Just wanted to share

[MattyB]

I work as a signage contractor to make a living.  The job consists mostly of reading blueprints, bidding jobs, drawing graphics for approval by architects/customers, fabricating signage and buying custom products from wholesale manufacturers, and installation of the signs.  We mostly do ADA, Braille signage for school construction, or engraved signs for BEQ's (Bachelor Enlisted Quarters) for the military, anything with a lot of doors which need signs at every door.  We also do all the metal building/address lettering, bronze plaques, changeable marquees, etc. that you see at these types of places.  Here's some pics of stuff that we (my Dad and I are partners) have done.

Typical ADA raised lettering w/ CA grade II braille sign.  ADA code states that the lettering must contrast 70% w/ the background and be raised a minimum of 1/32".  CA grade II braille is rounded tops and raised 1/40" and it uses contractions and short hand for quicker reading.  Each sign is it's own "one up" custom piece so they are pricey for how small an item they are.

Me on a ladder at Oceanside High School putting up cast aluminum building identification letters.  That's about as high as I go on a ladder.

We do lots of bronze plaques but this one was pretty cool.  A photograph was scanned in and the bronze was actually etched to form this image.

[MattyB]

Bronze plaque at the entrance of Oceanside High School.  You may have driven by these out front.  We did all the plaques and aluminum lettering on OHS.

Spacing and drilling template applied and we're drilling into stucco at La Jolla High School

Final product.

[MattyB]

Stainless steel lettering on crazy 3 dimensional routed HDF (high density fiberboard) @ CYMER in Rancho Bernardo.

Rincon Indian Reservation Fire Station

Reflective truck decals

[MattyB]

Thrift Korral on La Mesa Blvd.  Woah, that guys shorts are way too short.  Hey, 1982 called, it wants it shorts back!

These were Cellulose Acetate Butyrate (CAB) letters.  They're molded plastic but the plastic is made from wood and cotton fibers, not petroleum so they're super strong.

Pacific Beach Lifeguard Station

[MattyB]

Southwestern College Higher Education Center @ Otay Mesa.  Illuminated Directory.

Tortilleria Lily in City Heights.  They pump out thousands of fresh corn tortillas everyday.  The smell was awesome!

[MattyB]

Sometimes the funnest part is the graphics work I get to do.  I work in Corel Draw and prepare artwork for architect and customer approval and vectored artwork to run CNC routing machines for cutting metal and for making screens for screenprinting, etc....

Lemon Grove School District wanted a banner and they wanted a school house graphic on it.  Well I couldn't find any good schoolhouse clipart in my files so I modified a few different ones to make it work.  Here's the process:

I started with this piece which is actually supposed to be a church but it dosen't look like a schoolhouse unless there's kids there right?

So I grabbed this piece of people waiting in line.

And viola!    Schoolhouse with kids filling in for class.  Notice how I turned the pine trees into palms.  Yeahhhh!!!!!!! :laugh:

[MattyB]

And here's how the final product will look.  It's gonna be a 3' x 15' printed banner and it'll be flying over the Lemon in Lemon Grove on their banner poles.

Thanks for letting me share.

What do you do?

[paulgila]

wow,you really DO have a job! i thought you just sat by the freeway off-ramp & pan-handled all day with a sign that said "will work 4 palms"

[Kim]

Looks like a fun and rewarding job with a chance to be creative, and nice to get out and about during the workday.

Better go back and check the spelling of "Reservation' on that fire truck, though....

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Made ya look!

But 'Korral', come ON.  Couldn't you talk them out of that? ???

[metalfan]

You couldn't get me up on a ladder that tall. Me and ladders don't mix, but I like your signs!

So how did you get to star in the BALLS website?

[Gbarce]

And all this time I thought you took vacations for a living.

Looks like you have a nice balance of work on and off your desk.

Cool toys you get to play around with your work.  When your palms are really tall already you can use those "lifts" to reach the crowns.

[BS Man about Palms]

I've seen most all of those signs as I drive thruout the county. I've even had some pointed out to me personally by the Mattman! I suspect Matty and I travel around the most areas in San Diego, Maybe Palmgrover too.

I fix Heat and A/C systems over a 250 mile radius, although most of it by far is within a 100 mile radius.  I usually go on the long trips when they don't want a 2nd trip out.  I'm chief troubleshooter at my place.

That and 50 cents gets you on the bus!!!  

I'll show you how to use a ladder!  You haven't lived till you set a 20' ladder on top  of a work van to get up on a roof!!   Now I just use my 28' extension and "jump" the last bit.  its coming back over thats the scary part.   I suspect you are good at "one-handed ladder climbing" also?   Its only scary on the mounted ladders till you're used to it, you gotta carry tools, etc up.  I guess carrying a 40-50lb. compresser on my shoulder up an extension ladder to the roof would count as one of my more questionable moves.

Oh yes, stellar work, Rutger.

[osideterry]

Hey Bill, do you ever get to crawl through heating ducts like they do in movies? You know, the ones hanging by wires, wide enough for a man to slide through, and strong enough to support you and an evil henchman chasing you through duct. They also appear to be soundproof to anyone on the room below, as well as bulletproof.

Just curious.

[BS Man about Palms]

I worked in some big systems, some you could crawl into, but quiet and strong enough for a person, they ain't .  Only in Hollywood, are things bigger, faster, stronger and brighter.  

[FRITO]

that queen palm went from a tiny seedling at La jolla Highschool to a 25ft tall palm all in the time it took to put up the lettering! (or is it just outside the first picture?)

looks like fun, I thought you partyed for a living also kinda like paris hilton....hehe

Currently I run a car stereo shop and do all that nifty installation stuff.  professional now over 4 years. I have 1 more year left in college then the world is my playground.!!

[JakeK]

Matt, nice work there. That CYMER presentation is pretty sweet.

I have a really good friend that does the same for a profession. He's the guy who loves his job more than any other person I know, it sounds like a nice gig.