Bar Sign Part 2

After completed the sign backing we started the raised platforms for the el wire.  This ended up being a bit more complicated than what m felt comfortable with so I (M) ended up doing this part of the project my myself.

• To create the platforms we used metal coat hangers.  

• First we bent the coat hanger into the shape of the letter.
• To control the spacing between the platform and the plywood backer we soldered a washer to the coat hanger.  For the washer we used a penny drilled with a hole slightly larger than the coat hanger.
• Each standoff had a hole drill in the backer.

• To keep the distance between the washer and the platform consistent we used a piece of 3/4 plywood with a larger hole in it to support the washer.  We then soldered the washer to the coat hanger with about 1 inch of coat hanger sticking through the washer.

• For the arrow we created a set of tracks to support the arrows then soldered the arrows to the track.
• First a drawing of the arrow and tracks were taped to the plywood backing.  
• The tracks were laid out with a support ever 12-18 inches.
• Then each individual arrow was soldered to the track.  The coat hanger arrows were slightly longer than what the el wire arrows were going to be.

• When the platforms were finished we removed the drawing,  painted the platforms  black or white and mounted them to the board (holes were drilled for each of the standoffs).  To hold them in place the coat hanger that went through the hole was bent over on the back..