Neon sign fabrication (nonfiction)

This article describes how to set up a neon sign fabrication shop.

Equipment

Equipment includes:

• Manifolds
• Oils
• Gauges
• Bombarders
• Chokes
• Burners
• Torches
• Diffusion pumps
• Vacuum pumps

Minor tools

• Air hose
• Cork
• Glass file
• Chalk pencil - for making marks on glass, will not melt in fire
• Electrode holder - hold electrodes in place to protect fingers
• Tube diameter measuring template
• Block with heat resistant paper
• Shot bags for holding pattern
• Brass screen - to protect pattern
• Paint - to block out hidden sections of tube

Torches

• Ribbon burner
• Crossfire burner
• Hand torch

Torch fuel

• Mixture of natural gas and air
• Valves at bottom to get proper fuel/air ratio

Gas processing manifold

• Neon gas
• Argon gas
• Pressure column - millimeters of "mercury"
• Main valve
• Gas supply valves
• Vacuum pump
• Conversion tables - determine pressure based on tube size

Suppliers

EGL

• Catalog @ Graphic Solutions Group
• Home @ Engineering Glass Laboratories

Brillite

• Brillite

SVP

• SVP Neon Equipment

Viking Sign Supplies

• Viking Sign Supplies

Grimco sign supply

• Grimco sign supply

Supplies

Material supplies include:

• Glass tubes
• Electrodes
• Gas

Consumable supplies include:

• Propane
• Electricity

Fiction cross-reference

• Crimes against light
• Gnomon algorithm
• Gnomon Chronicles

Nonfiction cross-reference

• Light (nonfiction)
• Neon (nonfiction)
• Neon lighting (nonfiction)
• Neon sign (nonfiction)

Videos

DACO

• DACO Neon Training Video @ YouTube

• • Weld
  • L bend
  • Double back
  • Drop turn
  • Rise turn
  • Offset

Martin Suettinger

See The Art of Making Neon with Martin Suettinger.

• The Art of Making Neon with Martin Suettinger @ YouTube

Atelier Neon

• How Neon Lights Are Made | Où se trouve: Atelier Neon Family

Anon

• Making a neon sign by hand @ YouTube

Neon fabrication shops

• Skyline Neon Signs

• NE Art

• Neon Glass Bender

Neon discussion groups online

• Neon bender's BBS

Technical specifications

Workshop equipment and layout

• Equipment and hardware used in making neon and plasma sculptures by Tony Greer

Lead

• Lead-Free Tech Bulletin @ Brillite