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Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: Runcutter on April 10, 2007, 05:32:07 PM

Title: Painting Dest. Sign Glass
Post by: Runcutter on April 10, 2007, 05:32:07 PM
Had (or took) some time to work on the 4107 Sunday, and I put the new Destination Sign (from Transign) in.  The sign is, of course, narrower than the glass - the glass was originally painted black inside - masking each side and framing the sign.  The paint has flaked off in the last 39 years.  It's easy to reach the part of the glass that is inside the sign mechanism, but the glass is much wider - making portions of the interior unreachable.

We could take out the glass, paint the inside, and reinstall.  However, that's a lot of work (and risk of breakage, and expense for new rubber gasket/spline.  We might be able to take out the interior side panels blocking our reach to the left and right extremities, but again, much work. 

So, does anyone know of any paint that would be appropriate for the exterior of the glass?  Or is there another durable stick-on solution? (I want to stick with the original black mask, so something like white scotchlight wouldn't work for me.)

Thanks.    Arthur   
Title: Re: Painting Dest. Sign Glass
Post by: Utahclaimjumper on April 10, 2007, 06:02:37 PM
I have painted a lot of glass over the years and allways found it harder to remove than to paint. I would use an epoxy two part to maximise longevity.>>>Dan
Title: Re: Painting Dest. Sign Glass
Post by: RJ on April 10, 2007, 06:25:47 PM
Arthur -

Try taking the destination sign door off the coach to give you better access to the glass from inside.

Be sure to mask the Michigan Markers, too!!

FWIW & HTH. . .

;)
Title: Re: Painting Dest. Sign Glass
Post by: Paso One on April 10, 2007, 06:58:09 PM
Make a vinyl sign stick it on the outside of the glass.  Using the top quality vinyl will last for years. Check my pic.  The vinyl will allow you to cover right up to the edge.
Title: Re: Painting Dest. Sign Glass
Post by: tekebird on April 11, 2007, 06:55:05 AM
go to your local sign shop and  get some black vehicle grade vinyl.  make a template and cut two peices....and apply from the exterior.

maybe 15.00 in parts and should last 20 years
Title: Re: Painting Dest. Sign Glass
Post by: Runcutter on April 11, 2007, 05:05:50 PM
Paso, Doug - thanks.  I was hoping for some exterior solution - even though I can get in through the signbox cover, there are metal brackets that won't let me get to the left and right corners from the inside.  Exterior vinyl from a sign shop sounds like a winner.  I'd love to be able to paint it from the inside like Russ suggested, but with so much other work, some compromises are in order. 

That'll make the new sign stand out better, particularly with destinations like "Nowhere via Subway", and "Wrong Bus" for me, "Baseball Coach" and "Go Rangers" for my wife.  (OK, there's a "Private Coach", and other reasonable ones too). 

Arthur
Title: Re: Painting Dest. Sign Glass
Post by: tekebird on April 11, 2007, 06:14:43 PM
HI Art, when we had the Charter Company we had a 4107 with the vinyl on the outside......in fact I think it was just black vinyl shelf paper.....not the high quality stuff.....and it did just fine.....glues are much better now as is the UV resiliance.

Title: Re: Painting Dest. Sign Glass
Post by: chargePlus on April 15, 2007, 09:15:39 AM
Quote from: Runcutter on April 10, 2007, 05:32:07 PM
Had (or took) some time to work on the 4107 Sunday, and I put the new Destination Sign (from Transign) in.   

Does anyone know how to get hold of these folks? Their web site doesn't seem to be working.

Thanks,

- John
Title: Re: Painting Dest. Sign Glass
Post by: Runcutter on April 15, 2007, 09:29:11 AM
John, I had the same problem.  Trans-Industries apparently had some issues, so Transign is on their own now.  The new owner is someone I used to buy signs from many, many years ago, so he's been with Transign for a long time.  They made the original sign that was in my 4107, as well as my new sign.

Their contact is    Transign LLC, 3777 Airport Road, Waterford, MI  48329.
Phone 248-623-6400  (ask forJennifer)
Fax  248-623-2930.

As of a couple of months ago, they didn't have a website, meaning that their listing in most of the transit industry directories has the inaccurate transindustries site.  Phone is best.

Arthur
Title: Re: Painting Dest. Sign Glass
Post by: chargePlus on April 15, 2007, 10:02:35 AM
Thank you for that info. I need to call them to see about getting a sign made up for our bus. My wife and I want to put various race track names/places on it.

So far we have:

If we need to shorten it up we can do that...

- John