how do I CREATE static?

Mike LeCompte CPF

MGF, Master Grumble Framer
Joined
Jul 20, 2005
Posts
792
Loc
Knoxville TN
Finished our big "Lunch on a Skyscraper" this morning measuring 48 X 70 or so. Took four hands to do it, all finished and backed and lo and behold there's a tiny hair in the "sky" part of the image. DOn[t want to take it apart. Want to create static on the outside of the piece and "move" the hair down into the darker part of the image. The "mat" is a surround of 1932 newpspaper articles and Broadway memorabilia; in other words, its so busy that if the hair is somewhere else, you aren't going to ntice it.

So: how do I make a static something to move the hair? OR does the static go away on a large plexi sheet like this so by, say, Monday, we can move it without taking it apart--like thumping on the plexi which is what we usually do with glass.

Customer comes in tomorrow--Sunday--to do some finishing adornment on the frame so would love to have asolution by then.

Many thanx
 
I would think that removing static and thumping should work. Don't think you can create that controllable a static charge just to move one hair through a sheet of plex. The Chamois and water method to remove static.
Conversely I have had fun chasing dust particles with one of those Kinetronics brushes. They seem to alternately be attracted to the brush, then repelled by it.

My initial response to the title of your thread was to suggest you say something about religion.
 
What about rubbing an inflated balloon on your head - like I know I did as a kid... and it drew the hair in every which way.

May not solve the problem without creating another - but at least you can have a giggle doing it!!

Roz
 
roz: this customer, a dear dear young lady, will LOVE this idea esp since she comes in with her young son. Will have them bring a baloon and give it a try. She's one in a million, will think it's funny, and will tell her, of course, that we'll tear it apart to get rid of the hair if all else doesn't work. And we could have lotsa fun tomorrow trying it.

Wally: why ever would I say something about religion on this topic? totally confused by that. Happy with mine. Hope you're happy with yours.
 
Mike,

Are you going to post a pic of this piece? Sounds interesting
 
Wally, we think WAY too much alike. :D

Fire up a chunk of Grouper and think of me.
thumbsup.gif
 
Originally posted by Mike LeCompte CPF:
Wally: why ever would I say something about religion on this topic?
Ummm, to create static.
 
sorry if I was impertinent, Wally. Didn't mean to be.

Tim, yeah I'll get a pic out and if I can't put it on here will forward to you and you can post it. You guys KNOW I'm computer stupid.

O snd Wally: good retort. Love it!!!!
 
It's good to see that framers retain their sense of humor during this hectic, busy time.

Static charge probably can't be moved in a selected pattern. That is, if you can charge the outside of the acrylic with static in order to attract the hair, you will also charge the inside; it would only serve to hold the hair tighter.

If you have a Kinetronics ionizing gun, that would be the best way to defeat the static charge and let the hair drop.

The static inside is dependent on the moisture content inside. Unless you humidify the inside of the frame (not recommended), you probably will not see that hair go away anytime soon.

I suggest you slighly open an edge of the frame and suck out that hair with a tube vacuum. You do have a tube vacuum, right?
 
The optimum solution for this problem is the ZEROSTAT gun. It was part of a group purchase several years ago and discussed previously on TG. I have used it many times in this situation. Many cringe at the price but it pays for itself quickly.
 
well, guys: we rubbed baloons on our heads, shook it, bounced it all without luck. So apart it goes today. And I KNOW it wsn't my employee's hair cause he shaves his head. Don't think it was mine, 'cause I get a #3 buzz cut, which means I don't have hair. The only other source of a hair I don't wanna think about
 
well, asked Framer Dave to do it, but did it my own bad self.

about 48 x 70 or so, Larson moulding about 3 3/4" wide glazed with UV plexi, backed by Gatorboard for rigidity. Cost to customer about $1400 give or take a couple bucks.

All clippings and memorabilia are from the 1932 New York herald and related. the last photo of the corner is the original admission pass to Rockefeller Center when it opened.

Hope the sizing was OK for the pic, pixelwise and all that.
 
>>>>The Chamois and water method to remove static.

Pardon my ignorance, remember, I'm rather new at this! What is the chamois and water method? Spent a good amount of time this AM trying to remove dust from the inside of plexi that was on a shadow box with a jersey in it.

We blew it out with the air compressor, brushed it with the anti-static brush. We had an old tee shirt that we were dusting it off with - that seemed to leave scratches. Finally got it after a very long time of blowing and dusting. We turned the heat off in the shop - there is a blower over our drop table and we found out recently that there are no filters in the furnace.

Also, does the dry winter atmosphere cause more static? Does anyone use humidifiers or air cleaners?

Help is appreciated!
Jacqueline
 
I use a humidifier to control static. It saves me from a LOT of aggravation with fomeboard, acrylic and shrink wrap.
Around here, the natural humidity can get down to 10% and indoors, with heat, it can get down to 3%. When it it that dry, you can feel static on a sheet of fomeboard from five feet away.

I know of a guy who scorched his carpet by walking on it in wool socks.
 
Dave: was a fun piece. Even more fun taking it apart again because of the FLUMB--see post in other thread.
 
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