1/2" Black Material for Lettering (CNC Routing)

[Ross Moshinsky]

I'm working with another sign shop on a project. Basically they need some letters and a few shapes cut out of 1/2" material for outdoor purposes and then they'll apply their vinyl. I was thinking black PVC but it seems less than recommended, even with the vinyl.

So....options?

Any black PVC available that will do the job? I know I can paint white PVC.
Black acrylic is an option but the edges are an issue and it's a bit expensive.
Black Corian is even more expensive than black acrylic but an option.

[Keith Outten]

Ross,

If its an exterior sign use any color Corian you can find and spray paint the letters black using Fusion paint and they will look great.
It its an interior sign you can use MDF, Corian or any 1/2" thick material and paint the letters black.

Visit this link (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/album.php?albumid=719) and look at the Madison letters at the bottom of the page. I CNC Routed these letters from the ugliest Corian I had from some sink cutouts then painted them gold. They look great after 6 years in the weather and they are superior to the aluminum letters that were installed on adjacent buildings.

[Ross Moshinsky]

I should have mentioned it was an outdoor sign originally.

I was hoping to find something solid black so I could just route it and be done with it. If I have to paint, the more I think about it, the more I agree that just going with Corian may be the way to go instead of spending money on white PVC sheet. I didn't think I had a piece for one section of the job but I double checked and I actually do. If I had to buy the material, PVC is significantly cheaper and takes paint about the same way. It's not as hard as Corian but it's also not as brittle. If I do go with Corian, I'll most likely spray it with black acrylic latex.

[Joe Pelonio]

Black 1/2" (13mm) PVC will work great, I have used it often, but the edges are more gray than black. They can apply black vinyl to the faces and hand cut around it but I always used a plastic primer then spray with regular latex, One-Shot, or in the case of black, rustoleum oil based (only comes in black and white in quarts or gallons). One shot is the best but expensive.

[Ross Moshinsky]

I went ahead and cut one version out of black PVC and two out of painted Corian. I only used the Corian because I have it. If I didn't, I would have used white PVC and painted it.