Building a sign

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Ok guys it's me again. I am building a sign , it is 18ft wide and 38ft tall out of 6", 2", and 11/2 square tubin. Now I can figure it out but I usually go the long way about it, but was wondering if some of u veterans or more expierenced guys knows and quick easy way I can figure out the spacing on mounting the letters and they will be centered and equal distance apart. I was gonna take number of letters and divide them by 18 but not sure if it would come out right. Any tips? The letters are 2" thick and 12" tall and most are 10 1/2 wide some are 11 1/2 and 5 or so are 12" wide example: the L's are 101/2 wide and the C's are 12 it is gonna have 5 lines of lettering.
Reply:Have a sign shop run out a paper pattern with that letter style. Use short pointed pattern studs to mark pattern . tape pattern on sign. Drill holes, then use the correct lenghth studs for flush or standoff mount.
Reply:Thanks, not bolting letters on tho im welding them to top of each 2" square tubin run
Reply:. It is gonna look similar to this sign but a lot more letters its 18' wide and 38' tall
Reply:You can't generally use a fixed spacing for a font and it look the best.  Do a google search for "kerning" and you will find tons of info about the problem.  A font is specifically designed to have a certain space before and after each letter type, so the letters look good up against another letter.You best bet is to get a print out of the same font for spacing.  Just looking at the above picture, the kerning is off for around the 'A' in patrick.  Too much space after the P and way too much space before the T.  Even if they are equidistant, the shape of the A pulls away from the top heavy letters and makes them look wrong.  Sometimes it is best to avoid math and trust your eyes for positioning.  That is the only one that looks really off.  The rest looks pretty good.
Reply:+1 to what Sacher said.   If you use any word processor and type up the sign you can adjust the layout until it satisfies you.  Then you can scale that up.  I'd use the old opaque projector in the garage to blow it up.  Many word processors have a "print poster" mode that will make a nice big  print with one or two characters per 8.5x11 sheet.Dan----------------------------Measure twice.  Weld once.  Grind to size.MIG:  Lincoln SP100 TIG/STICK:  AHP Alphatig 200X
Reply:Thanks guy's I love this web site glad I found it and joined.
Reply:Originally Posted by Hoghunter74Ok guys it's me again. I am building a sign , it is 18ft wide and 38ft tall out of 6", 2", and 11/2 square tubin. Now I can figure it out but I usually go the long way about it, but was wondering if some of u veterans or more expierenced guys knows and quick easy way I can figure out the spacing on mounting the letters and they will be centered and equal distance apart. I was gonna take number of letters and divide them by 18 but not sure if it would come out right. Any tips? The letters are 2" thick and 12" tall and most are 10 1/2 wide some are 11 1/2 and 5 or so are 12" wide example: the L's are 101/2 wide and the C's are 12 it is gonna have 5 lines of lettering.
Reply:Welcome.30+ yrs Army Infantry & Field Artillery, 25 yrs agoMiller 350LX Tig Runner TA 210, spool gunLincoln 250/250 IdealArcESAB PCM 500i PlasmaKazoo 30"  vert BSKazoo 9x16 horiz BSClausing 12x24 lathe20T Air Press
Reply:I will do that doc im on it now. And storeman thanks for 30+ years
Reply:thank a lot satcherjj and doc helped a bunch since im dealing with all capital letters I will use loose kerning.