Question about Acrylic Glazing

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Dave

Dave

SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
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I know with glass to do the "scratch test" to check for most UV blocking glass to check for a coating, but how do you test for UV acrylic versus plain acrylic glazing?

I suppose you could use a black light, but is there any other method? I am reframing an Ansel Adams photo and judging from the other framing components I doubt that the acrylic is a UV acrylic but would like to be sure.

:shrug:
 
I would like to think if the framer used UV filtering acrylic they would put some kind of label on the back of the frame. I know I always have.
 
Dave said:
I suppose you could use a black light, but is there any other method?
Click to expand...

Would a black light like this work?

yhst-12627748266280_2193_44165025


http://www.cureuv.com/portable-uv-inspection-flashlight-21-led-bulbs.html?gclid=CLKIgeOBy60CFYbe4AodYDxYgA
 
YES. We have two types, a battery operated one and also a black light bulb that goes into a conventional socket.

If you use a matboard or paper with optical brighteners behind the acrylic, it will fluoresce if the acrylic is not UV blocking and look dark if it is UV blocking. Once you have seen the difference (use a known product as a control) it is easy to tell.
 
These are $ 10,000 Ansel Adams photos bought from Christie's. The acrylic is standard acrylic. One frame fell apart in my hands because they are not glued corners, just the plastic wedges. The corner pockets are what looks like wadded up linen tape that is then adhered to the board with #810 magic tape which didn't hold and the photo slipped.

I'm sure (?) that they were not framed by Christie's, but... :cry:.
 
I have seen some very poor framing of 10,000+ artwork that came out of auction houses and high-end galleries. You can never be sure, so I always recommend dis assembly and inspection for my customers who acquire artwork that was framed by others, especially if they have some age on them.

Acrylic should filter about 85% of UV, but on items of this value, if you are going to reframe them, I would recommend Optium at 99% and maximum available protection and clarity.

And I may be silly, but most of the customers I have that have valuable art are middle and late middle age, so will probably move one more time. The likelihood of art being stored out of a climate controlled environment for a period of time or being subject to damage from breakage is increased.

I am recommending Optium far more often than museum glass. This does not mean they are always taking me up on it, but we always at least have a conversation about it.
 
This same customer has a Lynn Davis watercolor that is 52X59 that I'm replacing the Lexar glass where the corner chipped with Optium acrylic. $ 2800 replacement.

Your suggestion is good that he may want to replace the acrylic on the Ansel Adams with Optium.

He's a dentist and a couple root canals and crowns will take care of the framing without a problem. :shutup:
 
Dave said:
This same customer has a Lynn Davis watercolor that is 52X59 that I'm replacing the Lexar glass where the corner chipped with Optium acrylic. $ 2800 replacement.

Your suggestion is good that he may want to replace the acrylic on the Ansel Adams with Optium.

He's a dentist and a couple root canals and crowns will take care of the framing without a problem. :shutup:
Click to expand...

Just don't let him do the root canals and crowns on you! :shutup::shutup::icon11:
 
...and don't ask for that discount until the work is done. You don't want him to do something like scrimp on the anesthetic.
 
wvframer said:
...and don't ask for that discount until the work is done. You don't want him to do something like scrimp on the anesthetic.
Click to expand...

That's funny!

When I had two crowns done recently at my dentist the dental assistant put the thing in my mouth to take an impression and I think she put too much of the goo in it because something was making me gag terribly and I could feel something way in the back of my throat. The entire dental office must have heard me gagging and the dentist, who I went to high school with, came running in and said...

"Next we're going to try water boarding you!".

I laughed through my tears.

I do have more respect for Linda Lovelace now though. :shutup:
 
wvframer said:
...Acrylic should filter about 85% of UV, but on items of this value, if you are going to reframe them, I would recommend Optium at 99% and maximum available protection and clarity...
Click to expand...

Optium is fine if the budget allows, but TruVue (Acrylite) conservation clear acrylic has 98% UV blocking.
 
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