Electric Tiki sign: need help!

Hello! I have a two-part question pertaining to the following Tiki Sign and would appreciate any help you can give me.

Part I:

I love this sign with the exception of the face of the tiki...it's a bit cheesy for my taste. I want to change it and put my own design on it. It looks like the design is printed onto it...is there some type of remover that I can use that won't destroy the green plastic but will remove the original design?

My other option with it is to completely remove its plastic insert and replace it with a new one. I actually did this before when I customized another light box and had to cut it into the shape of an oval. I used a hand-tool for this and not an electric one and it wasn't that fun. If I have to go this route which tool would be the best to use? I've been wanting a fancy router for some time but haven't gotten one yet.

**Part II: **

This sign is so cool because it's like an old Tiki Motor Hotel sign. The word "TIKI" lights up with each individual letter then it flashes the entire word TIKI at the end. The movement is very fast. However, my Tiki Room has more of a mellow feel to it and the sign is a bit neurotic for full-time usage. Is there any way I can change the wiring so that I have both options? I know very little about wiring. I suppose I could take it into the Home Depot and ask them. It won't be the first bizarre question I've asked them.

~ Thanks! :)

[ Edited by: exoticat on 2004-04-23 14:35 ]

I'm not sure how it is constructed, but if at all possible I would remove the existing plastic and save it for future reconstruction, then put in my own creation. Someday the sign may be worth more in this original state..
The electrical should not be too difficult. a couple wires and a bypass switch to go to Full on, or Sequential,blinkie on.

I like the Tiki, please don't hurt him.

My experience with cutting that thin acryllic plastic (if that is what I think it is) is that it chips very easily. If you have to use a saw, use a very fine toothed blade. I find that a router and sander or dremmel with a sanding barrel always works best with the least amount of chipping. Also, most paint removers are gnarly on plastic. The ones that arent involve some scraping and you may end up scratching up your surface. It almost looks like it has a texture and is not a smooth surface.

I may have a scrap piece of that acryllic plastic in my shop. Let me know what size that tiki is if you are interested in trying to cut out a new piece.

Sorry but my electricity skills are a bit rusty and without seeing the circuit, I would hate to give out ill advice that could leave your tiki sign in a smoking melted mess.

Benzart brings up a good point too about saving the original pieces and the bypass wiring.

Personally, I dont think the tiki looks all that bad either.

Good luck.
Chongolio

-- I believe that our Heavenly Father invented the monkey because he was disappointed in man."
... Mark Twain

Come explore http://www.lost-isle.com

[ Edited by: Chongolio on 2004-04-20 10:30 ]

Ditto, I wouldn't touch it.

...I'd start by using a Remington 12 guage shotgun and blowing a hole right through the middle....if anything was left afterward, I'd have it stuffed and mounted by a professional....

seriously? I think it looks fine the way it is....

i wouldn't do anything to the sign, i think it's bad ass the way it is. if you don't like it you could always send it to my place in ft lauderdale, i promise it would have a great home! lol, just kidding, but seriously, it's really cool.

Just my opinion, but I wouldn't change it. It's a classic and worth quite a bit as is!

OK, your sign looks most likely to be made from a resin coated fiberglass called Synskin by some companies (http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/product.php?pid=241&)).
This is the same stuff that some retro lampshades are made out of. It looks kind of like rice paper but is more plastic in feel. You can make your own, but it is messy and the chemicals are toxic. You might try some lamp shade companies, they might be able to sell you a "sheet" of the stuff you can paint on. Try Moon Shine Shade company (http://www.moonshineshades.com)

Hope this helps...somewhat.

Trust your instincts. I think that tiki looks like a slug with a headcold. Since we're in the minority, keep the original in good shape, but I think you'd do well to replace it with something tiki-er.

Keep it the way it is!

Hello! Thanks for all the input. I have decided since I have a huge list of things to do in the Tiki Room that I will keep it as it is for now (and possibly always)...i think the tiki face is already growing on me slightly.

I put it on the wall behind the go-go cage and it actually looks ok there. I would still like to have the steady-burning versus flashing tiki option though.

While I was down in the Tiki Room I discovered the sign wasn't as distracting as I previously thought. However, if I snuggle in with a good DVD, it'll have to go off.

I feel good knowing he's safe.

Exoticat,do you really have a go-go cage?How great is that?! Absolutely hysterical-please post some pics.

On 2004-04-22 15:07, docwoods wrote:
Exoticat,do you really have a go-go cage?How great is that?! Absolutely hysterical-please post some pics.

go-go cage pics! go-go cage pics! I'm koo koo for go-go cage pics! (being used of coarse)
Gald to hear your not going to change it.

Am I smoking crack or is that the same sign available at Spencer's for 30 bucks? I'm reading all these posts advising to leave it the way it is...why? I whole-heartedly think the sign needs some customization! I got a flyer from Spencer's Monday and immediately began brainstorming about what to do with one to personalize it! Don't let that ugly "tiki" grow on you! Off with his hideous head!!

Well, there's a reason why I have a Go-Go cage in my Tiki Room. It all started when we decided to be some of the planners for an event with a 60's theme, called Kiddlepalooza. We tend to be a bit extravagant with our ideas and quickly decided we wanted Go-Go cages and a Laugh-In Wall.

Since the Laugh-In wall was my idea, I had to come up with the design and paint it (don't ask about the hours of my life that I lost working on that thing!) while some other friends worked on the cages. There are 6 openings hidden in the wall and it was a great place for photo ops.

Since I was one of the two main dancers for the event, they gave me a cage after it ended. It sat in the garage for quite awhile until I finally got the Tiki Room space cleared. THAT is why my room has a Go-Go cage. Pretty much everyone who has been in the Tiki Room has to at least step inside of it and feel its mojo.

This is one of the many pics from our photo session before the event:

We were trying to get the right shot so I could use it for the cover of this CD, which was later auctioned off to raise money for the New Beginnings Women's Shelter in Seattle. It contained the music that was played during our dance portion of the event.

We even had our own Goldie Hawn:

Live action shots from the event:

Lastly, I designed a sign for the event and based it on an actual place that existed in the 60's called the Pussycat a' Go-Go. I couldn't find out much info on it, but I did buy a casino coin on eBay and recreated the design from that. I made the cat's head out black light reactive tubing that I bent on wire, then painted the logo in acrylics. I photographed the sign then made it into an animated gif:

Email me with your qualifications if you want to be my private dancer in the Go-Go Cage.... I'm kidding.

Exoticat-thanks for posting the great pics-the fun I bet you have!!!Cool,man!

Yes, on the crack, John.

I mean no on the crack! It IS from Spencers. I couldn't tell where I got it from previously until I was assured that my friend who gave me the tip on it got hers first (they had to get one in for her). Our Spencers only had two...the one I got, and the one on display. They could restock them though.

In that case, Butcher away with great fun.

Speaking from a professional sign maker's view, that tiki would fit perfectly in my bar. :wink:

Actually I wouldn't touch it at all. There should be a diode or modulator built in the sign where you can change out the switch for the t-i-k-i part of the sign. but personally, if i owned it and thought it wouldn't fit in my mellow room, i'd place it out side in the hallway. Just please-please don't destroy that sign, (spensors or not) remake it if you could.. or give him a new home. :wink:

ths post was never edited, no matter what the thread at the bottom says.. it is full of lies.. LIES!!!

-one man aspiring to be everyone’s favorite unkle.
http://www.unklejohn.com

[ Edited by: Unkle John on 2004-05-06 20:59 ]

[ Edited by: Unkle John on 2004-05-06 21:12 ]

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..

On 2004-04-24 16:51, Benzart wrote:
In that case, Butcher away with great fun.

Ya, I thought it was one of a kind. Not a Spencers knock off.