Where to get Election Coroplast Signs and How to Make Coroplast Skirts and Grill

[AaronMartinSole]

Now that the election is over, what happens to all of the chloroplast election signs? There are so many uses for them, not only for ecomodding. I've seen beautiful birdhouses made out of different color signs and things like that. "Re-purposing" is the new eco-friendly artistic thing that's in trend nowadays, with Etsy and things like that.

But anyway, where do we go to get them? Recycling places? Dumps? Behind government buildings? If so, what specific government building or center?

So I've made beta version prototype template cardboard rear wheel skirts. They came out pretty good, I was pleased. But then today it started raining and I had to take them off. I used those 90 degree, right triangle, long metal corner pieces with lots of holes, to cover drywall corners ready for the mashed potatoes to go on over them. I used those metal frames for rear skirt frame, and cut out an inch of it for the top hinge over the wheel.

I drilled three holes on each side. Should I really be that concerned about rust? If so, what treatment should I use?

What other tips and tricks are there to making rear wheel skirts? I was thinking of getting election signs and just spray painting them black, and installing them with screws. There's a question: should I use screws or nuts and bolts or something else? I've seen guys put some sort of black plastic over their skirts. What material is that and is that necessary? If it's affordable, I might just cover my cardboard skirts with that material. I've also seen leather over front bumper grills. What's the purpose of that?

I'm thinking of making a front air dam. Should it just be straight up and down 90 degrees, or curved like an oval, following the natural curve of the front of the car? Which is more aerodynamic?

Oh, I think I'd like to make the front air dam a clear plastic. What material is that called and is it easily obtainable and affordable?

[Frank Lee]

You have to tell me what "chloroplast" is first.

[AaronMartinSole]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

You have to tell me what "chloroplast" is first.

Well obviously it is: "Microscopic, ellipsoidal organelle in a green plant cell. It is the site of photosynthesis. It is distinguished by its green colour, caused by the presence of chlorophyll."

Chloroplast.

Oh silly me, I meant coroplast! Or corrugated plastic. Heh! Oh what knee slapping times we have!

[Piwoslaw]

Since those election signs spend so much time out in the sun, couldn't they make them out of chloroplast to clean up the air a bit?

I changed the title.

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by AaronMartinSole

But anyway, where do we go to get them? Recycling places? Dumps? Behind government buildings? If so, what specific government building or center?

If they are on public land, just pick them up or cut them down - the original posters are not likely to complain as otherwise they would have to tidy them up. Maybe on private land ask the owners first.

Hey - they were torn down by "storms" - aka hurricane Aaron...

Could this count as recycling ?

[Frank Lee]

Well done Aaron; I'm glad you are enjoying this as much as I.

I've tried local sign shops and have not been able to secure any deals anywhere near as good as reported by some on here. They want huge minimum orders and certainly the prices are not good. Guess it's just election signs for me. Oftentimes the campaigns are pretty quick to clean up. This year the polls closed at 8 p.m., at about 11 p.m. I went on the hunt. Actually I was out scavenging until 2 a.m.

Some campaigns print right on the signs that they want them back for re-use; the sign shops can cut the 4 x 8's down to smaller sizes and print on them again. Many signs say no such thing. If I don't like the guy, I'll keep his dang sign regardless. I just won't drive around with any mods made with that sign where the name is clearly legible- throw some paint on it or whatever.

Re: Holes and rust: Holes get drilled there all the time when people install mudflaps and such; it appears to me that on the rusty cars, the rust didn't necessarily start at the holes. Plus, being in N. Cal, I don't imagine they salt the roads all that much, although you might get exposure to salty sea air? Regardless, I'm on the same page re: doing a little rust prevention there; I'd say if you're running sheet metal screws then painting the holes won't help much as the screws will expose bare metal again. However if you are using pop-rivets or something else that won't scratch the paint in/around the hole then perhaps some paint applied after the holes are drilled couldn't hurt.

I doubt you've seen leather over grilles; "car bras" are vinyl as far as I know and they are for protecting the front end paint from chips. One guy I know used a car bra to conceal his awful bodywork "repair" on the front of his car.

The factories have long employed straight air dams for the simple reason that they "hinge" when hit and thus survive the hit, vs. curved ones which inevitably break. Sure, for styling and aero purposes I like the curved ones and can't help but think they work a skosh better, but then I like the straight ones because they can take a hit and not need replacement.

I can't imagine a clear air dam looking good (dirty all the time, highly visible scratches) or surviving much of a hit but I suppose one could be made of that heavy, flexy clear vinyl of the sort you see in commercial/industrial warehouse/production/shipping doorways to control heat loss.

[some_other_dave]

Last election cycle, I wandered into the local HQ for one of the parties and asked if I could have some signs. They let me take all I could carry, which wasn't a huge amount (I was walking) but was decent.

-soD

[AaronMartinSole]

Heh, car bras. So that's what they're for. It doesn't snow here so I guess I shouldn't worry about rust. I guess you need a lot of moisture and salt for rust to start. I didn't know that. So I guess I'm okay on that part! I was wondering about screws and invasive hole alternatives, namely for a kammback. The holes I made for my rear skirts I'm not too concerned about because no one will probably ever notice down there and I guess I don't have to worry about rust. I'm working on an air dam right now but I am curious about maybe doing a kammback eventually.

I had to look up the word skosh, which means a little. So you're saying there shouldn't be much mpg difference between a straight snow plow type of front air dam, and a pointed, shark nose type of air dam? What about a locomotive cow-catcher type of air dam, or an offset lawn edging air dam, under and behind the front bumper?

And yeah, I think I'll take your advice about not having a clear air dam. I'll probably just spray-paint it black to match my car. That's going to be tricky to make it look non-hideous. I had to go through several beta versions of hideous rear wheel skirts and smooth discs. So I'll probably do a 2nd version cardboard air dam just for testing and template reasons. I've got the 1st version in my car profile. Heh, it's hilariously hideous. But that's beta for you! I think every soul on the road that day looked at me, with looks ranging from "huh?" to utter disgust, to laughter. One lady stopped dead like a deer in headlights in the middle of the street. I was too afraid to make eye contact, but her body language might have expressed utter, indignant, disgust. It was kind of amazing actually. There were two nice people at the gas station asked me what those mods were for and I told them for fuel economy. Well I just try not to make eye contact with anyone while driving. The shame is just too much. (I kid.) I've taken it off for now, doing testing and making changes and stuff like that. Hopefully version 2 will give even better mpg.

[freebeard]

I've got the 1st version in my car profile.

Made me look. I LOL'd

[AaronMartinSole]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Made me look. I LOL'd

It's been so much fun. I've had so many people drive up to me, laughing like crazy, taking pictures with their iphones. The cardboard spoiler really makes it - it's the perfect finishing touch. I had so many laughs and so much fun over this stupid thing. People are telling me I'm all over "instagram" and social media and stuff like that. I didn't really expect that kind of response. I was more expecting disgust and just people ignoring it. Or something more negative. But most of the feedback has been just laughter. That alone has been worth it. Putting a smile on people's faces, it's been nice. There was one man in a really nice car honking along as he passed by with a thumbs up. There was a really cute girl who smiled at me as I drove away. There was a group of frat boys who pulled up laughing so hard. There was even a cop who was amused by it. Oh, if only they saw the works of art; the masterpieces ecomodders far greater than me have made. What was I, compared to them? But laughter soothes the nerves and uplifts the spirit.

Anywho, I'm glad I made you lol. That really puts a smile on my face. Man oh man. But my car is nothing compared to these works of art: 25 Ridiculously Stupid Car Spoilers | SMOSH . Great laughs.

My favorite are the spoilers on the Ford Festiva, and the just so hilarious tiny cardboard spoiler on the Cavalier. I wish I was that good.

But yeah, I'm about to take all of the cardboard off, every last inch of it. Back to the drawing board and busting out the black spray painted coroplast. It'll still be strange looking, but not as much as cardboard. It's been fun.

There was a girl I once knew. And I would have done anything to make her laugh or to make her smile. We didn't laugh or smile enough. There were too many things, too much sadness. It's interesting, a lot of comedians come from such painful backgrounds, such horrible events. Some resorted to comedy to try to cheer up their family, cheer up their moms, when they've lost mothers and fathers and brothers and sisters. Laughter really is the best medicine. Never underestimate placebo and the power of the human will. Science can't quantify that. Cancer and what have you; never give up. She went through hell, that girl. She really could've used somebody, and some joy and laughter in her life. Maybe I'll design a hilarious scooter or something, heh. I wish I could have done more to lift up her spirit, to put a smile on her face. I regret it.

I just did a 48 mile run, half city, half highway. Ran into some traffic because of road repairs, and I went faster on the highway than I wanted. That was the worst city run. But nonetheless, with the aeromods, I got 41mpg. I bet I could more on a pure highway pulse and glide run.

But for now, the cardboard is coming off. I want to go back to the drawing board, maybe design a full kammback that hinges where I can still have full access to my trunk without drilling holes. That might be some time. I'm really intrigued by trickle charging. We'll see.