Show obDisclaimer: Executing the following is almost definitely illegal, no matter where you live. Essential materials:
Helpful materials:
So now you have your trophy. Clean it off and present it. Today was a good day. I found a piece of braided rope on the sidewalk and made it into a bracelet. I found an "Arrow Security" security guard button-down shirt next to the highway to wear... And I stole a Stop sign to decorate my room. Here's how: To steal a traffic or a street sign you'll need, most importantly, a monkey wrench. Not a screwdriver- municipal signs (in New York State, at least) are affixed to a metal post via nuts and bolts. If these are rusted you'll want some "liquid wrench", a clear liquid you squirt into rusted bolts to eat away the rust- you can get some at any hardware store. If your target sign is still standing, as opposed to having already fallen over- you'll probably need a stepladder. Whereas, if the sign has already fallen you can feel less guilty- if you're predisposed to feeling guilty- because you aren't the one creating a potentially hazardous traffic situation. Then again, maybe the bourgeouis SUV drivers deserve to crash into each other (the subject of many other nodes I'm sure). And if it's nighttime, and the sign isn't close to a streetlamp, a flashlight will come in handy. If you live in a zealously civic minded neighborhood, one where the vigilantes may attack perceived deviants, i recommend stealing the sign at night. And maybe bringing pepper spray. All of the above is good advice in stealing street signs. But what if this situation comes up? Say you are out on a mission to liberate as many street signs as possible with a couple of your buddies. Sooner or later, probably sooner if you are really dedicated you will encounter a sign where the top bolt is to high to reach without standing on something. At this point, unless you just happen to have a convient thing to step on or carry a ladder around with you when you go out stealing street signs there is no obvious way to get up there. You would be suprised how many signs are missing the bottom bolt and nut, but because the people trying to take the sign planned poorly they could not get up to the top bolt and so they choose to leave the sign there and find something less difficult to make off with. Luckily for us, most signs that you encounter this problem with also have built into them a way to get up to the top bolt. And no additional tools will be needed other than the stuff you already have with you if you are stealing street signs. The Method: After you take the bottom nut off the bolt, take the bottom bolt out. Insert the bolt lower down into the post, about 2 to 3 feet above the ground depending on how high you step up. Then use the bolt to stand on so you can reach the top bolt and nut and take those off as well. Additional Advice: You may need a friend to help stablize you if you aren't comfortable or capable of standing and balancing on the bolt by yourself. A friend is also useful for making sure the sign doesn't fall on top of you because you have taken the bottom bolt out, and for some annoying reason signs tend to slip off the top bolt if the bottom one is out. Before you make off with your newly acquired sign make sure you take the bolt that you used as your ladder out of the post. No point in letting the authorities figure out how you got the top bolt and nut off. Now you can go out and impress your friends with your clever knowledge of how to get those difficult street signs. It would seem logical that any person thinking of stealing a traffic sign would consider the following first. But then again, having left my teens a few years behind, I already find myself wondering what the logic for stealing a traffic sign was in the first place. From CNN.com: Nissa Baillie, 21, Thomas Miller, 20, and Christopher Cole, 20, each faced 27 to 46 years in prison after being convicted of manslaughter in the incident. It is believed to be the first U.S. case in which the removal of a traffic sign has led to a manslaughter conviction. Cole, Baillie and Miller were each sentenced to 30 years in state prison, with a suspended sentence after 15 years, and five years of probation Friday on four counts of manslaughter. Under Florida law, convicts must serve at least 85 percent of a sentence, meaning at least 13 years in prison for the three. That being said, I at one time had a fairly decent collection of bathroom signs, with their varying icons for men and women. Also, from various jobs where I had access to unposted signs I obtained numerous "Danger: Laser Radiation" signs, lock out/tag out notices, and others of that sort. And I'd also love to get my hands on a giant Yield Sign to add to my Pearl Jam memorabila collection. I understand the urge to collect signs, just think about it first. If you really want signs, try mcmaster.com or another industrial/ warehouse supply company, or perhaps ebay. Note that it is illegal in most cities to buy, sell, or trade a city or state traffic control device (like signs, stoplights, cones, etc), though I have heard of people getting them at governement surplus auctions, and in some towns I've known the local Traffic/Transportation Department to simply give away older, damaged or obsolete street signs when asked kindly. How do you remove a rivet from a street sign?There is a way to remove the rivets without damaging the sign itself. You will need a drill bit for the head, and a 1/8-inch punch and hammer for the body. Just drill into the head until it breaks off, then place the punch on what is left of the body, then smash the punch with the hammer.
What size nuts are on street signs?Standard bolt and nut for connecting sign to U-channel, square post, etc. Bolt is 2.5" x 5/16", nut is 5/16". Sold as a box of 25 bolts/nuts.
What screws are on street signs?5/16"x 1-1/2 zinc sign bolt sets are an economical method for mounting traffic signs, parking signs, and property signs. Each set contains two zinc-coated hex-head bolts, two polyurethane washers, and two nuts. These bolts can be used to mount signs with 3/8” mounting holes on U-Channel posts, and square posts.
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