How Neon Signs Are Made for Restaurants - How to Make It

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 พ.ค. 2018
  • On this episode of How to Make It, chef Katie Pickens is learning to bend glass into neon signs at Brooklyn Glass.
    Eater is the one-stop-shop for food and restaurant obsessives across the country. With features, explainers, animations, recipes, and more - it’s the most indulgent food content around. So get hungry.
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ความคิดเห็น • 343

  • @iurichiba
    @iurichiba 6 ปีที่แล้ว +365

    It's funny how he was freaking out way more than her, while she was making hers, hahaha

    • @eater
      @eater  6 ปีที่แล้ว +17

      You're so right. Thanks for watching!

    • @Sofia2crazy
      @Sofia2crazy 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      An expert knows

  • @scpatl4now
    @scpatl4now 6 ปีที่แล้ว +448

    As someone who has worked in a neon sign shop its hard to tell you how really well Katie did making that "E". Even with help it would be incredibly hard for someone without any practice. Maybe Katie found a new calling. I played around several times trying to learn (I worked in the pattern making section) and it took a lot of practice before I could do a double back (where you bend the electrode back in a U shape)

    • @eater
      @eater  6 ปีที่แล้ว +46

      Honestly, we were all very impressed! Thanks for watching!

    • @hellskitchenkritterandfrie3372
      @hellskitchenkritterandfrie3372 5 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      He seemed like a great teacher too, very patient

    • @trunganhsaysin
      @trunganhsaysin 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      cool. like it. i also got a simple way to make it our own
      th-cam.com/video/qczSILhHgMo/w-d-xo.html

    • @grizzco8837
      @grizzco8837 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Do you anneal the glass or is it not necessary for neon signs?

    • @adamthompson8678
      @adamthompson8678 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      She is one up on me, I have installed neon for nearly 20 years & never had a crack at making a section........when customers asked me, :Do you make it"? I reply, "No, I break it"?.
      Luckily, I broke very few sections.

  • @HamiltonMechanical
    @HamiltonMechanical ปีที่แล้ว +29

    as I approach my 40s and sick of working on mowers, I feel this is a hobby I need to learn. Seems like I could do this and make bubble lights as well, both are art that need to continue on!!!

  • @sarahabaza237
    @sarahabaza237 6 ปีที่แล้ว +344

    I was literally looking for neon signs before this was posted .

    • @poisoncobra7
      @poisoncobra7 6 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Sarah Abaza same, I always thought they were too expensive, but now I know why

    • @blatzen
      @blatzen 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      uf

    • @Wardztv
      @Wardztv 6 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Google knows!

    • @lalodapimp
      @lalodapimp 6 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Sarah Abaza I was literally thinking of how they were made last night. I wake up this morning and this is at the top of my feed.

    • @ruva5021
      @ruva5021 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      HAHAHA! I was looking on Craiglist for some LoL!!

  • @ohhoe
    @ohhoe 6 ปีที่แล้ว +161

    Brooklyn Glass is so rad!!!! I took a neon weekend course there and learned how to do this from him. It’s so fun

    • @ohhoe
      @ohhoe 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      It's a shop in Gowanus, Brooklyn. brooklynglass.com is their site :D

  • @saritagarcia9173
    @saritagarcia9173 6 ปีที่แล้ว +77

    I took a neon class once, it was crazy hard! Ever since that class I will always have an appreciation for neon. She did a great job for her first time. I also think she had an amazing teacher.

    • @vitaminkcee
      @vitaminkcee 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Whete did you take your neon class at?

    • @Dragon-Slay3r
      @Dragon-Slay3r 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      At the bible bashers club as the Qur'an is against me 😭

  • @Ragnarok043
    @Ragnarok043 6 ปีที่แล้ว +258

    when i hear neon signs it always conjures up a cyber punk hong kong for me

    • @AlexAutran
      @AlexAutran 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      i know, right

    • @casedistorted
      @casedistorted 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      That’s how old Hong Kong used to look with Neon signs.
      It’s all LED’s now so cyberpunk Hong Kong would be all LED’s sadly.
      Welcome to the Shitty future

    • @bad_vibes_jay_999_8
      @bad_vibes_jay_999_8 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yesss

    • @HiImZeke
      @HiImZeke 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@casedistorted I know this is 2 years old but don’t they make leds that look like neon signs? Is there anything bad about those? Genuinely curious.

    • @edstar83
      @edstar83 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@casedistorted LED signs can give a neon effect.

  • @kayve214
    @kayve214 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    I really love looking at neon signs and I didn't have any idea that this would be this hard to create. For sure this is one type of artistry that is underrated and also dying because of LED lights. I hope people will continue making neon lights.

  • @DavidNovaa
    @DavidNovaa 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    You can tell homeboy is a master veteran neon sign maker. You can see how focused and dedicated he is. Clean, consistent, and professional

  • @CLofNYC
    @CLofNYC 6 ปีที่แล้ว +495

    is anyone else fearing for her hair?

    • @jatinisme
      @jatinisme 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Its almost like an OCD I couldn't finish the vid. :(

    • @tiffgibbs_
      @tiffgibbs_ 6 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      Yes! Why is she so close to that fire? Why is it even on?!!! 😳🤦🏿‍♀️

    • @connornelson448
      @connornelson448 6 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Omg yes

    • @brendonsawyer
      @brendonsawyer 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      I had anxiety the whole time watching this

    • @vn01208503
      @vn01208503 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      its safety hazard there

  • @JeffFrmJoisey
    @JeffFrmJoisey 6 ปีที่แล้ว +86

    Nice! I've always appreciated the work that went into neon signs. I have always been amazed by the work in beer and old NYC store signs. I believe this is the 1st time I've seen a neon piece built from start to finish. Thanks for the informative video!!!

  • @rich1051414
    @rich1051414 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    When I was younger, about 15 years ago, there was a local neon maker who could make a neon tube within a neon tube, so a single tube could glow with a second color in the middle. I never realized how skilled he was for doing this until I grew up and moved away and realized these neon signs didn't exist anywhere else. Now neon has fallen out of favor and I wonder what happened to that guy.

    • @mernokallat645
      @mernokallat645 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      If they glowed in different colors only one could have been neon. Blue lamps use an argon mercury mixture.

    • @rich1051414
      @rich1051414 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@mernokallat645 "Neon" is what people call the lights themselves around here. Clearly the color may require a different gas than neon be inside it.

  • @ryanbennett1402
    @ryanbennett1402 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I’ve been around neon and cold cathode all my life. And I love it

  • @norfy
    @norfy 6 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Some great shows on this channel with Katie, Cliff, and Lucas.

  • @johnc8209
    @johnc8209 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I randomly wondered how neon was made and glad i found this. This is awesome.

  • @superdan422
    @superdan422 6 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    That was honestly way better than I thought it was going to be. Job well done eater!!

  • @friendlypiranha774
    @friendlypiranha774 5 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I love neon signs - they have 'atmosphere'. Katie, so cool you tried your hand at bending the glass. I want to try it one day as well.

  • @tinker2561
    @tinker2561 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    This turned out great! I love neon signs!!! You did such a top job on creating a piece yourself - Well done!

  • @SacrificeSienna
    @SacrificeSienna 5 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    I subscribed SPECIFICALLY for How To Make It! Love this series

  • @abdola8863
    @abdola8863 6 ปีที่แล้ว +89

    I feel like hes going to cry in any moment lol

  • @signs4sa870
    @signs4sa870 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Neon Signs always excite us! Challenges us and always feels like such an accomplishment when see final product!

  • @the_jimmy_nation
    @the_jimmy_nation 6 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    I always wanted my own neon sign!

  • @garygrinkevich6971
    @garygrinkevich6971 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I would love to take a class and learn some of this beautiful work, what a great teacher.

  • @giliant
    @giliant 2 ปีที่แล้ว +23

    I really would have loved to hear his thoughts on changes in the industry, the prevalence of led "neon flex" and other simple lost cost products that imitate his art. As someone who works in digital fabrication i often pull vectors to make exact copies of a customer sign or logo and while some parts of what i do are open to interpretation the goal is to make everything identical. I feel the the appeal of this is that it's a completely analog process done mostly with his hands and i hope his customers value that in it's own right.

    • @young_beans
      @young_beans ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Neon is def cool and has it's place. But it is much more expensive than LEDs, more time consuming to make, much much more dangerous (12,000V vs 12v), more fragile, not nearly as energy efficient, and a similar look can be achieved with LED 'neon flex', and the customers would not be able to tell the difference.

    • @Luckmann
      @Luckmann ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Plastic LED "neon" flex is utter garbage compared to real neon and glass. They're not even comparable if you've seen both.

    • @sonicseducer69
      @sonicseducer69 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      ​@@young_beansyou can definitely tell the difference between true neon and LED. You might be able to fool some people but it is noticable

  • @SeniorDread
    @SeniorDread 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    An artist hand bend 90° respect!

  • @I967
    @I967 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Excellent. Shows and explains the process nicely. Thank you for sharing.

  • @lorealmadonnamoore9828
    @lorealmadonnamoore9828 6 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    This is so interesting to me. I love videos like this!

  • @fntmworks
    @fntmworks 6 ปีที่แล้ว +19

    I work for a sign company and it's awesome the only downside is that we don't get to work neon with as often as we'd like. Awesome vid all the way!

    • @vanillaonmytongue2
      @vanillaonmytongue2 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Anthony Briseno is it because it's expensive or people are just losing interest in neon signs? i've always wondered why i don't see neon signs anymore where i live.

    • @scpatl4now
      @scpatl4now 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      LEDs (a bad word for anyone who does neon)

    • @jesusmorquecho6511
      @jesusmorquecho6511 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Trust me I dont missed installing neon channel letters with pk housings on a cement wall drilling two holes per letter two sets of sign with numerous letters then making up the connections behing the wall

    • @oussematrabelsi9429
      @oussematrabelsi9429 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@vanillaonmytongue2 because LEDs are just cheaper and easier to make and look more 'modern'

  • @Weird-Mike
    @Weird-Mike 6 ปีที่แล้ว +86

    I kept waiting for her hair to go up in flames in the beginning.

    • @spacep0d
      @spacep0d 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      LOL same. She was standing awfully close to the ribbon torch.

  • @Michael-si2ln
    @Michael-si2ln ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Your work is so awesome! and such a genius.
    i really enjoyed your video
    and thank you for sharing.

  • @kee360
    @kee360 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    great job Katie Pickens!!

  • @joepublic5469
    @joepublic5469 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    My great grandfather and my grandfather did this. Thanks for the awesome vids.

  • @onigiriizumi6078
    @onigiriizumi6078 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Gotta appreciate the handwork for all the effort

  • @campbellmorrison8540
    @campbellmorrison8540 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I love neon signs and would love to give that a go, Katie did really well!

  • @DukeICT
    @DukeICT 6 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    So glad I found this series.
    Keep them coming

  • @philliplopez8745
    @philliplopez8745 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    BRAVO Katie !

  • @solidkingcobra
    @solidkingcobra 6 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    came for food. stayed to appreciate the science and the artisinalship of the neon.

  • @DeceasedONE
    @DeceasedONE 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    This is awesome! Loved it.

  • @peebeeandjaay
    @peebeeandjaay 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Wow he’s so nice and such a good teacher

  • @hameddadgour
    @hameddadgour 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video. Thank you for sharing.

  • @kucelkj
    @kucelkj 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    That was awesome! What an interesting process.

  • @Offline395
    @Offline395 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    This is awesome, searching for HOW TO MAKE a NEON light..... very informative.

  • @waldairalvarenga4690
    @waldairalvarenga4690 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    linda profissão eu também trabalho com neon. Mais de forma diferente, parabéns pelo vídeo 👏👏👏

  • @Follett2121
    @Follett2121 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    She did so well with that E! That’s awesome

  • @saxecoburggotha5050
    @saxecoburggotha5050 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Amazingly done..

  • @JakeLovesSteak
    @JakeLovesSteak 6 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Very cool!

  • @paulbickley658
    @paulbickley658 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    You have some really good videos, I am just learning about them today...

  • @denisedtd
    @denisedtd 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    This is really interesting, Thank you!

  • @Fazio315J
    @Fazio315J ปีที่แล้ว

    Awesome video super informative. I don't know what made It pop into my head but I was just thinking. How do they make ne on signs now I know.

  • @ShadowsHeat
    @ShadowsHeat 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    Beautiful art

  • @ryancornelius1007
    @ryancornelius1007 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    This is awesome, I’m a glass blower I work with boro. Had a guy say hey why don’t you do neon, here I am. Looks like all my equipment won’t work for neon but man is this cool! Dying breed. Next time I’m in Brooklyn I’m gonna stop by!

  • @musik799
    @musik799 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Love this episode! I learned so much about Neon Signs!

  • @carlsandburg4860
    @carlsandburg4860 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video! ... commented on a pink 'love' cursive neon sign on the way to my local coffee shop, then im sitting under a red text purple underline OPEN sign and I see the neon moving within the letters!!! Felt like looking it all up and found this! :) Best. Fun to watch him teach ya, great job. not meaning to 'suggest' too much but i'll say it's really impressive to watch a person submit to learning/being-taught a skill. Encouraging and sometimes we are so-resistant to learning from each other or think we have to be perfect when everything takes practice! :) all work done by hand is awesome and you can feel the time/wisdom :P people love to teach their craft to someone receptive too

  • @ckthapoet
    @ckthapoet 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    I really wnjoyed this one she sems like she was having alot of fun.... i would love to learn to make neon signs it would be cool

  • @admagnificat
    @admagnificat 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Wow.... Mr. Ablon seems like a really good guy and a very good teacher. What a wonderful video. Thank you to everybody who was involved in producing it!

  • @djwalruss4897
    @djwalruss4897 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Glass blowing also gets my respect

  • @gtsprite
    @gtsprite 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Ohhhh so that's why neons are super expensive!! 🧐 Very cool!! 🤓

  • @pinstripeowl
    @pinstripeowl 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    This was so cool! Those signs are incredible

  • @NERO-ez1mn
    @NERO-ez1mn 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    he is a strict teacher haha the mentor is panicking. he loves the CRAFT so badly. TOO MUCH RESPECT.

  • @joseluisvaiksnoras7857
    @joseluisvaiksnoras7857 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I have a son born in 2005. I tell him that the art of making neon lamps is ending.
    In my city there was only one person who still did these beautiful works. The best memories I have of this incredible work are from the 80s, when I visited the downtown and saw lights on top of buildings with huge advertisements for JVC, Sharp, Yashica, Canon, Nikon, and some banks.

  • @thereIsaidit123
    @thereIsaidit123 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    My goal 2020 is to register for the classes ! have had this on my mind for 2 years now. First step was to get a drivers licence so I can drive myself there....DONE !, step two ...save money for the class - I can't wait !

  • @ArtAndPrevailing
    @ArtAndPrevailing 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    great ep!

  • @justiny.sbrother4699
    @justiny.sbrother4699 5 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    8:52 look at the signs in the back

  • @norhayatihamzah4384
    @norhayatihamzah4384 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Mr. Ablon seems like a very good mentor and absolutely amazing teacher.

  • @sabrinaflipse7732
    @sabrinaflipse7732 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    i took neon in school and it was so hard. she is doing really great.

  • @StanielP
    @StanielP 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    You should have shown how the seal/electrode assembly is made and how you attach it to either end

  • @danbailey96
    @danbailey96 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I had a neighbor that did neon bending and while making me replacement tubes for a sign I was working on I was amazed at his skill.....he offered to train me but I was so busy I kept putting it off and he passed away without me taking him up on his offer ....I regret not making the time.

    • @ashuroking007
      @ashuroking007 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thats both amazing and awful to hear

  • @adamthompson8678
    @adamthompson8678 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Good bending is importing......spot on pumping is a must.

  • @Adamishere
    @Adamishere 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    This is an excellent video.

  • @telosfd
    @telosfd ปีที่แล้ว

    Love it!😃

  • @whointhewhat
    @whointhewhat 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    The instructor was very kind

  • @Jale1337
    @Jale1337 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    Awesome !

  • @brettmoore3194
    @brettmoore3194 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank u so very much.

  • @FPV_TOMMY
    @FPV_TOMMY 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thx for the connect

  • @BeersYourFriend
    @BeersYourFriend 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Neon signs are absolutely gorgeous. This would be an awesome way to make some good money. Every piece is a work of art, and depending on the degree of difficulty, you could sell these for $2000+ easy. Unfortunately, it's all about RGB/LED lighting lighting today, which can imitate the nook of neon. But, there's still nothing like having the real deal neon glow. They are energy efficient with a typical sign only costing .20 cents per day to run, which costs less than a 75 watt light bulb. Plus, they last up between 8-15 years. It's Amazing!

  • @mondoneon2174
    @mondoneon2174 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video David

  • @christopherrasmussen8718
    @christopherrasmussen8718 ปีที่แล้ว

    Been bending since the 70s. Still making ‘glass’. Teaching a young lady and she will (I pray) make neon for decades to come.

  • @arenitar.297
    @arenitar.297 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I’ve always wanted to start my own neon sign shop.

  • @ernestkj
    @ernestkj 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    guess most new signboards are LEDs based now but having neon signs are so cool!

  • @SeraphinaPZ
    @SeraphinaPZ 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    How did she even accomplish that? She really has a natural talent for that apparently.

  • @sundawg911
    @sundawg911 6 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Another great video!

  • @michaelgrahamwongacutemadness
    @michaelgrahamwongacutemadness 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    I actually didn’t think neon signs were still made I mean malls are getting rid of them

  • @catquack
    @catquack 6 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    We have more than our share of neon signs in Hong Kong. It was nice to see how they are made.

  • @nathanmciver6496
    @nathanmciver6496 3 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Could life be this good?

  • @sigvardbjorkman
    @sigvardbjorkman 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    He seem like a great teacher

  • @hutlihutdanmark9580
    @hutlihutdanmark9580 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Awesome 👍

  • @nokijanuar
    @nokijanuar 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Really good..

  • @jeromeaquino2838
    @jeromeaquino2838 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I want to learn how to do this and spread the positivity appreciation with the neon lights.

  • @JM-cw1er
    @JM-cw1er 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Nice to see Mo Syzlak is getting on well

  • @OneAdsKH
    @OneAdsKH 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    woow look nice dear

  • @txm100
    @txm100 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Awesome video :)

  • @-vickyspit-
    @-vickyspit- 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I have a neon beer sign where the corner of the design broke off. Is the tubing fixable? If i don't care what it looks like (because it's just the corner) is there a really cheap fix? If I put electrical or duct tape or some sort of tubing from Home Depot, and created a very short "tube", would it go through as if it was glass?

  • @nataliem.2651
    @nataliem.2651 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Good job’

  • @dafteverton7218
    @dafteverton7218 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    I love sign.

  • @garandhero
    @garandhero 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    cool vid, thanks :)

  • @poolplayer9b
    @poolplayer9b 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    That’s pretty... lit

  • @minhtran6932
    @minhtran6932 5 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    9:01
    The signs at the back

  • @stay_gold24k
    @stay_gold24k 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Dope

  • @PrinceDasilboy
    @PrinceDasilboy 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Nice

  • @getcustomneonsigns5059
    @getcustomneonsigns5059 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great tutorial. We also provide neon sign customization service.