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Hello,

I have 2 small aluminium plate signs arriving through the post shortly and would like people's suggestions as to the best kind of post to mount them to.

The signs are 20cm x 15cm and will have 2 x 5mm holes for mounting to a post. The posts themselves will be stuck into the landscape verge so they need to be rust proof (or rot proof) and ideally black in colour. Fig1 shows what the sign will look like. I originally thought mounting them to treated wooden garden stakes but I think a metal post would be much better - Fig2.

Square 25mm aluminium tube with a length of 1.5meters (cut to 2 x 0.75m) would seem ideal but postage often costs more than the tube itself. I realise a length of tube is an awkward shape to ship, hence the cost, but does anybody else have any other suggestions?

When I put up "direction signs" in my garden I used 28mm copper pipe sprayed black. That must be 5+ years ago, still there.

If it's accessible from the road the pikeys will have copper away as soon as.

There must be a metal fabricator of some sort in Leeds, just google one and pop along and buy something there.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/search/me ... !4b1?hl=en

someone-else wrote:When I put up "direction signs" in my garden I used 28mm copper pipe sprayed black. That must be 5+ years ago, still there.

Must be some garden you've got there s-e if you need signs to find your way around!

Isn't there a metals supermarket in leeds on gelderd road
https://www.metalsupermarkets.co.uk/store-finder/
What about your nearest reclamation yard ring around a few to see if they have any section in stock

Dave54 wrote:

someone-else wrote:When I put up "direction signs" in my garden I used 28mm copper pipe sprayed black. That must be 5+ years ago, still there.

Must be some garden you've got there s-e if you need signs to find your way around!

It was more a case of "they have them in big country house gardens, so why can't I?" so I did. As for pikeys, they will not know as that is one reason I sprayed it black, to hide the fact it is copper

Hi peeps,

Many thanks for all your replies. I will certainly give the local suppliers a call tomorrow. There's one closer to me than I thought.

I also spotted on the B&Q website some 'varnished steel' square tube:
https://www.diy.com/departments/varnish ... 156_BQ.prd

Excuse my ignorance but I'm not familiar with 'varnished steel'. The 'varnish' looks micron-thick. Would this weather well if stuck in a landscape verge? I wouldn't be too bothered if the rust was very slight and hardly noticeable. Obviously, where I drill 2 holes to fix the sign to the tube would expose the steel but being above the soil, these holes would not be permanently wet.

I was worried about what possible effects some rust underground might have on nearby bushes, but a quick search on the internet seems to indicate some rust might be good in providing iron (Fe) to the soil!

How about some (say 40mmx40mm ) Aluminium angle? You could just cut a 45 degree at the end to make a point.
The thing with steel tube in the ground is it will go rusty from the inside

Hi Timllfixit,

Thanks for the reply.

Thing is, aluminium is generally silver which would stand out. I need the post to be black/dark so it mingles in with the verge landscape shadows. I also want to avoid having to paint it, eliminating any kind of maintenance.

My ex-neighbour, who put the original signs in just shoved in basic metal channel similar to this:
https://www.metals4u.co.uk/mild-steel/c ... 3mm/p13441

The above has lasted many years and is still standing upright in the soil, so I don't need the post to last for all of eternity.

[breaking news]... Just spotted some 'BLACK ALUMINIUM U PROFILE' on B&Q:
https://www.diy.com/departments/black-a ... 980_BQ.prd

The good news is that this is cheap at £3.58 per meter and ideal for my use. The bad news is it's discontinued and not one B&Q in the country sell it!! Well done B&Q for keeping your website up to date :(

Does it have to metal ? if not

https://www.screwfix.com/p/floplast-squ ... lack/70138

Cut to length and bedded in with postcrete might work.

Good idea wine~o. It was in the back of my mind to use plastic. 65mm is a little wide, though. 40mm would be the maximum I would want. I'll continue searching...

What about looking around a local car boot for old car roof bars? Some of them are plastic coated metal.

Another good idea Dave54. Alas, I have no car [sniffle]. I know a car isn't a prerequisite for going to a car boot sale, but it helps when they are as far afield as they are from me.

... I'm still interested in this 'VARNISHED STEEL SQUARE TUBE ' stuff:
https://www.diy.com/departments/varnish ... 982_BQ.prd

I understand the inside isn't 'varnished' and would be subject to corrosion if stuck in soil but if the ends were sealed up, wouldn't that suffice?

If rain water got into it, how long would it take this to catastrophically fail? How long is a piece of string, I know, but if the general consensus was that it is likely to last many years, then that would be good enough for me but if it would only be a matter of months then obviously not.

What about this?
https://www.diy.com/departments/steel-p ... 204_BQ.prd

If this was thicker, it would be ideal but it looks a bit flimsy to me:
https://www.diy.com/departments/alumini ... 012_BQ.prd

Any thoughts?

I'd forget about the varnished steel square tube. It looks as if it's meant for indoor use. I doubt if it'd last that long outside.
Same with the rest you've listed. 2mm alloy will be too flimsy as you say.

No car boots anywhere round where you are? You sure?