RigbyNeon

Garett...."After the glass is hot, open the main stopcock and use the Neon Roy"....at this point the electrodes are already cherry red. And Garett, I'm sure you're familiar with the coating inside and electrode designed to be discharged into a neon tube during the bombarding process to grab onto and help evacuate impurities from the tube. When does this process take place? Maybe I need to call you because I become more confused with each post.

Sounds like halftime in the movie "Rudy"!

Hi Garett, It's a little confusing to me because I'm assuming you still have to go through the entire pumping process after you have blasted the electrodes with the Neon Roy. Because you still haven't gotten the glass hot. Do you have and instruction sheet you can attach that we (or I ) can read because I'm just not seeing the advantage. If I understand correctly you evacuate the tube, then blast each electrode with the Neon Ray. Then what? Do you allow air back into the tube then process as usual? Do you let the electrodes cool back down then pump the unit again? If you've baked the electrodes before the glass has been heated, when you begin to heat the glass won't the electrodes just get hot again, only faster? I'm sure I'm missing something! Help!

I think I'm missing the concept of the "Neon Roy". You use this thing to "preheat" larger shelled electrodes so you can pump them easier on smaller diameter tubing? Is this right? Also Erik, I would like to take a moment to show whomever attaches the tie wire to your tube supports the proper way to accomplish this. I know it's a small thing, but "pride" should cover the little things to. Are you forced (by inspectors) to use rubber boots on non-exposed neon units in channel letters? I always recommend my customers to never use a rubber boot on an electrode unless they are forced to. Then go back and take them off when the inspector leaves! Neon has been around since the 1800's....rubber boots are around twenty 20 years old and I have yet to see one that doesn't do harm to a neon unit. I don't mind them as much on exposed inside applications because they make the job look clean and they probably won't hold much moisture. But outside they can cause so many problems....at least here in Michigan where it gets very cold and very hot!

If you believe a damn thing that Michael Moore has to say then I feel for you. He's kinda like the Glenn Beck of the Libs if ya know what I mean. So Travis are you implying that Glenn Beck and Michael Moore are both morons?

I'm sorry to make this statement and many of you might not believe this but I have friends that are doctors and I'll share a little of what theses guys do. I'm not saying they aren't helping people and that they aren't good at their professions but there is a system to their profession and these guys play it very well. They refer patients with good health insurance to each other probably five to ten times a day, then pay each other in CASH for the referral. One owns a lab that does blood work, MRI's, every type of test you can imagine. This guy drives around all day with a briefcase full of cash in his trunk going from doctor to doctor paying for referrals. Now, this same Lab charges your insurance company $1200.00 for an "open MRI". If you walk in with no insurance, they'll do it for $400.00 cash. It's similar to the housing market 5 years ago....it has to explode pretty soon because each day it gets worse and worse. Drug companies pay Doctors cash to prescribe medications all day, every day! Medication that you may or may not need. Medication that probably won't hurt you, but might not be helping anything either. Doctors will always make very good money compared to the income of the area they live so I don't believe young people will ever be deterred from being a doctor for this reason. This can be seen in other countries that have similar systems in place. And if a young person wants to become a doctor just for the money, he should go into law instead, that's more of a lawyer mentality. People that choose to help people shouldn't be that concerned about the money....that's the problem right now. And old doctors that aren't happy with what may happen to their industry are always going to hate the idea. Old people hate change, that's why young people were invented. To make changes that improve things! Hopefully! Watch "Sicko"....Michael Moore 2007.

My wifes company provides my insurance as well, and every six months it gets changed based on how much more her employer can save. Blue Cross has been raising their rates twice a month for 15 years. Back in the ninteys if you had a claim they'd either drop you, or raise your rates so much that you'd find another carrier. I'm a little confused with your comments because you explain exactly why we need a new system, then you say you don't want it. This is the reason for "Obamacare"....You know when the insurance companies spend billions to block it, it's because they won't be able to continue to be the wealthiest industry in the country by charging huge premiums and denying claims. You already pay for people that don't have insurance! Blue Cross just raises the rates of people that pay to cover the people that don't. A new system will help to stop this process. My new plan though will be to just hop down to my county hospital and get the free health care that until yesterday I knew nothing about. Let me illustrate this whole Healthcare scenario like this. It really is a Macroeconomic Problem. 1. If you believe that Healthcare is a business that is part of an industry, then the current system is working just fine. The sole purpose of a corporation is to make as much profit legally and huamnly possible for shareholders. So, if you can maximize premiums, reduce benefits, use any excuse to throw off undesirable policyholders and basically not worry about the actual health of the patient but rather the health of the corporation, leave healthcare alone. It is working perfectly and the insurers are making fantastic profits even if patients are suffering. 2. If you believe that Healthcare is a basic human right in our country and should model itself after the European or other countries, then the system is not working fine. People have been experiencing policy hikes for years, been facing being thrown off the policy for actually having to use it, pre-existing conditions, etc. If you are in this group who believe everybody should have healthcare and not face bankrupcy if you get sick, then the system is not working for you. If you compare the administrative costs for the VA as opposed to private care you find that the VA is at about 2% while in the private sector it runs at about 30%. IE 98% of dollars at the VA go to patient care while only 70% traditionally go to patient care in the private sector. The 30% goes to the shareholders, executives, etc. Which is better or which was addressed by the current mood of the country, I don't have the answer. Which is best? I have my ideas but each of us will have to answer that for ourselves. I believe I know which way the country is moving after the election and personally believe that Healthcare is going to go "Single Payer". It is trending in this direction. So ask the Macro question first, "Is healthcare a business or a human right" ? The answer to this will then illuminate the path on a Microeconomic basis and should start to yield clarity to you. Best to all I meant "twice a year"....not "twice a month". I hate to agree with you Snoochie for fear of you being despised by proxy, but......................"what she said! Isn't Snoochie a Guy??? Profile says Gender = Male You two are missing the main point of my comment...to the point that I can no longer afford to live comfortably. I know that I have been paying for other people's health care, beer, smokes, cell phones, houses, cars, and food for decades! But I know that with the new LAWS kicking into gear I will have to send more of my money that I had plans for (like my kids college fund) to people that will miss use it and have shown that they will miss use it for decades! Don't give me any of that BS about the guy working 2 jobs to pay for his way and still not able to afford health insurance for his family, there are programs already in place that help people in that scenario and it is run by the states. Ours in Iowa is called HAWKEYE it is just a co-op set up through the state to assist in providing health care coverage. If you really want to gut the cost of health care and get it so everyone can afford it you take away the federal law that says insurance providers cannot cross state lines! Just like if the federal government made a law today that said sign companies could not cross state lines....Hell no nationals coming in and undercutting me and I only had to deal with the other locals bidding against me. HELL YEAH BRING IT ON! Firstly, Snoochie=Male=Guy. Correct and guilty as charged. Secondly, I understood the intent of your post and your concern. I simply said that you should do your own research and fact finding and not rely on what you hear in the media. They are slanted both left and right. Thirdly, I never stated what my belief about Obamacare was or was not. I simply pointed out some facts that I do know and stated those. I have more information that I did research on but did not list on my post. I never said what side I fall on and simply stated the obvious empirical fact, Obamacare is law and I will have to deal with it. Fourtly and I never said this prior, your State of Iowa went for President Obama and your fellow Iowans have culpability in this whole election just like my State of California. Ultimately your fellow Iowans and my fellow Californians helped make Obamacare a reality. Lastly, In the case of the present healthcare direction of our great country, it can on a micro level be summed up like this and hopefully you don't take offense "Iowa=California=Obamacare" Peace out.................... Sorry...I never even looked at your profile! For the record, I've never given my opinion or position either. Basically because I don't know enough about it. All I've done was reply to people that generalize, catagorize, profile, prejudge, and sterotype. Because that shit pisses me off. I'm constantly presumed to be a flaming liberal because I often reply ( much less politically correct than you) to people that I can tell feel very strongly about something that I can also tell they no nothing about. And I only appear liberal because it always seems to be the conservatives that comment the most negatively. Had some liberal come on and started spouting his beliefs without any facts, I may have gone around with he or she. But that never seems the case. Always the other way around. Anyway, sorry again for the gender mishap!

You are already (and have been for decades) paying for the health coverage of: 1. all Federal Government employees, including retires, all members of the military - past and present. 2. all state employees in your home state 3. virtually ALL people over 65, and all severely disabled people (medicare) 4. virtually ALL poor people (medicaid) 5. working people without insurance - most seeking care at hospitals or emergency rooms. (via increased costs shifted to you) That's been the status quo for many years. Yep....

My wifes company provides my insurance as well, and every six months it gets changed based on how much more her employer can save. Blue Cross has been raising their rates twice a month for 15 years. Back in the ninteys if you had a claim they'd either drop you, or raise your rates so much that you'd find another carrier. I'm a little confused with your comments because you explain exactly why we need a new system, then you say you don't want it. This is the reason for "Obamacare"....You know when the insurance companies spend billions to block it, it's because they won't be able to continue to be the wealthiest industry in the country by charging huge premiums and denying claims. You already pay for people that don't have insurance! Blue Cross just raises the rates of people that pay to cover the people that don't. A new system will help to stop this process. My new plan though will be to just hop down to my county hospital and get the free health care that until yesterday I knew nothing about. Let me illustrate this whole Healthcare scenario like this. It really is a Macroeconomic Problem. 1. If you believe that Healthcare is a business that is part of an industry, then the current system is working just fine. The sole purpose of a corporation is to make as much profit legally and huamnly possible for shareholders. So, if you can maximize premiums, reduce benefits, use any excuse to throw off undesirable policyholders and basically not worry about the actual health of the patient but rather the health of the corporation, leave healthcare alone. It is working perfectly and the insurers are making fantastic profits even if patients are suffering. 2. If you believe that Healthcare is a basic human right in our country and should model itself after the European or other countries, then the system is not working fine. People have been experiencing policy hikes for years, been facing being thrown off the policy for actually having to use it, pre-existing conditions, etc. If you are in this group who believe everybody should have healthcare and not face bankrupcy if you get sick, then the system is not working for you. If you compare the administrative costs for the VA as opposed to private care you find that the VA is at about 2% while in the private sector it runs at about 30%. IE 98% of dollars at the VA go to patient care while only 70% traditionally go to patient care in the private sector. The 30% goes to the shareholders, executives, etc. Which is better or which was addressed by the current mood of the country, I don't have the answer. Which is best? I have my ideas but each of us will have to answer that for ourselves. I believe I know which way the country is moving after the election and personally believe that Healthcare is going to go "Single Payer". It is trending in this direction. So ask the Macro question first, "Is healthcare a business or a human right" ? The answer to this will then illuminate the path on a Microeconomic basis and should start to yield clarity to you. Best to all I meant "twice a year"....not "twice a month". I hate to agree with you Snoochie for fear of you being despised by proxy, but......................"what she said!

My wifes company provides my insurance as well, and every six months it gets changed based on how much more her employer can save. Blue Cross has been raising their rates twice a month for 15 years. Back in the ninteys if you had a claim they'd either drop you, or raise your rates so much that you'd find another carrier. I'm a little confused with your comments because you explain exactly why we need a new system, then you say you don't want it. This is the reason for "Obamacare"....You know when the insurance companies spend billions to block it, it's because they won't be able to continue to be the wealthiest industry in the country by charging huge premiums and denying claims. You already pay for people that don't have insurance! Blue Cross just raises the rates of people that pay to cover the people that don't. A new system will help to stop this process. My new plan though will be to just hop down to my county hospital and get the free health care that until yesterday I knew nothing about.

lol....Thanks! NO, I'm used to that type of "Mel Gibson" consiprecy theory thinking. All I'll say is, I'm no expert but I think people were recieving government money when both Bushs' were in office. I agree it's totally a real problem....but don't blame it on one party.

Actually Mark, I would vote Libertarian if it had a chance. I just doen't like when people generalize and lump all people that don't have what they have as loafers or babymakers. As I did when I mentioned the bracelet. I just believe that there are people that do work hard and do try to make good life decisions and still can't get ahead. The people that do nothing and expect something I have no tolerence for either. But they are (in my opinion) a totally different group. And those people always find a way to get everything they need for free. I would love that to stop! I don't know what the hell we would do with all those people but it would be nice to see it stop. I have close frfiends that are dissability attorney's and the amount of people collecting is mind boggeling to say the least. I have no idea where this money comes from. Many have been in the country for only a few years but they are taught the system and they master it. Then you have a born and raised American that may be a roofer that works every day with a sore back but because he tries his best to get to work, he now earns too much money to qualify for any assistance. Anyway....it's will continue to be a problem for a long long time.

You're gonna need to edit! But what you should have edited was the initial biased post! We'll NEVER get through a discussion like this without name calling. Unless you don't consider "deadbeats, pussies, baby machines, and morons" name calling. I think we all know that the term "Obamacare" was used to see how many "like minded" ( and it was with great restraint that I used that term) allies he could find in here. Ron; With all due respect, I think the President has now embraced this term as does many Democrats and Republicans alike. But I do get your point and it is well taken. I use the term because it is now accepted and assign no specific meaning to it. Rather it is a generic term to reference healthcare reform. But you are correct, use the term and it is code for either side to start the personal attacks. I have kept an open mind with the new health care law and looked at the issue as an American one first. Couldn't care less what the Democrats or Republicans want to espouse ofr have me believe. I have concluded it won't end our American society and will have enemies and supporters on both sides. But again, it is "LAW" and Obama will be preceeded with "President" for 4 more years. Very smart perspective...

Erik; I was just going to type a response to the previous posts and you and Mega Volt beat me to it. This is a big problem in the country as a whole. When we disagree, it becomes a series of Ad Homynm attacks or a string of general Vitriol. No matter which side you are on, the other side is bad, unpatriotic and simply non-human or un-American. Small wonder we are facing the financial and social cliff. The one thing that I have never done on this board has been to attack the character of any other poster. We may disagree on the content but the other opinion is just as valid or American as mine. And after seeing the jousting that went on between you and Signtiffic, I was waiting for you to jump in. You did not disappoint me and kudos to you. As far as Obamacare, Mega Volt hit it. Whether you realize it or not, every time and unisured person enters the emergency room it is passed along to all of us via our ever increasing insurance premiums. The hospital is forbidden by law to refuse service on the basis of finance so when someone enters, gets service and then moves on, all of the rest of us pay. Why do you think that basic items like aspirin or saline bags are the same price as an ounce of gold. I am sure Eriks wife can attest to this. And to end this, I have met with my accountant to discuss and have researched on my own. I have concluded that I will survive and my business will survive. Obamacare is the "LAW", period. Rather than spewing generic nonsense or attacking fellow Americans who disagree, figure out what you will do in practical terms. But President Obama did run on raising taxes, continuing his healthcare vision, extending the Dream Act and a host of other things that I may or may not agree with, but the majority of citizens knew this and gave him 4 more years, Get over that as well....... Most of this is very well said, but there are many more factors that go into the rising costs of health care. My doctor bills my insurance company $180.00 for an office visit. If you pay cash he charges $40.00. There are many things worng with our medical system, and doctors, not simply people that don't have insurance are a part of it. They play a game just like the person trying to scam money from the government.

You're gonna need to edit! But what you should have edited was the initial biased post! We'll NEVER get through a discussion like this without name calling. Unless you don't consider "deadbeats, pussies, baby machines, and morons" name calling. I think we all know that the term "Obamacare" was used to see how many "like minded" ( and it was with great restraint that I used that term) allies he could find in here.

"The baby machines"....Mark it's obvious what population you're referring to but there are many people out there that are working and still can't make it. The people that do nothing and expect something are not the people I defend. To say that people that can't afford health insurance are all non working baby machines is ignorant. You're lumping a way to many groups of people together. I have customers that own sign businesses that have no medical insurance. Again, you're a guy that has what he needs so life is great, and fuck everyone else that wasn't as fortunately (or probably as lucky) as you. Keep that attitude if it's working for you. Are you also wearing a WWJD rubber band on your wrist? And "Health care is always available for FREE at any county hospital"? WTF are you talking about, and what county do you live in? Is that something you just pulled out of your ass so you can go around thinking everyone is always able to get FREE health care? If that were the case Mark, why are we even having this discussion? I'll just tell everyone I see to go get their FREE health care down at the "county hospital". It's obvious you live in some fantasy world Mark. You made ten dollars an hour when you were a kid? When were you a kid, five years ago? When I was a kid minimum wage was $1.65 an hour....you're either very young or you did pretty well as a kid making $10.00 an hour. Who pays these doctors Mark that perform all this FREE health care Mark, or do they just work for FREE? That would certainly be a poor life decision acording to you, wouldn't it Mark? What a stupid statement that was. Like I say, you live in some little fairy tale world where "if you work hard, and of course make the right life decisions like you, everything will be great. So the $20.00 an hour guy must not be working hard enough. If he just works harder he'll get a big fat raise? Why is it that people like you always end up referencing our "fore fathers"? Wow....have a basic, very general understanding of how our country was founded. Thanks Mark, I learned that in second grade!

Obamacare = more tax dollars spent subsidizing a social program for the dead beats that refuse to carry their own weight. It's f'ing ridiculous to make this priority 1 when we have no money to support it. Here's a concept : focus on job creation and tighten the belt on spending . I have insurance , don't want or need big bros help. Thanks Sean Hannity said so : ) Other than you, who cares what YOU have, need, or want? And why don't you explain your plans on "job creation" and "belt tightening spending". Or do you just blurt out what someone else has written like a lemming? And while you're at it, give me your definition of a deadbeat. Is it the person that makes $10.00 an hour and can't afford health insurance, or his employer that makes a million a year but won't pay for his employee's health care. Or is it maybe the guy that makes $20.00an hour and has three kids, a car with full insurance coverage, a house payment, food and clothing requirements for his children that can't afford $1200.00 a month for his family to have insurance? Which one of these scenario's best describes your idea of a deadbeat? You're ************* somehow fortunate enough to have what you need in life so f**k everybody else, right? Be very careful with that attitude because someday, somewhere, you will need something, and hopefully a person will come along that has the exact same mentality that you currently have. That's called karma....look it up!

Maby you should educate yourself Travis. I'm wondering where you've heard and read how it will "hammer" the self employed....My guess would be FOX news! You can't find specifics, but you did read and hear that it will hammer the self employed. Sounds like excellant journalism you've been reading. It's incredible really....the people it will help the most will still find a way to hate and fear it because it wasn't what they were told to vote for. Imagine the amount of people that hated and were afraid of Social Security when it was introduced. I"m sure that was the master plan behind the whole system....Hammer the smallest sector of business! Come on Travis, I'm sure you're smarter than that!

You get junk! Some of the junk is better than others, but junk just the same. if you order 200pcs., 30 won't work, 30 will be duller than remaining 140. And most will dim and fail much sooner than what they were "rated" for. American companies are held to these high standards by UL, OSHA, and a million other "watchgaurd" organizations. Chinese companies can sell anything they want, put anything they want on the box, and be held accountable for nothing. Most of these companies are in China! What are you going to do to them? Clive is correct....tread very carfully. Better yet, don't tread at all and explain to your customer why you can't get him bulbs that change color. Unless of course you don't mind servicing this sign every month because it's got another bulb that isn't working.

www.alibaba.com

Did they have to use dimmers on red neon that remains the same brightness no matter the outside temp?

As this drawing sits right now, it's a neon nightmare. Theses are the types of signs that end up selling tons of LED's because this sign will be arcing and burning from many places. Sometimes, when letters can't be made wider and deeper, LED's are just a better fit. I think as the sign company you HAVE to tell this customer that it would not be in his or your companies best intersest to use neon in this application. And if he wont budge, tell him to find someone else. I would not be involved in this project as it sits right now. If he insists on neon then you have to insist on enlarging the letters. This is like telling GM you want them to build you a new car, but you do not want brakes! (sorry, I use a lot of auto annalogies). Sometimes you can not allow the customer to tell you how to make a sign.

Like everything else in this country, or probably the world.....follow the money! UL has become a money machine. When I started in 88 the only organization out there like this was OSHA. When OSHA came into your building you had to basically bribe them to not find anything major wrong with your facility. UL, UAW, OSHA, City inspectors, IRS, and now even the police forces are out there patrolling the streets with only one thing in mind. Generating money for their city and their union so they can continue to work. Property taxes have gone down, ticket writing has gone up!