How to Make a DIY Neon sign using EL Wire

 

The APW staff had a terrible year. They were everywhere, and they were great. We decided to each have one, as everyone needs one. (Neon is now the new glitter. You heard it first. After seeing neon signs in offices and conferences, I kept hoping they would make an appearance at real-life weddings. Then I realized something. I mean, you can't even buy a neon sign on Craigslist. I know, because it's what I did.MORE

 I also tried. I prefer one that doesn’t require a degree or certificate in electrical engineering. A magical little tool known as EL wire was discovered by me a few months ago. EL Wire is a common fabric staple that can be used for places such as Burning Man. EL Wire is a thin, flexible, and almost identical to a neon sign. It costs less than half the price of the real thing (or, in other words, less that $150 for a big sign). 

Tabitha from Winston & Main in Los Angeles was my wedding designer. She suggested she use the EL wire to make a wedding venue more fitting for APW. You don't even need to plug it into a wall. Double bonus: This tutorial is not #lazygirl. It's awesome but requires some planning and a power drill. Give yourself enough time to complete the job. This doesn't mean you need any technical skills. It takes a bit of foresight but also patience.

And you can have it in the living room for ever. (As if this wasn't your ultimate goal.

 

1. For the acrylic, print out your words. Tabitha prefers Blockposter.com. ) or Adobe Acrobat's "poster printing" option to enlarge your items at home.

 

2. You will need to determine where holes are needed to make your words. The obvious ones will be at the beginning, end, and ends of every word. To find out where else you should drill holes, bend your EL wire (or a length of string) over your word. If it piles up too much, it will be easier to remove some of it (or to bend it into the shape that you require).

 The obvious ones are the ends of the letters "L", "E", or "O" as it's not attached. Tabitha drilled a new hole to connect Tabitha's "o" to her "v" as it was easier to read than if she had used EL wire to connect them. Mark the locations that you will drill with an "x".

 

3. With a dry erase or chalkboard pen, trace your word/quote onto the acrylic. You should first test the acrylic to ensure it is easy to remove from your plexiglass before you start writing out the whole thing.

 

4. You will need to drill a hole big enough that your EL can fit through any place you have marked "x". Tabitha used quarter-inch drill bits to drill the hole for her 5mm EEL wire.

 

5. You will need to pull all the EL wire from the back through the first hole (at the end of the "L"), leaving only the black wire to connect it to the battery pack at the back. Secure it by using a bit gaff tape.