DIY Neon sign (custom neon sign)
Neon signs have a promotional and decorative aspect and are widely used in Panel Making due to their long life. We can also produce many colors by combining different alloys in glass, such as special powders and colored glass. You can use a diy neon sign to decorate your room and home. In this article of DIY724, we will introduce the neon sign lights, and neon sign led ideas and diy.
What is Neon?
Neon is a chemical element found in nature in the form of odorless and colorless gas; The word neon has Greek roots, which means new. If an electric voltage is applied to neon gas, it emits a red color. diy neon sign has high usage and consumption in advertising due to its long life, between 5 to 7 years.
Sir William Ramsey and Maurice first discovered neon gas in London, But the neon lamp was made by the Frenchman Georges Claude using a glass tube with a vacuum inside it. He connected electrodes to both ends of the tube, and a red current formed as current flowed through the line. For making a diy neon sign, you Must first do the desired design. The neon tubes are then bent by heat according to the plan.
Steps of making neon signs (How to diy neon sign)
In this video of TheSorryGirls, we show you diy neon sign decor for the bedroom.
How do you make a neon sign?
The first step in making a diy neon sign, like all signs, is design; After designing the neon sign, it is the turn of the neon plot and map taken by the plotter. Neon tubes are usually two meters long and in a straight line.
Note that making neon is a challenging, time-consuming art; all the effort is wasted with the slightest mistake – because the glass is fragile. Constructing a diy neon sign requires at least ten years of skill and is not everyone’s job.
After making the neon tube, it is time to connect the electrode; After installing the electrodes, two neon heads are connected to the high voltage device. The gas inside the tube burns entirely and turns into a vacuum.
It is then connected to the neon gas device, and the neon tube is filled with gas and closed; It then goes under the charger to be fully charged.
Install the diy neon sign board
The neon sign is entirely classic and should note that its beauty is due to its wiring, and hiding the wiring is not used much in this style. But if desired, an underlay plate is considered for neon and is connected to that plate by neon spring bases and two wires, one from the neon head and one end to the electrode and then to the transformer.
It should be noted that the wires installed to the transformer should not intersect (cross each other) should be at least 5 cm apart; If these are not observed, it will significantly reduce neon life.
Types of neon signs (neon sign lights)
- Glass neon sign (normal neon)
- Plastic neon sign
- Flex Neon
Neon colors
There is a wide range of colors referred to as red, green, blue, yellow, orange, pink, purple, turquoise, indigo, etc.
In general, neon signs are available in two models of glass and plastic, each of which has its characteristics:
1- Glass neon sign
A neon glass panel is a panel that is filled with various gases in a raw and empty glass and emits light by passing an electric current through it. You can design this board in letters. The remarkable thing about neon glass signs is that these signs are available in different colors, powders, and ordinary.
Steps of making glass neon signs
In this video of JerryRigEverything, we teach you How to make a glass Neon Sign.
For producing glass diy neon signs, raw neon glasses are first prepared, spherical and empty inside.
Then The neon device changes the hollow glass to the desired shape with heat and air pressure, and then the electrodes are connected.
After connecting the electrodes, the two ends of the neon are connected to a device with a suitable voltage. So that the gas inside the tube is completely burned and a vacuum is created. Then it is connected to the neon gas device, and in this part, a voltage equal to 750 to 1600V enters the tube and causes ionization of mercury and light production. Then Neon tube is fully charged and ready to produce light.
Glass neon signs are produced in different colors of red, yellow, pink, blue, brown, purple, and other colors, the type of color will be depending on the type of gas it is filled.
For example, hydrogen gas produces pink, red neon gas, blue argon, etc.
2- Plastic neon sign (neon sign board)
The neon plastic panel is a panel that uses a kind of transparent plastic called Plexiglas to make its surface and edges. Which is transparent like glass but is more durable than glass and can be easily cut with all kinds of laser cutting machines.
Plastic diy neon signs are one of the first embossed letters panels in the world that shine as a billboard on the front of shops. This panel can emit light evenly and create a beautiful effect.
Types of neon plastic signs – homemade neon lights
The plastic neon sign is made of different types. Here we can mention two common types: simple neon plastic sign and double Plexiglas neon plastic sign.
Steps of making plastic neon signs
In this video of Painted Gypsy Design, we teach you how to Make a DIY Neon Sign – Custom Light-Up Sign Tutorial.
Can you make a neon sign yourself?
Yes it is easy, In the first step to making a plastic diy neon sign, first, you go to the sign’s installation place and measure the exact location of the sign, and then embossed letters are designed using design software such as Corel and AutoCAD.
The letters that are designed are cut on Plexiglas using a laser cutter, and then the edges and the surface of the plastic embossed letters are glued together.
Then the LED lamps are placed in strings, linear and branches inside the letters, and the prepared notes are installed on the boards. The substructure is usually made of wood, glass, stone, and که, which can be selected according to the needs of each person.
3- Flex Neon
Neon signs, because customers have used them in environmental advertising from the past to the present, have disadvantages such as neon fragility, neon shock, complex installation, and high power consumption, all of which forced engineers and manufacturers. In the age of technology, to produce materials that have more significant advantages and superiority than neon.
Today, one of the modern products popular in advertising and billboard making can be called flex neon sign or flex neon, which is a suitable alternative to neon signs in this industry.
Flex neon sign, which has a neon-like appearance and a high degree of flexibility, is used for advertisements such as shop signs, interior decoration signs, and other advertising items available in the market in various colors.
Steps of making neon Flexi
In this video of Tiffany, we show you a neon sign that Makes it Yourself with a 3D Printer.
Flex neon sign is made in two ways with base and mold.
- In making diy neon sign flex with a base, first, a work surface made of Plexiglas, wood, or MDF in specific sizes and dimensions is made, and then using a plotter device, the desired design, which includes text or photos, is inserted on paper. In the next step, unique bases are installed on the design (between two lines), and at the end, neon flex is placed on the floors, and a 12-volt transformer will illuminate the panel.
- Fabrication of neon flex with mold for installing neon flex using materials such as PVC, MDF, Plexiglas, and similar cases is done so that the desired design uses a CNC machine or laser cutting. It is cut according to the thickness of neon flex on the mentioned materials. Finally, neon Flexi is placed inside them, and, as in the first method, it reaches the lighting stage using a power supply.
Advantages of diy neon sign
Neon signs are prevalent because they have advantages over other symbols on the market, which include:
1- Beautiful appearance
Neon panels have a dazzling appearance compared to other boards, and their bright light attracts everyone’s attention.
2- Reasonable price
The most important thing about diy neon signs is that they are reasonably priced and affordable, which is why many store owners have made these types of signs.
3- Variety
One of the advantages of neon panels is that this panel can be implemented and executed in different colors and models, and for this reason, it has been able to meet the needs of every taste well.
4- It does not hurt the workplace
Another benefit of neon signs is that they work on a very light background and therefore do not cause any damage to the stage.
5- Uniform light
The main advantage of diy neon signs is that their light is uniform and eye-catching, and therefore looking at them does not cause eye irritation.
6- Easy installation
One of the great things about diy neon signs is that they can be installed and executed in the shortest possible time.
7- Long life
Although many panels on the market have a beautiful and different appearance, if they are exposed to unfavorable weather conditions, they will lose their original quality after a short period, reducing their beauty.
diy neon signs can be used for a long time and can be used safely in any weather conditions. In this article, we discussed how to make different types of neon sign lights. We hope you find it helpful and enjoy it. If you have any comments in this regard, leave us a comment.
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