If you own your own business or are want to create one, putting up a sign is a great way to attract new customers. Signs are as old as the consumer business itself, but they are a great way to promote the name of your business as well as special sales that you might be having. The problem, however, with the standard sign is that no one can see it in the dark and it doesn’t stand out as much as a lite up sign. There is however a way for you to create your own sign without spending a lot of money that is also Eco-friendly.
What you will need
*Plexiglas
*Screw driver and screws
*Solar powered LED lights
*Electrical tape
*Rubber Silicone
*Wood
*Shovel
* Dremel or hand saw
Where to place your sign
When constructing your sign for your business the first thing you want to decide is whether you want a sign that is close to the ground or one that is in the air. In determining which sign is better for your business think about where your business is located and at what distance and height people will be looking in its direction. If your business is located close to a side road you are going to want to place a large sign close to the ground that is at eye level facing the traffic. The reason for this is that people are less likely to be looking high enough to see a sign in the air. If your business is located off a freeway or in an isolated area you will want to construct a sign in the air so that people can see it from long distances. For this project we are going to create one that is low to the ground.
Constructing the sign base
In constructing your sign you will need to measure the amount of ground space available for ground placement of your sign and then use up as much of the space as possible. This will allow you to display more information and also give you room for bigger letters. Start by cutting two twelve foot long wood beams to be used as the support for the sign. Once completed, dig two holes, one at the beginning of your sign length and one at the end, going down about three feet. Place each beat inside its’ respective hole and fill each hole with dirt until each beam is firmly secured. Using your own body weight, test the beams by leaning up against them, if they don’t move they are secured. You can further secure them by pouring concrete or sand into the base instead of dirt, but this is not necessary in normal conditions.
Constructing the light housing
Using the measurement of distance between the two beams of your sign cut out a small flat piece of wood at the width you desire to act as the base for your sign light housing. Use the solar LED lights to create the message or picture that you would like to display on your sign. Once completed, take and secure each section of the lights using the electrical tape, being sure to use as thin of strips as possible. Using the measurements of your sign cut Plexiglas walls six inches high that match your signs perimeter. Attach each wall piece using rubber silicone, allowing it to dry six to twelve hours. After completing the above steps cut out a flat piece of Plexiglas the size of your sign and place it over the top of your sign walls, attaching it to the walls with the use of the silicone rubber. If you would like to create a sign that can be interchanged you can create a removable front by cutting small notches in the Plexiglas walls and fitting the front sign piece inside the walls where it can easily be removed by hand. Just be sure that the removable sign front is water tight to protect it from the elements.
