Neon signs are an incredibly popular choice both for business advertising and for home décor. They can add personality and style to any space. However, they can be expensive and difficult to create, with the traditional process of shaping glass tubes making it difficult for beginners to DIY their own neon sign. With recent developments in LED technology, however, it’s now possible for anyone to create their own sign without requiring complicated soldering or glass-blowing techniques. In this blog post, we’ll list a few different ways to DIY neon signs using LED lighting and pre-made sign kits, starting with the more intense methods and ending with the simplest.  

How Are Neon Signs Made?

Since their invention in the early 1900s, neon signs have traditionally been crafted by artisans through a highly manual, multi-step process. First, these artisans must create the glass tubing, which often uses a soft lead glass tubing for easy bendability. The diameter of the tubing is typically between .3 and 1 inch, with the length of the tube varying from between 4 and 5 feet.

Then, the glass tubing is heated to soften the glass. The skilled craftsman  carefully shapes and bends the glass into the desired shape. The inside of the glass is coated with a phosphorescent material (which helps enhance the brightness and color of the neon light), and then the tube is filled with gas. The type of gas is dependent upon the desired color of the sign. Only red signs use actual neon gas, while other colored neon signs use other gases like argon, mercury, and helium. 

In order for the sign to illuminate, two electrodes are placed at each end of the glass tubing. These electrodes are typically made of iron and surrounded by a glass jacket. Then, the gas will be electrified and emit light, creating the characteristic neon glow.

This process is not only complex but also dangerous. It requires significant expertise to safely create a neon sign. Luckily, there are other ways to DIY neon signs, enabling you to create your very own “neon” sign using kits and pre-made LED light strips instead of glassblowing and hazardous gases. All three of the following methods use an LED light source designed to look like neon. This makes the process of sign creation much safer while still replicating the aesthetic of the end product.

Method #1 For Creating a DIY Neon Sign (Advanced - Using Soldering)

If you have prior experience with soldering and electrical wiring, this could be the right choice for you. If not, we’d recommend choosing another option, since handling wiring and soldering tools as a beginner can be dangerous. Unlike traditional neon signs, this DIY neon sign uses LED neon flex lights for a safer experience. 

What You'll Need:

• LED neon flex lights in your desired color
• Tube cutters
• Soldering tools
• Wires
• Power source
• Hot glue gun
• Backing material (acrylic, wood, etc.)

To build your own neon sign, you’ll first want to create a design. In this step, you’ll want to determine the shape, style, and size of neon sign you’re looking for. Then, once you have an idea of what you’re trying to create, use the tube cutters to cut the LED neon flex lights to the desired length. You’ll want to err on the side of caution, and be careful not to cut off too much.

At this point, solder the wiring to the lights to create a secure connection. While this can be a complex process, it will help make your DIY neon sign more durable and less likely to fall apart or break quickly.

After soldering, use the hot glue gun to attach the LED neon flex lights to the backing material or surface. You’ll want to properly align and secure the lights so that they don't move.  This step ensures that your sign remains together and allows for easy hanging.

Then, connect the wires from the LED neon flex lights to a power source. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper wiring and electrical connections, and exercise significant caution when handling wires. Once everything is connected, you will be able to test the sign to ensure that all the lights are working properly, making any adjustments or repairs as needed.

Method #2 for Creating Your Sign (Medium Difficulty – Uses DIY LED Kit, No Soldering)

The second way to create your own neon sign involves no soldering. This route is a more accessible entry point for individuals without prior experience in electrical wiring. However, this accessibility does come at a cost. These signs look less professional and may be better suited to a sign for your home or restaurant décor than as a neon sign for your business.

What You'll Need:

• LED neon flex lights in your desired color
• Zip ties
• Shaping wire
• Plastic wire clips
• Hot glue gun
• Power source
• Backing material (clear acrylic, wood, etc.)

Much like the first method for DIY LED neon signs, start by creating your design and determining the dimensions. Use the shaping wire to create the intended design.

Then, instead of soldering, use the zip ties to attach the LED neon flex lights to the shaping wire. You'll want to fasten them at the peaks and bottoms of each letter to ensure the sign doesn't lose its form. Once this is complete, you’ll be able to use the hot glue gun to attach the lights to the backing material of your choice to allow for easy hanging.

After constructing the neon LED sign, attach the plastic wire clips to the end of the power source and the end of the LED lighting, then connect the two wire clips together. Again, you’ll want to exercise significant caution when dealing with electrical components. You’ll also want to ensure that you have the right kind of plastic wire clip; if you purchase DIY neon sign kit, it should have the correct type. If not, and you are trying to build a sign using loose components, you’ll want to be sure to do your research to ensure that you have the correct materials.

Once the wire clips are in place and connecting the power source to your shaped neon LED sign, you’ll be able to test the sign to ensure the flex lighting is working correctly.

Method #3 for Creating Custom Neon Signs (Beginner – DIY Using LED Sign Kit, No Soldering or Wiring)

The third method for creating your own neon-like sign is extremely safe and easy, requiring no previous experience. This involves using SpellBrite’s LED letters, numbers, and special characters to quickly and easily build neon-like LED signs that you can change any time. Unlike the other methods for creating a sign as listed above, SpellBrite’s DIY signs require only a screwdriver (which comes with your sign purchase) to create. Our signs easily click together, much like building bricks for children. With this, you won't be stuck with a single sign. To advertise different products and services or change your prices, you can simply and easily change your sign. 

There are a few different ways you can DIY neon signs for your business using SpellBrite signs or sign kits:

• Create a custom sign. This will give you all the necessary components for the custom LED sign of your choice. The sign will arrive as a set of individually packaged characters for convenient storage. You’ll then be able to click the pieces together, tighten the screws, and display your sign, all in around 15 minutes (on average).
• Shop our collection of best-selling sign messages. We designed these category pages to help business owners find industry-specific business business sign ideas that effectively increase sales and attract customers. To customize these standard signs and add your own flair, you can either choose to customize the sign in question using the “Customize this Sign” button or you can purchase additional numbers, letters, and special characters to change your sign easily when it arrives.
• Check out our DIY LED neon sign kits. These kits contain all the necessary pieces to create hundreds of different sign messages in ultra-bright LED lighting, bringing maximum flexibility to your business’s advertising strategy.

Safe and Easy

Unlike the DIY solutions above, SpellBrite signs come with a 30-day risk-free trial and 1-year warranty. Our signs are also completely safe for use in your home or business, with both UL and CE certifications. There are no exposed wires or complicated electrical components to consider when you’re creating your own neon sign using SpellBrite. This makes SpellBrite sign kits a much safer (and easier) way to create neon-like signage than either of the above options.

Contact Us

Have any questions or want more information about SpellBrite’s range of DIY neon LED signs? Contact us at [email protected] or give us a call at (312)575-9620; we are happy to help. You can also learn more here about what previous customers have thought about our product.