Trim cap (Jewelite trim)
Trim cap is the plastic U-shaped edge that runs around the face of a channel letter and holds the acrylic face onto the return.
What it does
The face of a front-lit channel letter is usually acrylic. Trim cap is glued to the edge of the face, and its lip sits over the top of the return, so the face, the return and the trim cap together close the letter. It also hides the cut edge of the acrylic.
| Typical | |
|---|---|
| Width | about 3/4 in or 1 in; 1 in is very common |
| Material | plastic (often sold under brand names such as Jewelite), in rolls |
| Colors | black, white, bronze, or matched to the face or return color |
These are typical numbers. The right width depends on the letter size and the return depth.
How it is fitted
- By hand. The trim cap is bent around the edge of the face, glued with solvent cement, and stapled or screwed to the return.
- With a trim-cap bender. Some letter benders also bend trim cap from a DXF outline. The outline is a little larger than the return, because the trim cap sits outside it.
How much a job needs
Trim cap runs around the outside edge of each face, so its length is about the same as the outside outline of the letters. Add a few percent for joints and waste.
Some letters skip trim cap: trimless or "trimcapless" faces are glued or fastened in other ways for a cleaner look.
How NestSigns handles it
NestSigns nests the acrylic faces and the letter backs on your sheets and shows how many sheets the job needs.
Related: Returns · Channel letters · All glossary terms · Channel letter nesting
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