We engrave thousands of signs each year in metal and plastic, both front and reverse engraved. We can cut shapes in plastic for a unique look. While we love brass, we have plastics that mimic it closely, and some currently available plastics are so durable they will last without noticeable change for many years. There are now exterior possibilities with full-color sublimation as well as the usual interior items. As sublimation allows for full color, it can create quite a theme throughout a building. The most durable signage of all is cast bronze or cast aluminum. These are the historical markers you see along roadways. The colors and finishes now available are remarkable.

Engineering specs
As far as we know, we are the only engravers in the region able to cut plastics and engrave it to the tight specifications needed for dash plates and machine tooling. It is rather time consuming however, and is done on a quote or hourly basis.

Machine constraints
Our maximum width is 22 inches, but the other dimension is indefinite.

Plastics
Reverse Engravable Plastics
These have a clear layer on the front which protects the sign. We engrave from the back and fill the engraving with paint. Our production manager, Dawn Hartman’s award winning sign (Pension Works) is reverse engraved with multiple passes, each filled with a different color. Click here to view available colors. Please note there are no background colors because we paint fill them.

Textured Plastics
These are some of the most durable materials on the planet. We made a sign for the tower on Mt. Mansfield in 1992. In 2000 the customer brought it in to have a twin made – after 8 years of extreme weather there was no observable change. The material was developed for the military and is used in Antarctic stations. Click here to view available colors.

Exterior grade metalex plastics
We do signage for a local college in this material. Their groundskeeper told me once she really like the durability of our brass – she hadn’t realized it was plastic. The contrast is quite high, and the look very traditional. Click here to view available colors.

Metals

Brass
We can engrave regular brass (.020 thickness) or thicker, richer stock (0.045), and do a deep paint fill or regular oxidizing. We buy our stock in 12x24 sheets and cut it to whatever size is needed.

Anodized Aluminum
This is aluminum coated with a thick outer layer in a contrasting color, most commonly a matte black. We have been sold this material as exterior grade, and later had to replace it due to weathering. Thus, we tend to be leery of using it for exterior applications.

This award-winning sign for Pension Works is 21"x5'

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