what to make back lit letters out of?

[knight_toolworks]

Since I usually only make the parts I want to find a good material for outdoor backlit letters. I am thinking of mdo but I don't know of there would be something better. I had one cheap customer that made them out of blue foam.

[letterman7]

Traditionally they are aluminum cans, reverse lit. I guess it depends on how large you're going and how you're going to light them. I wouldn't use MDO for this if my life depended on it - if they are going in a commercial location they will need to be UL certified by whomever wires them (if they are going to be anything other than 12 volt). If 12v LED's are being used, hdu is the easiest to pocket rout for the LED panels and the wiring.

[knight_toolworks]

I always tell them that they have to get someone to do the wiring thats about all that is required by the city. I usualy tell them 12v led lighting. I doubt they would fork over money for hdu though. I just want an idea so I know if I should offer them.

[steve4460]

We make our channel letters out of 0.040 aluminum and acrylic sheeting .
Check out www.s5mfg.com there you can see some signs we did .
If you want to ,we can make them and ship the letters to you , and you install them .

[knight_toolworks]

We make our channel letters out of 0.040 aluminum and acrylic sheeting .
Check out www.s5mfg.com (http://www.s5mfg.com) there you can see some signs we did .
If you want to ,we can make them and ship the letters to you , and you install them .
that's what I have been thinking of doing. Most of my sign customers are cheap as thats why they want to do the DYI method. Though I steer them to doing it the right way with the right materials but most of the time I just cut the parts out Like for push through letter signs I will cut thew background out and the letters and thats it. or just letters or thew backs for vinyl signs and such.
But I am working on making sure they use the right materials and the right paints so the signs work out for them. Once in awhile I do a finished sign but not often. but back lit letters would be nice to add to what I can offer.
I am pretty good at talking them into the right materials so I wont look bad and the signs will last. Had one sign company who I was cutting out large sintra letters for to use outside I was not happy with but he has not come back in a year so that may be good.

[jerry_stanek]

We use 25 mm Sintra and pocket .25 and use flex leds

[CNYDWW]

Was going to suggest exterior LED rope light kits.

[jerry_stanek]

The leds that we use come in rolls and are water proof.