..sorry this is so long hope it helps..

Post #90411 by gavtiki on Mon, May 10, 2004 2:06 AM