recommendations? building windproof signage or banner

sean9 · Post by **sean9** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 2:34 pm

Hi all...

I want to build a windproof sign for our camp (Geisha House)...

I ordered all the EL wire, and electrical stuff. The idea I'm thinking is to use a buttoneer to attach the EL wire to a large piece of fabric. Perhaps use a couple of large towels as the fabric and then cut wind holes in the fabric so it won't catch the wind so much.

Any pointers or recommendations on how to do the above and make it work? How to build the banner, what fabrics work best? How to mount it or hang it so it's fairly windproof.

Thoughts or recommendations welcome.

Thx.
Sean

Token · Post by **Token** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 2:42 pm

Use a lightweight knit shade cloth as the base.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 2:53 pm

I have seen these flags on the playa that work very well.
Make a flag pole.
Cut out fabric the length of the pole.
The fabric is at its widest at the ground, and comes to a point at the highest point of the pole.

sean9 · Post by **sean9** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 4:12 pm

heya Token... thx for the info. Any idea where to find this knit shade cloth? Can you attach EL wire to that in the usual way with a buttoneer?

-Sean

Token · Post by **Token** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 4:23 pm

Sure! Let me Google that for you.

http://www.google.com/m/search?oe=UTF-8 ... hade+cloth

Here is an example

http://www.gemplers.com/product/151005/ ... ade-Factor

I have no idea what a buttoneer is.

capjbadger · Post by **capjbadger** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 5:12 pm

sean9 wrote:heya Token... thx for the info. Any idea where to find this knit shade cloth? Can you attach EL wire to that in the usual way with a buttoneer?

-Sean

You could sew the EL on, but it's a bad idea. The wind makes the flag flap, which will flaex the EL a LOT. You'll have dead EL in a matter of a day or two, if not hours.

If you want the flag to light up, you'd be better off with some UV reactive material on the flag and some black lights shining on it from the base. Hmmm... maybe take some of those LED solar spotlights and replace the LEDs in them with UV ones...

(I just might try that myself now that I think of it...)

-Badger

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 8:02 pm

Token wrote:I have no idea what a buttoneer is.

Sort of like a musketeer, but with a higher dandy factor.

Post by **Eric** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 8:06 pm

theCryptofishist wrote:
Token wrote:I have no idea what a buttoneer is.
Sort of like a musketeer, but with a higher dandy factor.

bad Fishy! Now I have noodle salad on my computer!

sean9 · Post by **sean9** » Tue Jul 06, 2010 9:50 am

Ugh. Well that's good and bad. Bad cause I already bought the EL wire for the sign, but good I didn't go ahead and get the cloth.

SOunds like I'll need to attach the EL wire to a large board of some kind, which further sounds like a last minute at-the-playa operation since I'm on the east coast, and don't wanna ship a big sign !!

So staple gun and and large board should work. Can-do.

THanks all for suggestions & ideas.

-Sean

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Tue Jul 06, 2010 9:27 pm

Chicken wire.

Post by **AntiM** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 7:56 am

Bob wrote:Chicken wire.

My Home for Wayward Art is made of chicken wire. Now entering the sixth year of playa and regional use. A few sticks of wood, chicken wire and a staple gun and you're golden.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 9:33 am

AntiM wrote:
Bob wrote:Chicken wire.
My Home for Wayward Art is made of chicken wire. Now entering the sixth year of playa and regional use. A few sticks of wood, chicken wire and a staple gun and you're golden.

As in Golden Spike golden?

I don't even know where that came from, unless that's in or near Ogden, and even then, why would I put that on AntiM's plate. Sometimes I confuse me.

Post by **AntiM** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 12:22 pm

Golden Spike Monument is in Northern Utah, although the drive takes a few hours from my house, up and around the north end of the Salt Lake, then west, then south.

I do have a railroad spike painted gold somewhere around here unless Larry sold it as scrap.

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 12:35 pm

I bet he went to one of the local recyclers and told them it is gold, but only when viewed through magical crystals or placed inside a wierd hat.