Signage – components that enable your sign to stand out

From Broadway to downtown to Main Street, signage makes companies and logos stand out. But it takes a lot to put together a sign, more than just neon and electricity. (Marketing people and companies take that for granted!) Components used to make your sign need to be UL rated and you need confirmation that the adhesives, abrasives, and more you’re using will work.  

Elevated Industrial Solutions, formerly known as Lane Supply Company, has been helping signage manufacturing companies for more than 60 years. In our many years, we have some suggestions of what we think will make your sign get noticed: 

• MMAs such as Loctite H8003 and Loctite H8006 
• 3M VHB Tape 
• Flexible abrasive systems such as Dynabrade
• New products by 3M
• Paint and finishing products 

Adhesives and tapes 

There’s new technology in adhesives as well as an old standby that works well. In the new technology arena, Henkel (Loctite) has two options. VHB may’ve been created more than two decades ago, but it has staying power.   

Loctite H8003 

Loctite’s H8003 is a structural adhesive that sticks to just about anything, eating through impurities – such as grease and dirt – that could get in the way of adhesion. This adhesive is room temperature with some mixing, but has some serious benefits especially for smaller signs: 

• Superior impact and peel strength  
• Little or no surface preparation  
• Rapid room temperature cure  
• Excellent environmental resistance  
• Contains 0.254 mm (10 mil) spacer beads for bond line control 

Working time for the H8003 is 7 minutes while fixture time is about 2 – 10 minutes. 

See Loctite Tech Sheet for Details

Loctite H8006 

Another Loctite adhesive is the H8006. This structural adhesive has many of the same qualities of the H8003: 

• Superior impact and peel strength  

• Little or no surface preparation  
• Rapid room temperature cure  
• Excellent environmental Resistance  
• Contains 10mil spacer 

Working time for the H8006 is about 9 minutes while fixture time is about 20 – 25 minutes. And that’s the main difference between this adhesive and the H8003 – the longer working time and fix time enables more time for larger components needed for signs to adhere.

See Loctite Tech Sheet for Details

3M Scotch-Weld DP8005 Structural Plastic Adhesive 

If you’re bonding different types of plastics, acrylics, and other difficult to bond materials, this product doesn’t require expensive primers or specialty surface prep products to bond effectively.  Quick fixture times mean increased productivity. 

• Creates a strong bond on low surface energy plastics (LSE) such as polyolefin with minimal or no surface prep required 
• Resists many chemicals, water, humidity, and corrosion 
• Formulated to bond multi-material assemblies such as LSE plastics, thermoplastics composites, and metals 
• Medium viscosity allows controlled dispensing 
• 3-minute work life with 3 hours handling strength 

3M VHB Tape

3M has an old standby that is still finding new uses – VHB Tape. Sure, new technology is available, but VHB Tape is continuing to hold its own by ensuring multiple substrates adhere quickly and easily. The dispensing is relatively simple and various types of tape are available for your toughest jobs. The only potential setback is preparation.  

Some of the benefits include: 

• Waterproof 
• Mess-free 
• Durable 
• Easy to use 
• Chemical and corrosion-resistant 

3M Dual Lock ^TM fastener 

Signage companies may require panel fastening in places where glues aren’t preferable (especially where access panels or maintenance items may be located). That’s why Elevated’s industrial solutions experts also like Dual Lock. Unlike other traditional Velcro’s, Dual Lock mates to itself.  No need for both a hook and a loop side.  Here are just a few reasons why Dual Lock is a great product:  

• Perfect for small quantity jobs 
• Mushroom-shaped heads provide strong, reliable, and durable fastening that can be opened and closed multiple times securing with audible snap so you know it’s fastened 
• High-performance PSA adhesive backing bonds to a variety of substrates including metals and a broad range of plastics 
• An alternative to screws and bolts, this hidden fastener provides a snug fit and smooth aesthetic appearance 

Abrasives

We have favorite abrasives, including an entire system from Dynabrade and some new technology from 3M. 

Dynabrade  

Dynabrade is mostly known for pneumatic tools, but they have quality abrasives, especially for smaller quantity jobs. Coated abrasives from Dynabrade offer a solution that works on multiple surfaces (stainless steel, wood, fiberglass, aluminum, cast iron, non-ferrous metals, exotic metals, glass, ceramics, stone, composites, and more), for a variety of needs, including sanding and grinding. See more about sanding and abrasives in general. 

See the list of different sizes and styles of abrasives. 

Download the Dynabrade Abrasives Catalog (compressed)

3M’s Xtract Cubitron 

3M is known for innovation, but one of the most innovative abrasives we’ve seen is 3M Xtract™ Cubitron™ II Net Disc 710W. It’s clean sanding, a breakthrough in abrasives. It works on metal, composites, and wood.  The net/mesh construction allows it for use on any dust collection hole pattern regardless of sander brand or style. 

And this abrasive has some real benefits: 

• Virtually dust-free sanding 
• Extra lifespan on your abrasives saving money 
• Cleaner work environment than traditional discs with dust extraction holes 
• Hook-and-loop backing for quick and easy disc changes 
• Available in a range of grades from 80+ to 320+ 

Paint, finishing, and powder-coating applications

There are many different paints, spray guns, and powder-coating applications. Among the spray guns, Wagner, C.A. Technologies (now owned by Wagner), and 3M all have great solutions. One thing that’s often overlooked is how much overspray happens on jobs. 3M offers transfer efficiency tests for shops.  

Contact us and let’s get your shop one of those tests. Take the Efficiency Test

Elevated Industrial Solutions provides it all 

Although we think these are great solutions, we know everyone has their favorites. That’s why we carry a variety of adhesives, tapes, sealants, safety gear, and abrasives. Plus, we have experience in the signage industry, helping businesses just like yours for more than 60 years.  

Contact us and let’s discuss a demo or trial of a product.