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Hardwood Sign Bases MkII

Solid hardwood over a steel frame. Your panel slides into the slot, two thumbscrews hold it, and it stands on its own — no tools.

Live preview — drag to orbit, scroll to zoom. Shown with your width, wood, and graphics option.

Upland® Hardwood Sign Base MkII in cherry with a graphic panel MkII sign base with its end cap off, showing the black steel brackets inside Steel end cap and cherry slope of the MkII sign base Both halves of the MkII sign base with the slot between them Black-painted sign bases and a flat pack reader rail at The Selma Project MkI Hardwood sign base holding a wide double-sided panel in the Nebraska Archeology exhibit MkI White-painted sign base with a From the Archives panel in the Two Rivers Gallery MkI Cherry sign base with an 80-inch Morgan County history panel in a restored courthouse room MkI
Packing

Configure Your Sign Base

inches

Each half 4⅛" tall × 9½" deep

inches

60"–80", 72" standard

Cherry, birch, and walnut are solid hardwood, hand-finished in clear tung oil.

Graphics — choose one
Panel

Any rigid panel ½" to ¾" thick slides into the slot. We send a template for the two holes.

Your build $ USD + shipping, calculated at checkout

Ordering more than one? 2: $ each · 3 or more: $ each

Estimated Lead Time
—
Custom-built to order
Ships by
—
Then 1–7 business days in transit
// Overview

Timeless Craftsmanship

Our hardwood sign bases are an elegant way to add freestanding exhibit signage quickly and easily. Graphics slide into a slot between the two halves and two thumbscrews hold them—no tools required for setup.

  • Works well with double-sided graphics
  • Maximum recommended graphic height: 80"
  • Each half is 4⅛" tall × 9½" deep
Hardwood Sign Base MkII in cherry with a graphic panel
// MkI vs MkII

Every base we build today is MkII

Some photos on this page show the previous design, MkI, in museums. Here is how to tell the two apart.

The previous MkI hardwood sign base, two halves
MkI Previous design
The MkII hardwood sign base with black steel end caps
MkII What we build today
Look for
All-wood ends, screw heads on top
Black steel end caps, a clean top
Built from
Hardwood over a plywood box
Solid hardwood over a formed steel frame
Panel holds by
Bolts, washers and wingnuts through holes drilled in the panel
Sliding into the slot; two thumbscrews, no tools
Weight
Room inside for ballast you add
Steel ballast bars included
// Specifications

What's Included

A steel end cap on the MkII sign base, with the panel in the slot

Every Base Includes

Sized to your graphic, 12–44" wide

  • 2 × Hardwood base halves on steel frames
  • 2 × Steel end caps (they hold on with magnets)
  • 2 × Steel ballast bars, one for each half
  • 2 × Thumbscrews to hold the panel
// Common Questions

Frequently Asked

Is the printing single-sided or double-sided?
Both sides are printed, and both are included in the price. The two sides can carry the same or completely different artwork at no extra charge.
What is the graphic panel made of?
You choose. Printed Ultraboard is a 3/4" rigid board printed directly on both sides — one light piece that runs to the floor. Printed ACM is an aluminum composite print mounted to each face of a painted 18 mm Baltic birch backer; it costs more and takes knocks best. Mounting your own panel instead? Anything rigid from 1/2" to 3/4" thick works — Ultraboard, Gatorfoam, or plywood — up to the recommended 80" height.
Which wood am I looking at in the photos?
The product photos show cherry. To see birch or walnut, use the live 3D preview at the top of the page — it renders the actual species, and the painted option previews your Sherwin-Williams color. All three woods are solid lumber, hand-finished in clear tung oil; painted bases are Baltic birch plywood.
Can I mount a panel I print myself?
Yes — choose "Print your own". Your panel, 1/2" to 3/4" thick, slides into the slot between the two halves and two thumbscrews hold it. The panel just needs two holes near the bottom edge — ask us for a free 1:1 template with the hole locations for your width.
Do you sell blank panels?
Not on the site. Any rigid panel from 1/2" to 3/4" thick works, and a local sign shop can cut Ultraboard or Gatorfoam to your size. If you're ordering a batch and want blank birch backers from us, we can quote them.
How tall are the graphics?
Graphic packages from Upland are produced at your chosen height — 60" to 80", with 72" the standard. If you're printing your own panel, any height up to 80" works well.

See all common questions · Email us →

// Graphics

Graphics Production

Printed From the Archives panel on a white sign base in the Two Rivers Gallery MkI shown

Two Rivers Gallery, Minneapolis American Indian Center. Photo: Minneapolis American Indian Center.

Upland frameworks and components are built so you can easily apply your own graphics. Any rigid panel from ½" to ¾" thick fits the sign base; a local sign shop can cut Ultraboard or Gatorfoam to size.

For an additional fee, take advantage of Upland's expertise for the highest quality graphics production.

Graphics Guidelines Contact Us
Custom Sizes

Custom Sizes

Any width from 12" to 44".

Wood Species

Wood Species

Solid cherry, birch, or walnut in clear tung oil — or painted any color.

Design Services

Design Services

Professional graphics available.

Shipping

Easy Shipping

Ships via UPS or FedEx.