How to Make a Reusable Sign Holder for $10

Here’s a reusable DIY sign holder you can make for under $10 with supplies available at home improvement and hardware stores. You can make short and long handles that can be swapped. Plus your sign can be double sided. The handle doesn’t cover the sign space.

This sign holder is for 4mm coroplast (corrugated plastic) signs with vertical flutes. This is the kind of yard sign often used for real estate and political signs.

Not all venues and locations allow sign handles or sticks, and some restrict the length of handles. Make sure you know the restrictions before taking this sign holder to an event. The advantage of this design is that you can make several handles of different lengths, or you can remove the sign and use it by itself.

This tutorial is meant for people with at least some basic woodworking experience. The steps below are NOT complete step-by-step instructions. I haven’t included how to measure, cut, drill, nor select the exact parts or tools.

The sign holder is so simple that many could figure out how to make it from just a picture. I hope I’ve included enough extra details to help everybody else, too.

All measurements are in inches unless otherwise stated.

Click images to zoom.

Materials Needed

• 1 x 2 board: about 1 foot for the cross board, plus 2 to 3 feet for a handle
  • Sold in 8-foot pieces at home improvement stores.
  • Tip for the Novice: Actual size is 3/4 x 1-1/2 inches or smaller. It’s how some lumber is named. It’s called a “1 by 2”, but it’s not actually that size.
• H Stake: 1 qty
• Bolts or Machine Screws: 2 qty
  • 1/4 inch shaft
  • 2 inches long
• Nuts: 2 qty
  • match bolt/screw size and threads
• Metal Washers: 2 or 4 qty
  • match bolt and nut size
• Sand paper between 100 and 200 grit – optional but highly recommended
• Paint, painting tools, or spray paint – optional

H Stake and Punch Template Preparation

One H stake can be used to make either of the following:

• one sign holder AND one punch template to mark hole locations on boards (recommended)

OR

• two sign holders

The punch template is very handy. For the H stake to slide on easily, the holes have to be very accurately drilled. I recommend making a reusable punch template because it makes marking the exact hole locations very easy.

1. Cut the H stake in one of the locations shown in this image.

Cross Board Preparation

1. Cut an 11-inch piece of board for the cross board.
   • H stake vertical rods are typically 10 inches apart. Adjust the cross board size if your H stakes have a different spacing.
2. Use your fancy new punch template to mark hole locations as shown in this image.

3. See the next image for hole locations. Drill H stake holes slightly bigger than your H stake rods at the punch template marks. Drill handle holes slightly larger than your bolts or screws.

4. Insert the cut rods of half of an H stake into the H stake holes.
5. Cut the bottom H stake rods to leave about 3.25 inches below the cross board.
6. Bend the bottom rods of the H stake toward the center of the cross board as show in this image.

Handle Preparation

The handle can be as long as you want. In fact, you can make two different lengths and swap them as needed.

EXTRA TIP: A long handle (5 to 6 feet) can be rested on the ground so you only have to hold it upright.

1. Cut a piece of 1 x 2 board to the handle length you want.
2. On one end of your handle board, use the two middle holes in the cross board to mark hole locations in the handle.
3. Drill holes in the handle where you marked them, slightly larger than your bolts/screws.
4. Sand the handle to remove any rough spots that might cause a splinter.
5. If the 1 x 2 board has square edges, you can round the corners a little by sanding them. This makes them more comfortable to hold.
6. Paint the handle. This is optional.

Assembly

Attach the cross board to the handle using the screws/bolts, nuts, and washers, as shown in this detail image as viewed from the top.

Give Your Community a Piece of Your Mind

The final steps:

1. Create your coroplast sign expressing your opinion, idea, or complaint. Make sure it has vertical flutes.
2. Put it on your sign holder.
3. Wave it around at a peaceful gathering to give your community a piece of your mind.

Have fun. Stay safe. Enjoy.