neon "Lightning" sign

[sharkbite1979]

I'm not really sure where to post this so move if necessary....

Well, Aaron (punk arse) figured out what I was getting him for Christmas so I was wondering if anyone else was interested. If I can get 4 people to commit, we can get a group discount price. The cost would be $450 each including taxes and shipping but will be $400 each if we get the required number of signs.

The neon sign is 13" tall by 32" wide on black Lexan with colors as shown.

http://images11.fotki.com/v210/photos/3/352447/2527882/080405ds01lightning-vi.jpg

[SILVER2000SVT]

That's pretty cool...

I was thinking of doing the same thing. My dad owns a sign company here in dallas. He builds all different kinds of signs including neon signs. He gets a special place to bend the tubes but he does all the wiring and mounting. I would need to find out how much it would cost for something like this though.

[dboat]

pretty cool

I am a definite maybe on this one... interested to see what the cost would be from Silver's dad though..

Dana

[sharkbite1979]

I am interested as well! haha Silver, when could you get a price?

[dboat]

The wife says ok too

[SILVER2000SVT]

Don't want to jump the gun, but it looks promising from what I've been able to gather so far. The $400 probaby isn't over priced but here at the onset it looks like I will be able to come off that a fair amount. I'll know in a few days. One question I have is how many people would be truely interested?

That color blue is one of the more expensive colors, but that's the color I want mine. Would somebody want a different color(s)?

F.Y.I.

This would be considered a small neon sign, therefore smaller diameter tubes must be used to get a decent level of detail on the corners and bends. Not only is this more labor intensive on the neon bender it actually takes more energy to run and requires a bigger (higher energy) transformer because the tubing is smaller and has a higher resistance. So in other words it would get much more expensive to go even smaller but if you wanted to go bigger the neon portion wouldn't cost much more, it might even cost less.

These are true neon signs and are EXTREMELY fragile like most neon signs and would need to be in a safe place. (no mounting in the truck and driving around):D
My plan would be to mount the transformers behind the lexan, the lexan would form a box on the wall with an open back maybe 2" deep or however deep it needs to be to house the transformer. This will keep the electrical parts away from body parts, keep in mind that neon runs on 5000V to 20,000 Volts!

[sharkbite1979]

Any word from your pops Silver2000SVT?

[SILVER2000SVT]

He has to get their designer to draw it up to get the bending quoted. I'll check on that tomorrow. Once he gets that price and the cost on a transformer He can very quickly put together the total.

[SILVER2000SVT]

Well me and my Dad both were a little shocked at how much the tubing portion is going to cost. I thought I could come off the price a good bit but evidently everybody's cost must be very similar. We both got together and worked out a price of about $400 each, and could do $380 if we could get 4 or more. His shop is pretty booked up right now so the plan would be for me to assemble these myself to pull some cost out of them. This is actually good news because I'm somewhat of a perfectionist so it'll end up being better than if they do the work.

What I want to do is to build one for myself that way I can work out all the details. Then take some pictures and post them up so everybody will know exactly what it will look like. As far as the color we wanted the darker "neo blue" but in signs with tight turns the thinning of the tubes in tight turns gets noticeably lighter so, we are going with a "horizon blue" which will hold it's color in the bends a lot better.

http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/500/medium/double.jpg (javascript:;)

[dboat]

So we should wait until you have made one to see the results.. right?

[SILVER2000SVT]

So we should wait until you have made one to see the results.. right?

Yes, For anybody that wants one, I want you to know exactly what you are getting. I hope that the time won't be an issue. It'll probably take me about 3 weeks or so to put the first one together. If I (and you guys) decide that everything looks good then I'll build some more to sell.

[LS1 Eater]

I would like to get one to. Was wondering can you make other ones to.

[SILVER2000SVT]

I would like to get one to. Was wondering can you make other ones to.

Do you mean different colors? Then yes, but I'm not going to get ahead of myself at the moment, but after I make a couple I'll be willing to try some different colors.

[sharkbite1979]

what kind of warranty can you give?

Also, what about shipping? My cost of $400 included shipping.

[dboat]

Jason, it seems you have at least a few folks here that are interested. I would prefer to do business with you (a fellow Talon member) rather than someone else. So if you take longer, its ok with me. The wife was thinking of getting me one for Christmas, so time is on our side for now.
Aaron, you bring up a good point and that would be what will be the final cost to the customer? sales tax, shipping, etc.. are all part of that equation.
However, if Jason can make them in different colors or if his will be better because of his attention to detail, compared to a production line, then that has value to it as well..
Jason, I would ask if you could just keep us abreast every week or so, so that we know things are moving along. Its kind of interesting to see the progression of how these things are made as well.
Thanks
Dana

[dboat]

Jason,
Since you noted in an earlier post that these lights are fragile. I was wondering how they would do in the garage? Mind you that my garage can get below freezing at times. Or is this something that I need to keep in my office to enjoy there? Also, the garage can get pretty humid when I am running the heater out there, although I do run a dehumidifier when I have it on to keep the humidity level down.. just something to consider.
Thanks
Dana

[sharkbite1979]

Well, I am ready to make the move and purchase these neons. If there is anyone that wants to get this moving and wants in on the group buy, please let me know ASAP.

Thanks,
Christy

[dboat]

Well, I am ready to make the move and purchase these neons. If there is anyone that wants to get this moving and wants in on the group buy, please let me know ASAP.

Thanks,
Christy

Christy,
we are interested, but I need to get the answers to my questions above..
Thanks
Dana

[sharkbite1979]

I've sent an email to the company i am working with - I'll post their comments ASAP.

[dboat]

I've sent an email to the company i am working with - I'll post their comments ASAP.

Thanks... how deep is it? you gave the height and width.. thanks

how many do you have? I saw your post on NLOC

Dana

[sharkbite1979]

I don't have any YET. I am not buying them to make money....just trying to buy in bulk and get a better deal - for everyone who wants one.

Basically whoever wants one, they can paypal me thier money and in 3 or so weeks it will be drop shipped to the buyers door.

[SILVER2000SVT]

I just made the order for the neon portion of my first sign.


what kind of warranty can you give?
Also, what about shipping? My cost of $400 included shipping.

I can do 90 days but that wouldn't include breakage, and the manufacturer has a warranty of 1 year on the transformer depending on which one I use. Neon is pretty simple, there isn't much to go wrong other than physical breakage. The neon portion will be in 3 parts on my sign, and often a crack or single break can be repaired. If not, that one part of the three will have to be replaced, but not all of them. Also, Almost any neon shop can do those repairs if the occasion arises.

I could match the $400 shipped. After building my first one I will do a cost analysis and determine whether I can build them at that cost. If I can't I will let everybody know promptly.


Jason,
Since you noted in an earlier post that these lights are fragile. I was wondering how they would do in the garage? Mind you that my garage can get below freezing at times. Or is this something that I need to keep in my office to enjoy there? Also, the garage can get pretty humid when I am running the heater out there, although I do run a dehumidifier when I have it on to keep the humidity level down.. just something to consider.
Thanks
Dana

These are mainly only fragile for physical abuse. But this is the same neon that is used outdoors, so as far as temperature, they may have a difficult time starting and running in sub-zero temperatures. I think it would be fine in a garage as long as it's not subject to physical abuse.

[SILVER2000SVT]

I'm considering building another option to the neon. A neon sign is one of the most expensive displays you can get. I'm thinking of also building a box sign. This is basically a light box with some translucent graphics on the front that is back lit by either flourescent of LED lights from behind. The options for this are endless as far as colors, styles, lighting methods, size. It is much safer, less prone to damage, use only a fraction of the electricity, and significantly less expensive, probably at least half the cost if not less than Neon. It's just not as cool as a true Neon sign IMO.

[dboat]

I don't have any YET. I am not buying them to make money....just trying to buy in bulk and get a better deal - for everyone who wants one.

Basically whoever wants one, they can paypal me thier money and in 3 or so weeks it will be drop shipped to the buyers door.

Actually if you made a couple of bucks for your time, thats ok with me.. thats the American way..

so do you have enough to get the $400 price?

Silver, what size were you going to build.. I am interested in neon only.. but I need some coverage on the breakage thing, which I am assuming is going to be covered if I go with Sharkie... so I just need some more specifics to make a final decision..
Dana

[SILVER2000SVT]

Actually if you made a couple of bucks for your time, thats ok with me.. thats the American way..

so do you have enough to get the $400 price?

Silver, what size were you going to build.. I am interested in neon only.. but I need some coverage on the breakage thing, which I am assuming is going to be covered if I go with Sharkie... so I just need some more specifics to make a final decision..
Dana

I was going to build the same size. Don't worry, my feelings won't be hurt if you buy the other one, but don't kid yourself, I don't believe that anybody will cover physical damage. That would be like expecting Ford to pay to fix your truck when you smack a telephone pole.

[dboat]

I was going to build the same size. Don't worry, my feelings won't be hurt if you buy the other one, but don't kid yourself, I don't believe that anybody will cover physical damage. That would be like expecting Ford to pay to fix your truck when you smack a telephone pole.

I guess I dont expect to receive damaged goods and have to pay for them. Someone will pay to repair or replace them. Whether it be the manufacturer or UPS, doesnt matter to me, as long as I have a working unit.
Dana

[sharkbite1979]

DHL will do the delivery so I would imagine that if the sign was damaged in shipping, you would have to take it up with them.

The manufacturer gives a one year warranty.

I am still waiting for the answers that you asked about in your previous post.

I appreciate your willingness to buy from me. Not that there is not anyone else out there with this idea, but I am the one that proposed the idea and i have worked on this for over a month with various companies. :D Thanks! :tu:

Yes, I have enough to make the order - at least that is what they have said so far! I guess I basically need to say that I will pull the trigger "x" day and everyone needs to have their money to me by that time.

Does that sound reasonable?

[sharkbite1979]

I would like to get one to. Was wondering can you make other ones to.


Are you in? (PM sent as well)

[dboat]

DHL will do the delivery so I would imagine that if the sign was damaged in shipping, you would have to take it up with them.

The manufacturer gives a one year warranty.

I am still waiting for the answers that you asked about in your previous post.

I appreciate your willingness to buy from me. Not that there is not anyone else out there with this idea, but I am the one that proposed the idea and i have worked on this for over a month with various companies. :D Thanks! :tu:

Yes, I have enough to make the order - at least that is what they have said so far! I guess I basically need to say that I will pull the trigger "x" day and everyone needs to have their money to me by that time.

Does that sound reasonable?
yep. I would need you to pm me your address so that I can send you a check.

[sharkbite1979]

DB - answers from the manufacturer...

"Yes our signs can go into garages, and often do. It just needs to be away from the elements such as rain, sleet, snow etc. You would just want to make sure condensation did not get into the transformer. But again we make many signs for garage use and have not had a problem."