Team Oregon

This sign measures 4' high x 6' wide and hangs on a wall behind the reception area. It was completed in the spring of 2012. I was given just the logo in black and white. After much design exploration to come up with a panel to hold it all together, this juxtaposition of oval and rectangle was agreed upon. The sign is a stacked 'open faced sandwich' of 5 layers. The far background is black enameled birch plywood. The 2nd layer is the same birch ply with a water based aniline dye in red mahogany, sealed in oil based clear. The 3rd layer is 'Formica' countertop laminate. The 4th is 1/2" thick 'Plexiglass' black acrylic. The top layer and pinstripe is stainless steel.

This yellow vinyl is normally used for a paint mask. It has a low tack adhesive and I'm using it for registration of parts. It's been cut on my plotter and the unwanted parts 'weeded' or stripped away. I'm in the process of covering it with a clear transfer tape which holds all the individual pieces of vinyl together once the backing is removed. New modern vinyl sign shop 101.

Plastic laminate parts, cut out with a cnc laser.

1/2" thick black acrylic, cut out with the same cnc laser.

The letter F above is half on and half off the rectangle panel. The letters that follow need a laminate layer as well, as a spacer, so that the surface of the black acrylic letters are on the same plane.

These black acrylic letters for 'TEAM' are spacers as well. They will get covered with stainless letters.

I stock a very aggressive double stick tape called 'Mactack'. It comes in 18" x 24" sheets. With one side of the release liner removed, the letters are stuck, then hand trimmed.

Crap! I'm missing 2 parts. The sample swatch laying around was just big enough. I ran it over to my cnc router guy and he cut these out pretty quick. The edges were quite rough and needed sanding. The rest that were laser cut were smooth and required no prep work.

I was careful not to remove the yellow registration mask around the G until it was caught up with the rest. A 1/10th inch outline around the letters and graphics makes for easy removal.

 

The base layer is screwed to the wall with all screws finding studs. The top layer then hangs on the 4 aluminum 'French cleat' style hangers; similar to kitchen cabinet type hangers.

I use a pencil rubbing on butcher paper to pattern the location of the 4 hangers. They were aligned and attached in the shop, before the final installation. 

The thick black acrylic has a gloss finish coming right off of the cnc laser; what I call a 'wet ice cube' look.

Completion.