Perplexing Plexi Ponderance

[Emibub]

Is is possible to tell if a piece of plexi is UV quality? I have a John Lennon piece (cool). My customer asked me to take it apart to see how it was framed. The fillet was pulling away from the fabric wrapped mat etc. Upon opening it it was covered on the back w/craft paper, it had regular foam core behind it and it was hinged w/linen tape. I can't tell if the plexi is UV. I need to report back to my customer. She spent what she referred to as an incredible amount of money for it and wants it protected. This thing is pretty cool, I have never seen an actual original before, just the ones that were mass produced. I am humbled to be in it's presence.

[Less]

Just went through this myself and I never got a clear answer. A framer friend said he remembered u.v. plexi having a yellow cast on the edge. Talking to a knowledgeable supplier, he said that was nonsense and he remembers a less expensive plastic that would yellow over time, and that you can’t tell. I’m glad you asked the question; maybe someone can shed some light.

I decided since the plexi had been scratched anyway, to replace it, in this case with Conservation Clear. For precisely this reason, I always label the backing if the frame package has u.v. plexi or u.v. glass, so the next framer or I will know. I also like to make notes on the back if there is something in the package that I did not do, so that it does not come back to haunt me. Then my framers or I sign it with pride!

[Marc Lizer]

Covered in Counter Intel in PFM.

Get a UV lamp (ebay) or at the Hardware store (called a blacklight)

Put UV lamp over artwork. See what flouresces.

Place known piece of NON UV glass or acrylic and see how it flouresces the same.

Remove and place of known UV glass or acrylic and see the change in flourescence (or now lack therof).

Remove and place your suspect acrylic and see if it looks like know material # 1 or known material # 2.

I continualy have stuff come in from my local BigBox that is sold a UV acrylic, and it is not.

I wnt in as a customer and asked for UV acrylic to replace some glass in a broken readymade that I wanted to protect from sun and light damage.

They gave it to me already peeled. They said it was to make it more convenient for me to put in hte frame.

Bill of sale said UV acylic.

It is not UV acrylic.

If you are in LA and looking for a good location, just set up next door to a BigBox. As close to the front door as possible. After the fake discount, your price will be the same.

Or make the same inflated prices and put a big sign that says "we take our competitors coupons." Let them do the advertising and marketing for you.

BUt I digress . . .

[Ron Eggers]

I've been building boxes out of Cyro Acrylite OP-3 and it looks just like the regular stuff, even on the edges. (Styrene yellows with exposure to UV, I believe.)

You might try emailing Lois Bauby at Superior (the Acrylic Queen) or Courtney Clay at Cyro with this question, in case they don't see your post. Let me know if you can't find the addresses.

That's a really good question, BTW.

[Ron Eggers]

I remember Gumby saying something about checking for UV blocking using a blacklight, but I was sure he was kidding.

Maybe Marc is kidding, too, but I doubt it.

Large pet stores sometimes sell small blacklights to use to find old pet stains in carpets. They are not expensive. (If you have a dog or cat you already know why this is important.)

[Marc Lizer]

Bingo.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1748583806

[Emibub]

My customer has decided to go with UV non glare plexi so I guess this particular one has been solved, so if the blacklight is the best solution I'm just gonna wish I hadn't thrown away my "Zonk" poster from my youth.

Marc, I agree with you totally on the big boxes. If (I mean when) I survive for my lease to expire I will have to relocate and one of my thoughts has been to find the closest Michael's I can and see if maybe I could set up in their parking lot.
I've become friends with a couple who own a frameshop. Two years into owning their shop a Michael's store moved in the same shopping center. They were ready to pull up stakes and get out of Dodge. Their business has increased so much since Michael's opened up. They haven't sent out one mailer or done one ad, not even a sale sign in four years. It has worked out very nicely for them. Go figure!

[jframe]

What?, you all didn't keep your black light from the 60's? I did smile.gif , it's in pretty bad shape though.

Gainsborough sells a nice hand held UV lamp for the serious (looks good in front of the customer too).

I would swear though, that I can see a slight iridescence (rainbow effect) on the cut edge of the CYRO UV acrylic. Maybe that's left over from the 60's too? :confused:

[MiterMan]

Originally posted by RonEggers:
I remember Gumby saying something about checking for UV blocking using a blacklight, but I was sure he was kidding.

Maybe Marc is kidding, too, but I doubt it.

No, he's not kidding at all. Black lights pump out huge amounts of UV light. It's the UV that makes things flouresce and glow really weirdly. Acid just helps the process a little.

Now, as for cleaning Image Perfect glass with peanut butter, that has got to be a joke.

[tnframer408]

MITREMAN:

Acid? As in "superior acid blows your mind?"

[CYRO]

Standard acrylic is water white naturally. UV filtering acrylics such as ACRYLITE(R) OP-3 acrylic sheet do tend to have a slightly colored edge due to the UV inhibitors throughout the sheet. Of course, we are constantly trying to improve this and it is getting harder and harder to see the difference.

I do have cut samples of ACRYLITE(R)FF-3 acrylic sheet and ACRYLITE(R) OP-3 that are always available. Also, we do provide a small label for pieces framed with ACRYLITE sheet products that will help your customer tell that it is acrylic and what kind of acrylic it is. Unfortunately, once the masking comes off the acrylic, there is no other way to tell unless it is marked on the back of the frame.

[Bob Doyle]

Originally posted by emibub:
Is is possible to tell if a piece of plexi is UV quality? How many other framers have kids in preschool? My son came home with the perfect "tool" for this problem. His class made little necklaces that are white inside and turned different colors outside. He got bored with the necklace real quick, now I use them in the shop. They stay white under the UV glass and plexi and change colors when under regular light!