18lb sign foam vs 30lb precision board

[blackhawk]

Sign Foam and Precision Board are the only two HDUs readily available to me. I want to use at least the 18lb Sign Foam. For $62 more on a 4x8 sheet, I can step up to 30lb Precision Board.

I am sure these companies rate their densities a little different, but I am thinking the 30lb would be worth an extra $62 ~ roughly 20% increase. I have used Sign Foam, but not Precision Board.

Does anyone disagree that the 30lb Precision Board is the way to go over 18lb Sign Foam?

[steve_g]

Brad…
I have used 10lb sign foam and 40 lb. PB… The 40 lb. was like carving wood! I loved it. I’d gladly pay the up charge for the higher density!
SG

[joe]

Brad,

I'm not sure what your doing with these materials.

Have you given up on using 1" PVC. It's my favorite and much cheaper and tougher.

Joe

[danhamm]

I had never used PVC until recently, thought the price would be to high.

It cuts and carves nicely and if wanted after 3/d carving can be made to curve for counters, and it looks like wood, paints easily.
Is cheaper than any of the sign foams.

PVC Sheet, 4' Width x 8' Length, 25 MM Thickness, Wood-like finish, For Signage, Screen Printing, Arts and Crafts and Building Industries

Thanks Joe, for recommending this stuff.

[David Iannone]

Brad,
I would take the $62 savings on the sheet. HDU is always gonna be HDU. It requires filling/priming, sanding,=hours.

I have used a lot of HDU over the years. If you are using this product it should be for nice finished letters that are pocketed into a sign, or one really strong support system it is hanging from.

Currently, I am in the process of converting my dimensional signage to more PVC.

Thanks to Joe Crumley for the advice and knowledge he has helped me with.



Dave

[David Iannone]

PVC is easy to work with.
The only paint was One Shot Gold Metallic.

[RossMosh]

I'd recommend calling up your distributor or the actual companies and ask for samples.

I touched a piece of SF4 at a trade show before it was released and it was really nice; nicer than Duna. I was thinking about using it on a project so I asked for a sample to look at again and run a test. I got the sample and it was not the same as what I had touched at the trade show. It's very comparable to Duna but not nicer than it.

Long story short. Get the stuff in your hand before spending $300+ on a piece of HDU. The companies are happy to send you free samples.

[joe]

Ross,

Good advice.

What are you doing that requires such HD Foam?

[blackhawk]

Does anyone have specific brands/grades of PVC that they are using? I get most of my sheet goods from Harbor Sales. From the link below which are the correct types of PVC to use for routed signs?

http://www.harborsales.net/tabid/130...ductTypeId=162

Komacel and Excel brands are the only choices for thicknesses over 1/2"

[joe]

Brad,

I'm not sure there's that much difference between brands. All those I've tried are close in density and paint well. Unlike HDU that's all over the place. Costs can vary but the target price for 1" is $185.00.

Some brands seem to Out-Gas more than others. That may be due to the amount of open cells.

Joe