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PVC pipe sign frame snapped mid-march at the Capitol rally
I built this lightweight PVC frame for my climate sign thinking it'd hold up to wind. It shattered right at the T-joint after about 15 minutes of gusty conditions near the Lincoln Memorial. Switched to corrugated plastic on a wooden dowel and it's way more solid. Anyone else had cheap materials fail on them at the worst moment?
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the_thomas2mo ago
Haven't we all learned the hard way that PVC pipe is garbage in any real wind? I watched a guy's entire coroplast sign fold in half like a taco at a protest last summer. Save yourself the headache and just go with wooden stakes.
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sanchez.mary2mo ago
Oh man, you are not kidding. I had a buddy who spent a whole weekend building this big PVC frame for a community event sign. First gust of wind that hit it, the whole thing just twisted up like a spiral and snapped at every joint. We spent the rest of the afternoon chasing pieces across the parking lot. Wooden stakes are the way to go for sure. Did you ever try the aluminum sign frames that fold up?
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brianm662mo ago
Wooden stakes and coroplast is the only way to go for outdoor signs. I've seen PVC joints let go so many times, especially in that spring wind we get around the Tidal Basin. @the_thomas is right, coroplast will just fold up on you if you don't brace it right, but at least it won't shatter into a dozen pieces like PVC does. Did you screw the coroplast straight into the wood or use zip ties?
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