How to Make a DIY Neon Sign
Neon signs are a vivid, vintage lighting installation that adds a fun and unique touch to your home design. For anyone looking to add personality to their home or company, neon signs are having a resurgence right now.
But did you know that a DIY neon sign may be made in the comfort of your own home or office?
That's right, with only a few materials and simple step-by-step instructions, you can make your own neon sign with very little artistic or DIY experience.You might be shocked at how much fun and money it is to make your own neon sign.
What Are Neon Signs and What Do They Mean?
Flexible, sealed glass tubes filled with inert gas make up traditional neon signs. The tubes are often powered by electricity and bent and twisted to form a word or shape. When the device is turned on, electrons flow through the gas, causing its atoms to light up and creating a colour that is defined by the type of gas employed.
Fillings for other glass tubes include:
- To produce a red colour, hydrogen is used.
- Mercury is the Greek word for blue.
- For a yellow hue, use helium.
Secondary colours that aren't main colours like those above are created using a combination of gases and chemicals. For example, making green with mercury and helium.
You may buy EL wire, which is commonly used in DIY crafts, to make your own neon signs nowadays. EL wire is available in a variety of colours and includes a battery pack. This means you can turn on your neon sign with the touch of a button every night.Neon signs are a fun lighting option that showcases your passion without increasing your electric bill, whether they're hung at your business or at home.
What Is It About Neon Signs That Makes Them So Unique?
The essence of an excellent neon sign is passion. They're ingenious marketing techniques that light up the windows and signage of cafés, pubs, motels, and theatres, attracting passers-attention. by's
They're now found in dorm rooms, dens, home bars, basements, and pretty much anywhere else where a splash of colour and a warm neon glow are desired.
Neon signs can be used to spell out your name or a motivational phrase. A neon sign displaying your favourite cuisine, drink, animal, or natural wonder may also appeal to you. They can be as simple or as sophisticated as you want; it's a completely configurable design component that is entirely dependent on your personal preferences.We've seen neon signs used outside of homes and business windows at some of the world's most famous sites and tourist spots.
The following are some of the most popular neon sign attractions:
- The Neon Boneyard in Las Vegas
- Times Square in New York City
- The Dotonbori district of Osaka, Japan
- Lower Broadway in Nashville is a great place to visit.
- The Moulin Rouge is a famous nightclub in Paris.
These are just a few instances of places around the world that have harnessed the power of neon signs. Neon signs provide an imprint of our visit to these and other locations, helping to solidify vivid recollections of our travels.
Why Take the Do-It-Yourself Approach?
Because the finished product is so beautiful, you would think that making a DIY neon sign is a difficult and stressful task. However, nothing could be further from the truth!
A few simple materials, clear instructions, and a little willpower are all you need to make your own neon sign.
Making your own neon sign isn't the only option. You might purchase a ready-made sign or commission a custom neon sign based on your design and built by a skilled craftsman (more on buying signs below). Both of these solutions are excellent because they provide you with a neon sign.
However, there are various reasons to take the DIY route:
It's surprisingly simple to make your own high-quality neon sign.
It's also safe, as it doesn't necessitate the use of power tools or personal protective equipment such as goggles. Store-bought neon signs can cost hundreds of dollars. As with other DIY projects, making your own neon sign might save you money because you only pay for the materials, not the work.
As previously said, you take out the middlemen and do the work yourself.
It is always more satisfying to make something than to buy it. It provides you with a unique sense of accomplishment.
Neon signs are likely to appeal to creative people in the first place, thus a neon sign purchased from a store may not be adequate to fulfil that creative spirit. And once you've completed your first neon sign project, you'll probably want to do others.
Neon Signs: How to Make Your Own
You can make your own neon sign in one afternoon if you have a strategy and the necessary tools.Before you start gathering materials, make sure you have a design in mind, whether it's a word, your name, a phrase, a shape, or something else, so you can visualise the size of the items you'll need.
Remember to write your text in cursive so that each letter is connected while creating your design. If you're building a design that appears to be multi-pieced, such as a sliced avocado with the pit visible, all you have to do is make the outer shape first, then the inside form, covering the "connecting piece" with tape so it doesn't light up when the diy neon light is turned on.
Work and patience are required, but it pays off in the form of a beautiful and long-lasting testament to your ingenuity.
Supplies
- Begin by gathering the following equipment and supplies to construct a neon light sign:
- Several sheets of paper, as well as a pencil
- 16-gauge metal wire on a spool (this serves as the frame for your electroluminescent wire)
- 5mm EL wire in the colour of your choice (15'-20' length appears to work well with most designs)
- Wire cutters and stings
- A hot glue gun and a glue stick as a back-up
- Batteries of any kind that your EL wire battery pack requires
Instructions
On a couple of sheets of paper, draw your design in pencil. The goal is to sketch your design as precisely as possible and to the exact size of the sign you desire.Use string to trace your design, which is the simplest approach to figure out how much wire you'll need.
Bend the wire along your planned neon light design's print or drawing. When you're finished, the wire should have the exact design you want. Take your time with this since you want to make sure it's perfect before you attach the EL wire.
Start at the bottom of the EL wire and carefully fix your neon light to it with a hot glue gun (the part that is connected to the battery pack).
You may want to start a few inches in from the battery pack, depending on the length of your design and the length of the EL wire, so that the battery pack doesn't just hang off the tip of your creation. If it helps, match the EL wire to the string.
Slowly work your way from one end of the wires to the other, using the glue gun to carefully bond them together.If there is any extra neon light at the end of the pattern, simply chop it off with scissors so it does not light up.
Purchase of a Neon Sign
Making your own neon sign is a fun project, but it's not for everyone. Here's a selection of some of our favourite neon signs available for purchase online:
- Neon sign that reads "Cocktails"
- “You have the entire world at your disposal.” sign made of neon
- Neon coffee cup sign
- Neon sign that says "Get it Done"
- A neon sign for a home bar (with your name added)
Where Should Your Neon Sign Be Displayed?
You've just constructed your own neon sign, which is fantastic! You created a personal lighting fixture that you'll enjoy for years by following a few simple steps and using common materials.
Now comes the tricky part: deciding where to hang it.
A thumbtack or hook can easily be used to hang neon signage on flat wall surfaces. You may also use a suction cup with a hook to hang them in windows.The idea is to choose a location where your neon sign will have the greatest impact, which you may have already planned before you made the sign.
In the Mood for Food Making a neon sign in the shape of your favourite meal is a fun way to express your inner foodie, and it should be displayed appropriately.Is your neon sign a permanent homage to your passion for a certain cuisine? Then the kitchen or dining room is the ideal location for your sign.
Have you ever made a wine or beer bottle? Your neon sign belongs near your home bar or wherever your bottles and glassware are stored. When it's time for an at-home happy hour, turn on your neon sign to add to the ambiance.
Elevate to Inspire
The greatest place to post your neon sign is in your bedroom or living room whether it's your name or a motivational message like "wake up!" or "Let's do this!" Your neon sign will not only look wonderful, but it will also provide you the motivation you need to get through the day, something we all need at times. It's also great for hanging in entranceways to greet you and encourage you as you enter and exit your home.
Accents and Themes
Your neon sign can be a lovely addition to your home or apartment, especially if it goes well with the rest of the decor. Use EL wire in the same colours if you've built a room with a specific colour scheme, such as calm blues and greens or bright yellows and oranges. Then, among your similarly-colored things and furniture, hang your neon sign.
Assist Your Company in Shining
If you run a store or restaurant, you can display your neon sign on the wall or in the windows so that all potential clients can see it. Office professionals may wish to display their placard in their personal office or cubicle to give a personal touch and keep themselves motivated.