Pyramid Sign Base Assembly Instructions

Pyramid Sign Base Assembly Instructions

by | Nov 3, 2021 | Curbside Pickup Signs, How To, Learning, Signs

Putting these together is fairly self explanatory, but these Pyramid Sign Base Assembly Instructions will help you get it right the first time.

What You Will Need

  • It’s helpful, but not required, to have 2 people for assembly.
  • #2 or #3 Phillips screwdriver or impact driver with Phillips bit.
  • 3/16” and 5/32” Hex Keys, a.k.a Allen wrenches or hex impact drivers.
  • 1/2” box wrench, gear wrench or crescent wrench.
  • Base Fill:
    • If your climate rarely freezes for extended days, you can fill bases with water using a garden hose.
    • If your climate does freeze, fill bases with pea gravel (suggested) or sand. Use 2 to 3 50lb bags per base available at Home Depot, Menards, Lowe’s etc.
  • If you are filling with gravel or sand, you will need a wide mouth funnel like this 6 quart funnel at Menards. If it has a screen, just remove it. Or you can fashion a funnel out of a one gallon bleach bottle or similar. The bigger the funnel mouth, the quicker the filling will go.
  • Recommended but not required: 5/16” Nylon washers. These go between the steel washers and sign face to prevent distorting the reflective sheeting when tightening nuts.
Handicap Blue Pyramid Sign Base

Hardware Check

Below is the hardware you should have for a Pyramid Base with a single pair of brackets and with or without wheels.

Note that Bases with Wheels have 8 threaded studs in for mounting the 2 wheels.

If you are missing any hardware, let us know right away by emailing us at sales@stpaulsign.com or using our contact page.

Hardware for Pyramid Base With Wheels

Hardware Kit with wheels option

(2) wheels

(8) phillips machine screws

(2) brackets

(4) 5/16″ threaded studs with (4) nuts

(1) connector bolt and (1) connector nut  

(1) plastic fill hole plug

Note: Pyramid Base (not shown) should have 8 threaded studs in it.

Hardware for Pyramid Base Without Wheels

Hardware Kit without wheels option

(2) brackets

(4) 5/16″ threaded studs with (4) nuts

(1) connector bolt and (1) connector nut  

(1) plastic fill hole plug

Please Note these Warnings:

WIND WARNING DURING ASSEMBLY: Until bases are filled, especially when signs are installed, either work out of the wind, or work with the sign system tilted down horizontally.

HIGH WINDS IN GENERAL: If winds or wind gusts are 50, 60, 70 mph or greater, depending on surface area of signage, consider taking the signs indoors or laying them down in a location that is not a trip hazard. When you do have a stiff breeze or moderate winds, check the stability of your sign systems by grabbling the post and lightly rocking sign system, making note of their stability.

BE CAREFUL: Especially when signs are attached, take care when moving around or tilting bases. Sign edges are relatively sharp and care must be taken since the bases can be ungainly when filled or even empty.

 

PART A: Base and Wheels Assembly

  1. If you have ordered bases without wheels, skip to PART B.
  2. Attach wheels to base using 4 phillips screws provided for each. Start threads by hand especially if using an impact driver or drill driver. Get all screws started before tightening any.
  3. Tighten firmly, but not too tight. If you use an impact driver, don’t overdo it. (FIG 1)
  4. For bottom screws, tilt the base up on it’s side. (FIG 2)
Attaching Wheels to Pyramid Base

Figure 1

Attaching Wheels to Pyramid Base

Figure 2

PART B: Post to Base Assembly

  1. Inspect the post and take care that the holes in the plastic sleeve and steel are aligned and remain aligned as you do the next step. (FIG 3)
  2. Look inside the base and see the protrusion at the center bottom. (FIG 4)
  3. While vertical, insert post into hole in base and seat it over the nub. You will know you’ve found it when the post won’t lean freely without tipping the pyramid. (FIG 5)
  4. This is easier with 2 people: Insert the connector bolt into the hole and through the post. The post may have to be lifted a bit to align the bolt in the center of the hole. (FIG 6)
  5. Screw the connector nut onto the bolt. Make sure you aren’t cross-threading. Then, hand tighten at first, then use 3/16″ allen wrenches to tighten firmly. (FIG 7)
Aligning Holes on Sleeve and Metal Post on Pyramid Base

Figure 3

Showing Post Seat in Pyramid Base Interior

Figure 4

Showing Post Seated in Pyramid Base Interior

Figure 5

Aligning Post Bolt on Pyramid Base

Figure 6

Tightening Pyramid Base Post with 3/16" Allen Wrenches

Figure 7

PART C: Base Fill

FILLING WITH WATER – WARM CLIMATES ONLY

  1. If the wind is moderate, then you may want to start filling the base in a horizontal position and tilt up as it gets more weight to withstand the wind. If the wind is quite strong, find a windbreak or wait until the wind dies down.
  2. You may want to fill it only half full until you get the signs on in PART D, and then fully fill afterwards.
  3. Fill to nearly the top is recommended. The bigger the surface area of the signs, the more it can catch the wind. 

FILLING WITH PEA GRAVEL OR SAND – ANY CLIMATE

[Refer to Fig 8 & Fig 9 below for funnel setup.]

  1. Use 2 to 3 50lb bags per base.
  2. If you have someone to hold the funnel, great! If not, place the funnel mouth in the fill-hole and use a clamp or two and clamp the funnel to the post. A “Quick Clamp” with the rubber jaws work well. Otherwise, duct tape to the rescue!
  3. Place the base with the funnel in it just under the edge of a table or workbench or tailgate of a truck and place the bag of fill above. Cut the corner off the bag of fill and slowly tip it, pouring the fill into the funnel. As the gravel or sand gets caught up in the funnel, what works best is to keep scooping it away from the funnel bottom with your hand as your other hand is slowly tilting the fill bag. If you have 2 people, this is easier.
  4. Fill to nearly the top is recommended for maximum wind resistance. This will be 3 50 lb bags. Note the size of your signs. The bigger the surface area of the signs, the more it can catch the wind.
Filling the Pyramid Base with Pea Gravel

Figure 8: Filling with Pea Gravel using Workbench

Filling Pyramid Base with Pea Gravel

Figure 9: Filling with Pea Gravel using Bumper/Tailgate

PART D: Bracket & Sign Assembly

  1. Each square bracket has 2 threaded studs and 2 nuts. For now, just thread studs into each bracket such that the inside end of the stud is even with the inside of the bracket. Be sure the hex socket end of the stud is facing outwards.
  2. Lean Post/Base assembly down and support at mid-pole by something a foot or two high. 
  3. You will be attaching signs facing the sky, so be sure you have the base oriented correctly. If you have a wheeled-base, then usually the wheels would be towards the ground, such that the sign(s) are opposite the wheels. If you are putting signs on both the front and back, then this step may be arbitrary. But, you may prefer the wheels to face to the side. The choice is yours.
  4. Slide ALL brackets onto the post, letting them slide down to the bottom of the pole. Why? You will be attaching sign(s) and brackets top down so you need the lower bracket(s) already on the pole below. If you have one sign, then slide on 2 brackets. If you have 2 signs, slide on 4 brackets etc.
  5. On the sign (the top sign if you have 2), note the distance from the hole to the sign’s top edge. Take the top bracket and place it as close as desired to the top of the post. Usually, you’d want the top of the post a little lower than the top edge of the sign.
  6. From the top end of the post, eye up the face of the bracket such that it is parallel with the bottom edge of the base. By hand, tighten the studs enough so that the bracket eventually stays put as you get it aligned. Be sure both studs are protruding on the inside of the bracket (don’t tighten one stud much more than the other). Once you are confident in the alignment, use an allen wrench to tighten both studs firmly, going back and forth so both studs are indenting the sleeve.
  7. Place the sign’s top hole onto that bracket stud, slide on optional nylon washer if you have them, slide on steel washer and then hand tighten the nut. Double check that the sign appears aligned to the base’s bottom edge and adjust the bracket if necessary.
  8. Now, slide up the 2nd bracket repeating the process just described. IMPORTANT: If you have back-to-back signs, then get the back sign that faces the ground onto both brackets before fully tightening the studs on the bottom bracket. Otherwise, if the brackets aren’t perfectly perpendicular to the post, the holes will not line up on the back side sign.
  9. Finally, tighten the nuts onto the studs, being careful not to over tighten or you may distort the sign face RECOMMENDATION: Use 5/16” Nylon washers to go between sign face and steel washer, available at any hardware store.
  10. If you have a second sign below the first sign, then repeat this process. In most cases, an inch or two between signs looks good.
Numbered Bus Parking Signs
Aligning Sign on Bost with Base

Aligning Bracket/Sign Face

Tightening Studs on Sign Post

Tightening Studs

Tightening Sign Nuts on Sign Post using Nylon Washers

Tightening Nuts with Nylon Washers

Pyramid Base Sign ATtachment Back View

Back of Sign

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