My local museum has a job to make a bunch of signs for their new displays.
They requested Sintra. My plastic supplier quoted Komatex and I had considered 'pitching' the idea of Styrene as a cost effective alternative.
So the museum says they are concerned about gas emissions which would affect the artifacts.
After talking to my supplier again, I'm told both Sintra and Komatex emit animal fat gas. Back when I asked for pricing on Sintra, they gave me pricing for Komatex 'because it cost less'.
And Styrene has higher levels of emission than the above, so it's off the table all together.
I originally thought the signs were to be mounted on the outside of the glass display cases, but apparently some will be inside an airtight glass container and can ruin the items should the plastic emit any animal fat gasses.
Whaaaaa!?
Has anyone come across this before? And if so which plastic would you suggest using?
Posted by Frank Smith (Member # 146) on :
You could offer to use glass.
Posted by Dale Feicke (Member # 767) on :
Boy, we are getting persnickety now, aren't we?
How about some white Plexiglas?
Posted by Shirley Carron (Member # 2446) on :
The display cases were brought in by some Museum Display supplier and the signs are used and changed as the exhibit they house changes.
So we are basically 'customizing' them and replacing the glass is not an option.
Good idea though.
Posted by Don Coplen (Member # 127) on :
Well, since they're that picky, and they requested Sintra, I would think Sintra it is. You have that request in writing, I presume?
Posted by Shirley Carron (Member # 2446) on :
Yes Don, they did request Sintra in the form of email.
Originally she was going to get someone else to produce the prints and have me supply and apply to the plastic and I quoted that portion of the project.
Now they'd like me to handle the whole project and I'll have to 'Duke it Out' with my supplier for quoting me Komatex, when I also requested a quote for Sintra.
My supplier claims that the two are the same and emit equal amounts of off gas.
I'll see if my client wants the Komatex option for less money or I'll re-quote on Sintra and explain that my supplier substituted product to make the price more attractive.
If I just give them what they ask for, they can't come back on me later.
Posted by David Thompson (Member # 2395) on :
I'd run like hell from this job.
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
"Animal fat gasses" ? What is that - a pig's fart?
Is perhaps using animal fat a better idea, than using mineral oils in the manufacture?
My wife used to make home-made soap, for a few years. You would brew up the lard, using the fat from around the kidney area of the beast - that gave the best soap. Ultimately it was or is a 'natural' product, as opposed to a synthetic product.
I am surprised to hear that the components of out-gassing would be considered a problem though. At least not much more of a problem than the bad breath, sweat & body odour of the person putting the products in the case...
Posted by Dennis Kiernan (Member # 12202) on :
What kind of objects do these cases contain that are sensitive to animal fat emissions?
Posted by Shirley Carron (Member # 2446) on :
I know...this whole project sounds a bit 'off'!
I've been at this for a good 25 years and this is a first for me.
Dennis, I am meeting with the client this afternoon so I'll get more info, but there are 2 new exhibits.
One is on loan from another museum and it is "Owls of the North". I imagine there will be taxidermied owls in the display case. Maybe the fat gas will cause them distress?
The other has artifacts having to do with the history of the town itself; paper, cloth, metal items that may deteriorate or corrode if exposed to gas emmissions?
I just wanted to know if anyone here has ever come across this before or had much experience dealing with signage in a museum environment.
What about the prints themselves? Do solvent based prints emit gas vs water based inks? Does the laminate off gas?
Posted by Kelly Thorson (Member # 2958) on :
Perhaps museum grade mat board or foam core with archival inks would be the way to go. I believe there are printing companies online that will do this kind of thing.
[ February 19, 2014, 09:20 AM: Message edited by: Kelly Thorson ]
Posted by Shirley Carron (Member # 2446) on :
Good point Kelly,
Maybe they should be considering the use of Gatorfoam or one of the other 'paper' board products.
I'll ask about that.
Posted by Kelly Thorson (Member # 2958) on :
They could do that for any sensitive display signs and do the rest normally.
Posted by DianeBalch (Member # 1301) on :
if the signs are no larger than 8.5 x 11", why not use your printer and print it on heavy card stock.
Diane
Posted by Dale Feicke (Member # 767) on :
I wouldn't think there'd be much of an issue anyway. Sintra and Komatex are basically the same product.....expanded PVC.
Kinda like using Oracal intermediate and Avery intermediate vinyls....pretty much the same.
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
some else suggested using GLASS....... but i think you took it to mean change the glass of the case. NO!!! figure out the size of the sign for these specific cases.......go to a place that sells glass.........have them cut a couple pieces the size you need.....cover it with whatever color vinyl you want for a background and lay the letters on that)))))
[ February 19, 2014, 10:05 AM: Message edited by: old paint ]
Posted by Mikes Mischeif (Member # 1744) on :
There are 41 signs. They are all different sizes, the largest being1'x200" and the smaller being 6"x 3', so getting glass pieces cut is not really an option.
To complete this job will take 6 sheets of 4'x8' and a 4'x10' sheet of Sintra.
Posted by jack wills (Member # 521) on :
Balsa wood...with latex paint which gas's out fairly quick.
