Hauntiholik's Sign of the Times Entry

[Hauntiholik]

I wanted a sign I could have up year round that wouldn't get me into trouble with the SO.

As a mod my sign is not in the running but what the heck?

http://www.hauntiholik.com/Props2007/Sign4.JPG
http://www.hauntiholik.com/Props2007/Sign3.JPG
http://www.hauntiholik.com/Props2007/Sign2.JPG

The sign is very simple. I drew up a design and enlarged it for a template.
The acrylic rods were heated using a heat gun and tacked in place along the way while they cooled.
I had some scrap fabric that I placed inside the frame. After the bat and lettering were done the pieces we hot glued on to the outside glass of a picture frame.

The black light is not mounted on the frame (I'm holding it for the picture). I wasn't sure if I needed to include the cost of the blacklight or not.

Now I just need a place to hang it where the kids won't break the glass.

COST

Frame: $25

Acrylic rods: 9 rods @ $0.50 = $4.50

Scrap black fabric: $1

Blacklight: $12.99

Total: $43.49

[Zombie-F]

Very nice. Me likey.

I'd say add the blacklight into the cost since it is necessary for the glowing effect to work. If you can't edit yourself, just PM me and I'll add it in manually.

[dave the dead]

Wow Haunti! That really looks cool in the blacklight! Great idea....
where did you get the acrylic rods?

[Dr Morbius]

Before I read the description, I thought it was neon. Excellent work!

[scareme]

I thought it was neon too. Really nice looking sign. Love your bat.

[pyro]

thats cool -what an idea

[Revenant]

Groooovy!!! In that first frame I thought it was neon too.

Clean, simple, and elegant. Hey! You've got the sign, now you need to build a mini-bar so you can have your own club! Very exclusive, of course. :cool:

[Hauntiholik]

I'd say add the blacklight into the cost since it is necessary for the glowing effect to work.
I had already included it in the total.

where did you get the acrylic rods?
I found them on ebay. A person dealing in night club stuff was selling them.
All you need is a heat gun to shape the rods.

[Lauriebeast]

That looks very classy, Hauntie.......beautiful job!

[Lilly]

That is really cool I need to get me some of those rods . great idea!!!
looks good in the blacklight and in the daylight.
great job Haunti

[Hellrazor]

I Think it is totally cool too!

[turtle2778]

WOW!!! I too really thought it was neon. Excellent Job!

[turtle2778]

Hauntie, were the rods colored when you got them?

[turtle2778]

Were they flouresent or just transparent?

[Ghostess]

Whoa... that's way cool! I need some of those rods now! I love it Haunti, way to go!

[Ghoulbug]

i like that. Done very well. (i thought that was neon also!) Would make a great clubhouse sign.. Nice job!!

[Hauntiholik]

Hauntie, were the rods colored when you got them?

The colored rods I purchased were red, yellow, orange and blue.
I don't want to give any endorsements here but just go to ebay or google and search for "acrylic rods UV". I got 40 rods for $19.99.

Hubby wants me to make up a racing sign for the garage with the rods I have left.

[ScareFX]

Very nice sign Hauntiholik. First class work.

[DeathTouch]

Can you make me one that says Beer here? LOL

[slimy]

I,too, thought you were dealing with neon.

Excellent work. Love the fact that you can keep it up all year.

Very nice.

[Beepem]

i thought it was neon too. awesome job

[slightlymad]

Great Work that will DEFINITLY get copied later on.

[Spookineer]

Great job haunt, that would even make a cool logo or avitar.

[Sickie Ickie]

Freakin' awesome!

[Hauntiholik]

Thanks everybody for the kind words!

[Liam]

That sign is excellent! Nice work!

Based upon everyone's replies, I think I'm going to buy stock in acrylic rods...I have a feeling sales are going to go WAY up! (And you should charge them a commission, Hauntiholic!) ;)

[Hauntiholik]

A commission? I wish!

Perhaps a group buy may be in order? :D

[BooGirl666]

OOOO did I just read a group buy on acrylic rods?!?! ........ (checking previous posts again lol) Yep I sure did.... I might have to get in on that... Your sign rocks haunti how in the world did you come up with such a neat idea?

[Hauntiholik]

Your sign rocks haunti how in the world did you come up with such a neat idea?

I had two designs for the sign. The first was to use fish tank air tubing and fill them with apple barrel paint that looked good in black light (sickie ickie did research on this). The tubing was going to be punched through a thick acrylic sheet so it would look like neon tubing. I tested the paint in the air tubing and it was bright when the paint was fresh but it didn't give the look I wanted after it dried.

I was searching ebay for blacklights and I came across the acrylic rods. As soon as I saw them I knew they would make the sign simple to make.

[Revenant]

Ya know Haunti...
That looks so good being front-lit by blacklight like that... have you considered maybe mounting UV LED's behind the rods so you don't need a front-placed blacklight tube? Might make it even more convincingly neon-like.

[Hauntiholik]

No I hadn't considered LEDs. I was trying to keep the cost as low as I could for this but that doesn't mean I can't change it later ;)

[kerryike]

I did a similar sign last year using battery operated "vibelights" with only words threaded through drilled holes. I even used nails (brads) like you did. Isn't it amazing how great minds think alike? I'll post a pic when i figure out how to do so.

Very cool sign, by the way.

[kerryike]

By the way, here's a link to vibelights EL wire...if anyone is interested.

http://www.vibelights.com/elwirebyfoot.html

[mikeq91]

looks great!

[Fangs]

Sweet Haunti! :D LOVE it lit up with the black light!!! Told ya your sign was awesome! :p :D Now if I can just talk hubby into a heat gun..... LOL :devil:

[CerysCrow]

Very Nice! Add me to the "I thought it was neon" group.

[skeletonowl]

suitable for anydark room in my opinion!

[Johnny Thunder]

Wow, H - that's awesome! Will you make me one? :D

[Hauntiholik]

Wow, H - that's awesome! Will you make me one? :D
Sure JT :D Do you want it to say Haunt's Belfry too? hehehe

[Spookkid]

Awesome, it looks like a neon sign!

[Lakeside Haunt]

:mad: I can't see the picture but im sure it excellent:cool:

[Lagrousome]

Great job Haunt! Giving me some really great ideas!

[Hauntiholik]

:mad: I can't see the picture but im sure it excellent:cool:
Sorry, my webserver took a digger yesterday. You should be able to see it now.

[Lakeside Haunt]

:D Now I can see it its great it really looks just like neon.

[Lagrousome]

I was looking at your sign again! That is so awsome!
I think I'm gonna make one for my Father-in-law's garage. He always hangs out there tinkering with the go carts & his corvette, so although it wouldn't be Halloween, I could make him a really cool sign! (Then I would be his favorite child!)
Also, did anyone check out the link for Vibe Lights? Boy could we do a lot with those babies too! They have pics of people wearing these things on their clothes!!!

[Ms. Wicked]

You're very creative and handy, Haunti. It looks great!