Plan to get into some sign fabrication and looking for comments on thickness recommendations for signs in the situations below:
Thanking You in Advance
A few factors affecting this when I’m making the decision is
how is it hung?
how is it mounted?
how much area has been cut out of the piece ?
multi-layered?
Normally I use 14 gauge
.100 is a good start for signs but again it would depend on all the things previously mentioned. Aluminum will still oxidize so depending on what kind of look you want you may have to coat it or wax it or something as well.
For outdoor signs for steel we use powder coat.
14 gauge
Appreciate the comments.
I understand your comments regarding how the sign would be mounted vs a hanging sign to take into consideration on the thickness. Makes sense.
Will check on availability of powder coating services.
Regarding amount of detail, here is a sign that I am presently designing to give some perspective. Multi-layer red letters screwed onto background via threaded offset spacers (1/2”) welded to back of letters.
Any comments appreciated.
I do a lot of multi layer signs as well. One recommendation is to do a full size back plate so you get good color contrast with the entire sign. You can even do multiple colors. Here are a few I have done. I use mainly 14 gauge as well.
A fair amount of detail especially in the “Mullins” sign. You get great contrast. Are these painted or powder coated?
14 gauge it is …
Yes I powder coat everything that I do.
Just to throw in my two cent opinion, I also do a lot of multilayer, multicolor, detailed signs. My go to plan is 16 gauge foreground with 18 gauge background. This strategy helps keep the weight down and I still can get good detail in the 16 gauge.
Making something large like this out of 14 gauge it would have gotten heavy, especially if both layers were 14.
Thanks for your “two cents”. Good idea to factor in the weight involved 
Your family farm sign would be along the lines of what I predict people will be asking for in my location. Nice work!
Keep in mind there is only around a half a pound per square foot difference between 14 and 16 gauge a36 sheet metal.
Feel free to change the text and re-use the top portion. I also made a hanging portion for across the bottom. You can see it standing against the garage door. That’s why the loop feature at the bottom were added.
Kuntz Farm Sign.dxf (1003.8 KB)
Hey, Thanks a bunch!!
