LED Neon Signs are a relatively new trend in the light sign industry, but they provide a variety of benefits that have made them popular. LED neon signs can be easily customized to reflect your business’s colors and logo, which is essential for any successful marketing campaign.
A Guide to Making LED Neon Signs
There are many different ways to make a Neon Direct sign, but this is one of the easiest! Here, we give you a step-by-step guide to help you build an LED neon sign.
Choose Your Shape
If you prefer an arrow or a heart-shaped design, you can find plenty of options in any font. However, if you don’t have access to fonts or are interested in making something more custom-shaped like “Neon direct,” then sketch it out freehand onto some tracing paper with a black marker pen.
Draw It Out On Paper
Trace over your design with the back end of the black marker pen until all lines are visible on both sides of the paper (if using tracing paper). Then, stick the paper to some thin material (i.e., cardstock, corrugated plastic, etc.), and cut out your design along the lines you drew with an x-acto knife. Make sure the design is symmetrical!
Cut the Neon Tube
Using a hobby or craft knife, carefully puncture a hole just large enough for the neon tube to fit through near the top of your design, letting the rest of the tube hang freely. This will be your cathode lead-in. Next, make a small incision on each side of this hole big enough to run two wires through; these will be your anode leads.
Bend the Neon Tube
Hold the tube at its base and bend it until it fits snugly into your design. Then, use a hairdryer on a medium setting to heat the tube’s plastic coating just enough so that you can press it into place.
Secure the Wires with Insulation
Thread each of your anodes leads through one of the two incisions and secure them in place by wrapping insulation tape (electrical tape) around them.
Connect the Leads to Power Source
Depending on the project you’re working with, there are a few different ways to connect your leads to power. We’re using battery-powered EL wire for this neon sign, which simply plugs into an optional converter.
Solder the Leads to A Power Source
Using a soldering iron and solder, connect both of your neon tube’s leads (cathode and anode) to the wires coming from your power source. Do this by twisting the wires together, applying the soldering iron, and coating with solder.
Test Your Neon Sign
If it lights up, you’re ready to go! If not, try double-checking that your leads are securely attached and actually touching the neon tube and one another (you may need to use a small screwdriver or tweezers).
Conclusion In this article, you have learned about how to make LED neon signs. The finished sign looks professional and has a gorgeous glow when plugged in. These signs would make great gifts or decorations, especially for the holidays. But, first, you will need a few simple tools, along with basic soldering knowledge. You will then be ready to create your own custom neon sign!