UV glass - potential problems?

[printmaker]

I know that many of you have already made the leap. This seems to be a major decision. :confused: Anyways:

We are considering using a UV clear glass as our normal, default glass. Right now, we are specifically looking at Tru Vue's "Conservation Clear"...

- Are there any particular problems associated with this product, such as with scratching, special cleaning instructions, figuring out which way is "up", storage etc. about which we should be aware?

- Is the Tru Vue product any better or worse than any of their competition (is there a "better" brand at which we should be looking).

Thank you, so very much, in advance!

[Lance E]

I would strongly recommend that you have a look at Guardian glass also. We have recently switched from Tru-Vue and have no doubt that we made the right call.

I will get around to replying to your email soon, promise!

[JFeig]

I agree. The thin plastic film protective coating is a real step up for the protection of the coated surface. Both the piece being cut and the remaining portion used on future jobs.

[Roxanne Langley]

Okay, I'll ask the dumb question today. Apparently I must have missed the advertising for Guardian Glass. Who? Where? and What? are they.

Roxanne
Langley House Gallery

"Where these cool mornings are spoiling me"

[printmaker]

Thanks Lance and Jerome!

After a half dozen e mails and a few phone calls, I finally tracked down Guardian's local distributor. It turns out they'll be at the Afex show in Toronto this weekend. I will certainly have a close look at their product line.


Originally posted by Roxanne Langley:
Okay, I'll ask the dumb question today. Apparently I must have missed the advertising for Guardian Glass. Who? Where? and What? are they.
Roxanne
Langley House Gallery
Roxanne, for further information, search the Grumble for "Guardian UV Glass". Also, try contacting "Sanabria" at:
FMI Corp
www.fmiglassandmirror.com (http://www.fmiglassandmirror.com)
800-329-9330.

She is a grumbling Guardian glass dealer, and a nice lady. Good luck.

[GeneWilliams]

We made Tru Vue's UV glass our standard a little over a year ago. I order almost every size they make because that way I can use only what I need. This virtually eliminates scrap. When we do have a scrap, I just wrap it in the paper that comes in the box and label it. At any one time, I only have 10 or so scrap pcs of glass. As far a identifying what side is what, you can slap a post it on the outside, leave the microprinting on the scrap or scrape the very edge with a razor, the inside will scratch, the outside will not.

I'd like to switch to Museum as a standard!

Gene Williams, CPF
Mitre & Bevel

[gemsmom]

I carry all available sizes of Tru Vue (even oversized). I have two local distributors of the glass, so it is easy to get. I have very little waste. When I do get a piece leftover, I cut it to a standard size, mark the "out" side, and put it in the appropriate box. I found nobody wanted to look through the leftover glass for the right size, so cutting it to standard virtually eliminated leftover pieces. Small leftovers we cut and put in photo frames.

[Less]

Nothing more frustrating than cutting down some Museum only to find a speck over a white mat that is in the glass, and you have to cut down another sheet, or order another box.

Yikes :eek: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

At least no one complains about replacing it.

Ain't for the faint hearted.

Less uses Tru Vue, seperates leftover CC with foam, stocks all sizes, and wraps leftover Museum in paper.

A good clean cut will prevent chips and help avoid scratching.

Be careful where you set down AR, you may not find it until you bump into it.

[ 09-26-2003, 11:58 PM: Message edited by: lessafinger ]

[rosetl]

We switched to just True Vu products for premium glass quite awhile ago. All the slight variations of names was driving us nuts and too many times I wouldn't know what was in a box without looking at it, it was all so confusing.

Now, we have a handy display, which is basically a piece of glass literally in a cardboard frame which has been imprinted with the key words. For example: Non Glare, UV Reflection Control Glass.

As for tips:

1. Make sure you score the non coated side.

2. Place the coated side facing the art.

3. Get an extra supply of stickers so you never run out. USE them on the back of every framed piece. It will make your life easier in a couple of years.

Conservation Clear is our favorite glazing product and is used on over 50% of our jobs.
The rest is split between the 8-9 other products offered, from regular old clear to UV museum & Reflection control UV Plexi!

[Less]

So, a client walks in and says, I'd like to buy some Museum glass. One 8x10 and one 11x14.

Less says, ahhhhh? ok? That'll be $140. ahhhh?

Would you like me to wrap it? Install it for free?
hehehe hahaha?

Oh **** , I don't have any left.

[printmaker]

SGF Supreme Grumbler
Member # 482

Originally posted by Lance E:
I would strongly recommend that you have a look at Guardian glass also. We have recently switched from Tru-Vue and have no doubt that we made the right call.
Originally posted by JFeig:
I agree. The thin plastic film protective coating is a real step up for the protection of the coated surface. Both the piece being cut and the remaining portion used on future jobs. Absolutely.
Having taken a close look at both Tru Vue and Guardian, the plastic film, alone, seems to be a major advantage...

Aside from reducing damage to off-cuts, there seems to be the savings in time savings - not having to figure out which side is which.

Crescent glass seems to be the exact same product as Guardian?

I now await the pricing from the dealers to see where we stand.

Thanks everybody!!!!

[lindas3]

Hello all,

The trial sheet of Guardian that I tested seemed to build up a static charge when removing the plastic coating. Has anyone else noticed this? I don't need any help keeping specks of lint attached to the glass. :rolleyes:

[ 09-28-2003, 10:03 PM: Message edited by: lindas3 ]

[Framerguy]

Linda,

That will be a problem with any plastic protected sheet products. I use an anti-static brush available from United Mfrs. Supply to brush all of my glass, mats, and mounted prints off before assembling them for insertion in a frame. It really does take down the static and remove little specks.

The brushes seem expensive but they are well worth the money for what they do.

Framerguy

[Less]

http://thegrumble.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=004782

I find that most scratches come from improper storage and sliding the glass on a mat that has glass fragments from poor cuts or other debris. If you hear the glass scratch as you move it on a mat, remove it and clean the glass and the mat.

I do find some impurities and scratching out of the box, but it doesn’t bother me unless it’s Museum. No one has ever complained about replacing problem glass, and Tru Vue has given me a free box of Museum glass to make up for some trouble.

[ 09-29-2003, 12:15 AM: Message edited by: lessafinger ]

[Jim Miller]

Guardian's blue covering is a handy way to protect the fragile UV coating, and to identify it. I wish all makers had something like that.

We've been using Tru-Vue for years, and recently tried a few boxes of the Guardian product, which is fairly new to the market.

After losing several lites due to blemishes unseen with the covering on, we've gone back to Tru-Vue. The distributor was quick to replace the flawed glass, but the flaws occurred randomly in most boxes, indicating that it wasn't an isolated problem.

Mostly, there were narrow, dark streaks or small blotches along one edge of the Guardian glass. If we could see them before cutting, I guess we could cut around most of them -- but I don't want to remove the coating before cutting.

Maybe the maker will improve quality control & eliminate the flaws soon. I hope so. Meanwhle, I'm a Tru-Vue believer.

[jframe]

That's interesting, Jim. We have had no flaws at all with the Guardian Conservation glass, nor have I noticed any static electricity.

[Reynard]

The coating is a great idea.

Is that glass different from the true vue glass?I used it once but I didn,t like the etched surface to be honest.I have been using the denglass ever since with the uv filter.Its as good a quality glass as I have tried.You do get the blue or green reflection at certain angles but its ok.

I am willing to give any new glass a try as I tend to be framing some pretty heavily priced items so the frame is a fraction of the overall cost.The clients who are willing to use the best glass never quibble on price as long as the protection is the highest available.Not sure whther that will be denglass to be honest but i felt that the other glass left the image less sharp, which was no use.

[Pat Murphey]

Reynard,

Tru-vue glass is etched only on their reflection control products. Conservation clear, AR and Museum glass are as clear as Denglas. Conservation clear and Museum glass have a UV protective coating. AR and Museum glass have an anti-reflective coating like Denglas. All are excellent, high quality products. (I don't believe that there are any water white products with UV coatings.)

Conservation clear is my default glass. Many customers are also willing to pay the extra for Museum glass :D . They have to twist my arm to get glass without UV protection. With reasonable care I have had no problem with scratching when handling and cutting on a Fletcher 3000 wall cutter.

In the US, Larson customers, with a fairly reasonable dollar volume, can get Tru-vue glass products with a quantity discount on single box orders - and no shipping cost if within range of their trucks. I am happy with this arrangement and with the product. It would be hard to convince me to change.

Pat :D

[printmaker]

Originally posted by Pat Murphey:


(I don't believe that there are any water white products with UV coatings.)

Pat Hi Pat:

"TRU VUE CONSERVATION ULTRACLEAR"

N-joy.

- printmaker -

[Mark]

Two UV tips,


1) I use a dry marker board marker to mark UV cut-offs. I write "UV" which tells me it's not regular and which side out. The marker will write on glass, but comes off with glass cleaner (Sparkle).

2) I keep a can of "Static Guard" next to my brush. Small hit of spray to my brush every now and then will knock the static dead. I looked at a static brush at the Atlanta show, but could not part with 50 bucks for a brush.


Mark