Restoring A Porcelain Sign
Signs serve as valuable pieces of advertising for many companies. For companies that have been in business for a long time, a porcelain sign could serve as a local landmark. Keeping these old signs in good condition can be challenging, but with proper restoration the porcelain sign can enjoy its status as a local celebrity well into the future.
Here are three tips that you can use to successfully restore your company's porcelain sign.
1. Clean the sign carefully.
Before you can asses the damage a porcelain sign has sustained, you need to clean away any dirt and debris that has accumulated on the surface of the sign throughout the years. This is best done with a very mild dish soap and a soft, non-abrasive rag.
Gently scrub at the surface of the sign until all dirt and debris has been removed. If there are stubborn stains on the surface of the sign, try soaking the area with the dish soap in order to loosen the stain's particles.
2. Remove any rust.
Since porcelain signs have a metal frame, rust is a serious problem. In areas where the porcelain surface has chipped away, the metal beneath the porcelain can begin to rust. This rust causes the sign to become structurally unstable, and it could create stains on the porcelain surface.
Use a pumice stone and a pair of rubber gloves to remove rust from your porcelain sign. Gently rub the rusted area with the pumice stone in a circular motion. Use clean water to wash the area regularly as you check to see if the rust has been removed. You don't want to overwork the area, as this will further weaken the metal frame. Only scrub with the pumice stone until all traces of rust have been removed.
3. Fill in damaged areas with cold enamel.
Cold enamel is a product that is typically used by jewelry makers. You can find this product at your local craft store, and it comes in a variety of colors. Invest in some cold enamel in the colors matching the damaged areas of your sign.
Mix the enamel according to the manufacturer's directions, then carefully use the cold enamel to fill in cracks, chips, or other damage to the porcelain surface of your sign. Once the enamel has dried, the sign can be cleaned with a glass cleaner and hung outside your place of business once again.
Restoring a porcelain sign takes patience and a bit of hard work, but the restoration process will ensure that your company's historic sign is able to successfully advertise your business well into the future. Talk to a company that specializes in sign repair, such as Apogee Signs, for more information.