Neon Sign Repair

We all are well aware about the luminous tube signs that are made of low pressure neon gas. When the neon gas is provided with a high voltage, it glows in brilliant and eye-catching lights. The best uses of neon signs are many when it comes to commercial advertisements. Most of the bright and glittering boards that we tend to see are made of neon gas. From the auto repair signs to the beer signs, all fall under the same category! Neon signs are the best visual impact one can have on a mind as compared to any other form of advertising. And to add to that they are highly durable with limited maintenance requirements.

But, sometimes these advertising aids, break down and leave the owners wondering what to do. Actually, neon sign maintenance and repair is not that difficult a task and one can definitely master it with a little know-how of neon sign repair. A few basic things like cleaning and scraping are required there along with tube re-pumping and welding all the things together. Before you learn more about the repair, I would suggest you to make a neon sign pattern first. What for? Well, check out the following instructions!

Neon Signs Repair Instructions
As I said in the introduction, you need to make a similar pattern of the neon sign which you are working on. In case you are not able to repair it properly, you don't want to regret breaking the last remaining sign available with that pattern in the neon sign store. For making the pattern, take a pattern paper and trace the neon tube on it. You can also use a bending material for making the pattern. You must fill in the part that is missing in the broken sign; as best as the original one. A past picture of the same neon sign would be better for reminding you about it. Your pattern is ready. Moving on, here are the repair instructions.

• Once you are done with drawing the pattern, excoriate the old insulators. You will also have to block the paint. Both these steps will stop the unnecessary fuming while you go ahead with your repair project. It will also make it easy for you to determine whether you are working on a neon tube or a mercury tube.
• If you already know that you are dealing with a mercury tube, then I would suggest you to take help from a professional, right away. Because heated mercury can produce really harmful fumes, which must be handled by an expert.
• You need to wipe the tube clean, so that, the dust won't get inserted inside the tube while you are repairing the neon signs. After that, check for the vacuum of the tube. You can do that with a tube tester or a spark coil. If the tube lights, then know that it is under vacuum and cutting it will give way to air to enter the tube.
• If the air rushes inside the tube, then it can blow the powder coating and lead to total wastage of the neon tube. To ease the air into the tube, you need to heat the sealed tubulation tip, with help of a hand torch. This way, it will get easily cracked. Once the cracked seal is cooled, you need to break it apart.
• Make sure that you are wearing an eye protection while performing the job of repair. Remember that the old coating tube will light differently than the newer one. If the sign is too old, then consider replacing rather than repairing it.
• You need to use a tube with the same diameter as the existing one, because mismatch in the size of the tubes is easy to recognize! Now, the most difficult part, which is called the glassblowing. Before getting on with glassblowing, dab the tube and snuff out the loose coating of phosphor and dust particles.
• Heat a ring of tubing and draw in the glass, when it is well molten. Let it cool and your crack repair is done! The important part which still remains, is the replacement of the electrodes. Though the older ones are still working, I would suggest you to get the new electrodes for the safety and durability of your neon signs.

Don't forget to check that the insulators, wiring, electrode housing, chains, bolts and nuts and all the other tube supports are rust free and are in a working condition.

As a last friendly advice, I would suggest you to get a professional help for the repair if you are totally amateur in this field. It would be worth paying the cost and having an enduring neon sign; rather than wasting your time on a totally lost cause.