My “REPENT” sign is finished. I plan to take it out for it’s first run tomorrow morning.
Using the four-foot PVC water line (1/2″ diameter) staff from before, I added a “T” junction at the top and horizontal arms to make a total of around 18″ long. The actual signs are cut from a standard poster-board sheet, but I chose the newer foam core version. It’s light and stiff, and glues nicely.
Lettering was cut from colored card stock sheets I found in the computer printer paper section of the store. They offered a package of all black, and one with four different basic colors (red, blue, yellow, green). Using 4″ stencils, I marked off the letters, then cut them from the stock, filling in the gaps from the stencils. The longer message I laid out first, then cut the poster-board sheet down with just enough white border to make it readable — around 1/2″ or more. This left me using just under a half-sheet. I cut the other half to match for size, then laid out the other message. Ordinary white craft glue was sufficient to make the letters stick solid.
Then I added corner patches of white card stock to bear the load of attachment to the pole. On the back of each panel, I added duct tape across the top. The top was drilled to match holes in the PVC pipes, and bolted on with tiny #6 screws with washers on both sides. The white card stock on the panels was to minimize the possibility of tearing or pull-through.
On the bottom, I took the saved scraps from cutting the sheet, and stacked them to make a laminated long block. This was glued between the panels to stabilize the lower corners, then I ran the thin bolts through the blocks. All exposed card stock was given a thin coat of glue to make it semi-water proof. The whole thing is very light and stiff, and should be fairly durable.
The PVC pipe staff flexes a bit in the wind. I cemented a pipe cap on the bottom to make a comfortable grip. Then I added a layer of duct tape for about the bottom 6″ with a section of wire under one wrap. This was placed directly in line with the back face of the sign so I could oriented it without looking up so much. While walking, it’s common for the sign to drift around some, particularly when switching hands. The wire “lump” along the shaft helps me keep it where passing motorists can read it clearly.
I had been wearing a very large fanny pack for lunch, foot patching, sun screen, pamphlets, etc., with a military canteen attached to the belt. However, this pushed the canteen too far around the side, interfering with the natural arm swing when carrying the sign. I replaced it with a military style equipment belt. That allows me to put two canteens on my backside, and a large ammo pouch type bag in front for all the stuff. I typically carry yet more water in a 20-oz. sport bottle, which stays in the opposite hand from the sign. As the summer temperatures rise, I’ll need all that and more if I try to keep moving more than two hours.
Should anything happen to make the sign unusable, I’ll replace it with something simpler. After all the work I did on this one, I realized I probably could have saved some hassle and money using an empty pizza box as the base, covered with the older type of white posterboard. The t-bar top would fit inside, and a small hole cut on one side could accommodate the staff. Maybe next time.
