Neon sign repair that brings old glass back to life

Repair & restoration

Most real neon can be brought back

One of the best things about genuine glass neon is that it's repairable. A cracked letter, a tube that has gone dim or a sign that hasn't lit in years is rarely a lost cause. About half of the work that comes through our shop is neon sign repair, so it's a core part of what we do, not a side job.

Boyd Struble has been bending neon since the mid-1980s and has run Boyd's NEON in Colorado Springs since 2001. That kind of time at the bench means we've seen most of the ways a neon sign can fail, and we know how to bring it back the right way: by hand, over a flame, with real glass and real gas.

Common signs your neon needs attention

Most neon problems show up in a handful of familiar ways. Here's what owners usually notice, along with the general causes we look for in the trade:

• Flickering or fluttering. Often a sign the tube has lost some of its vacuum or gas, or that an electrode or connection is wearing out.
• A dim, pinkish or washed-out glow. Air or impurities may have worked into the tube, which changes the color and weakens the light.
• One section stays dark. This can point to a cracked tube, a failed electrode or a broken connection in that part of the circuit.
• Cracked or broken glass. Visible damage from a bump, a fall or a move. The broken section can usually be re-bent to match.
• Buzzing or humming. Can come from the transformer or power supply, loose mounting or a tube that isn't running properly.
• The sign won't light at all. Anything from a failed transformer or power supply to wiring or the tubes themselves.

Those are general patterns, not a diagnosis. Two signs with the same symptom can have different causes, so we test the sign properly before we tell you what it needs.

What we repair

We work on neon of every age and style, from a single shop-window word to a large hanging sign. Typical repair jobs include:

• Re-bending broken sections so the new glass follows the original pattern, letter for letter.
• Re-bombarding, re-pumping and refilling tubes that have gone dim, flickery or dark, then backfilling with neon or argon.
• Vintage neon restoration for older signs that deserve to glow again without losing their character.
• Beer and bar signs, from brand signs behind the bar to game room pieces.
• Motel, restaurant and storefront signs that need to read clearly from the street again.
• Collector pieces that call for careful handling and a close match to the original look.

We've built and worked on signs for hotels, restaurants, tattoo parlors and private collectors, including signs for Neon Alley in Pueblo. Can't tell if your sign is worth repairing? Ask. We'll give you an honest answer.

How to get your sign to us

The easiest first step is to send a few clear photos: the whole sign, a close-up of any broken or dark sections and, if you can, the label on the transformer or power supply. Email them to boyd@boydsneon.com, send them through our contact form, or call 719-391-0466 to talk it over. We quote by phone or email, and we aim for quality work at reasonable rates.

You're also welcome to bring the sign to the shop at 5735 Industrial Place, Unit C, near the Colorado Springs Airport, Monday to Friday between 7:00am and 4:30pm. Please call ahead so we can be ready for you. Check our location page for directions.

Backed by our one-year guarantee

Every repair we make comes with the same one-year guarantee we put on new signs. If something we fixed fails under normal use within that year, we'll make it right. As the shop has always said, we appreciate your business and work hard to earn your trust and respect.