Iowa -built Caterpillar neon sign

catdude

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After many years of wanting a large neon dozer sign I decided to finally take time to make my own. I made the pattern from a picture of my D7 17a cable beast. The sign is 8' wide and 4' tall. Majestic Gold seemed to be the best color choice and the yellow powder makes it visible during the day when it is off. I built the cabinet and all connections to be in the outdoors. I used cold weather gas and 60 mA transformers to make sure it would light well in the cold Iowa winters. Next I want to design a smaller sign for indoor mounting for the wall of my shop, maybe I will do one of my D2. They are not porcelain but still cool to have.
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Fri, Feb 7, 2020 10:51 AM

D4Jim

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Wow Catdude! That is an awesome sign. Bet it took more than a day to do that!!

Great Job!:first:

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Fri, Feb 7, 2020 11:41 AM

seyser

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Reply to D4Jim:

Wow Catdude! That is an awesome sign. Bet it took more than a day to do that!!

Great Job!:first:

That looks great!

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Fri, Feb 7, 2020 8:37 PM

seiscat

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Reply to seyser:

That looks great!

Great job!
Craig

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Fri, Feb 7, 2020 8:51 PM

Rome K/G

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Reply to seiscat:

Great job!
Craig

Well dang! that is neat!! You could start a business making those! Some old Cat dealers had some very cool neon signs too.

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Fri, Feb 7, 2020 10:58 PM

catdude

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Reply to D4Jim:

Wow Catdude! That is an awesome sign. Bet it took more than a day to do that!!

Great Job!:first:

[quote="D4Jim"]Wow Catdude! That is an awesome sign. Bet it took more than a day to do that!!

Great Job!:first:[/quote]

Thanks, yes 2 days just to draw and plan wiring. Bending and processing the neon actually went fairly quick.

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Sat, Feb 8, 2020 1:37 AM

catdude

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Reply to seyser:

That looks great!

Thanks, it is hard to not include too much detail when you draw these.

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Sat, Feb 8, 2020 1:39 AM

catdude

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Reply to seiscat:

Great job!
Craig

[quote="seiscat"]Great job!
Craig[/quote]

Thank you, I put it on a building that faces the road so the 2 or 3 cars a night can see it. I would love to be on a highway though. Plus if I want to see it I have to walk to it. That is why I want to make indoor signs a little so we can see them whenever we are in the shop.

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Sat, Feb 8, 2020 1:44 AM

catdude

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Reply to Rome K/G:

Well dang! that is neat!! You could start a business making those! Some old Cat dealers had some very cool neon signs too.

Thanks, I have got to make neon for one once. I could never outbid the guy that has it ! I do hope to sell some, especially for indoor use as they are less costly and easier to hang.

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Sat, Feb 8, 2020 1:49 AM

mudgecko

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Reply to catdude:

Thanks, I have got to make neon for one once. I could never outbid the guy that has it ! I do hope to sell some, especially for indoor use as they are less costly and easier to hang.

Thanks for posting, cool job 😎
Gilbert.

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Sat, Feb 8, 2020 6:08 PM

d2gary

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Reply to mudgecko:

Thanks for posting, cool job 😎
Gilbert.

That looks awesome. The small indoor sign sounds interesting is that something that is going to be a reality someday? If it's not second mortgage territory I would be interested in one.

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Sat, Feb 8, 2020 9:52 PM

Iowa -built Caterpillar neon sign

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