Having trouble keeping acyrlic clean while framing

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muybridge

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Mar 31, 2023
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Los Angeles
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self-employed photographer
I've been using Acrylite FF3 acrylic. I have air filtration in the room where I'm working and wear white gloves, but I'm still having frustrations with keeping the glazing pristine as I'm assembling frames, and removing dust. I've been using a battery-powered blower for dust, as well as low-tack artist tape, though now I'm realizing the tape might be contributing the problem (what I like about using tape to remove dust specks, is that you're grabbing the speck instead of blowing it where it might return).

  1. Are there any recommended glazing options that are less susceptible to smudges/scratches, etc?
  2. I'm using Novus plastic polish; is there anything better for acrylic?
 
This topic has been covered many times.
It plagues many of us.
Use the Grumble search for "antistatic".
Plenty of tips for dealing with acrylic.
 
When I'm assembling frames I avoid trying to blow dust off. In fact I avoid making any sudden movements at all.
If you try to blow stuff off all you are doing is stirring up air movements. When the dust gets blown away more air
will rush in carrying more dust.
 
We use Brillianize plastic cleaner and microfiber cloths, but our normal static electricity levels are probably lower than most. Relative humidity is rarely less than 40%.
A humidifier might help.
 
Before I remove the protective film, I spray it with a little water. It helps a little bit in reducing static. I use white cotton gloves and sometimes mist those a little bit as well (not wet!!!) That is how I remove any possible specks. It will never be completely dust free.
 
I haven't ever noticed differences in cleaning with any regular acrylic brands.
I have noticed differences in flatness and flaws.
I use Acrycast cast acrylic sheets currently (it's what my plastics supplier stocks for framing), and I like the flatness and the general lack of flaws.
I have used some of the other name brands, and the quality often wasn't in line with the branding. Acrylite was always a quality product, but I haven't been able to get it for quite a while.
 
I cheat...............I make the customer do it. But since I am 100% on line and ship all my frames you can't yell at me for it. I do peel up one corner and put a label at the corner with an arrow showing them where I started the peel. Before I did that I had the occasional dufus that complained about the glazing being missing. I also include a page long list of instructions but we all know that customers don't read instructions so I politely remind them of that when the complain.

And every page in my listings includes this image. For clarity I didn't include the label or arrow in the picture but the ones that don't read, can't look at pictures either or are blind.

il_1588xN.6411714054_fjy9.jpg
 
muybridge said:
I've been using Acrylite FF3 acrylic. I have air filtration in the room where I'm working and wear white gloves, but I'm still having frustrations with keeping the glazing pristine as I'm assembling frames, and removing dust. I've been using a battery-powered blower for dust, as well as low-tack artist tape, though now I'm realizing the tape might be contributing the problem (what I like about using tape to remove dust specks, is that you're grabbing the speck instead of blowing it where it might return).

  1. Are there any recommended glazing options that are less susceptible to smudges/scratches, etc?
  2. I'm using Novus plastic polish; is there anything better for acrylic?
Click to expand...
Muybridge, just one tiny addendum to what everybody else has been saying: You claim you "have air filtration in the room" where you work. Doesn't that imply air movement / air circulation? You've already acknowledged Prospero's comments regarding air-movement-dust . . . , ergo, perhaps turning off said air filtration whilst doing this type of "anti-dusting"?
 
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