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Anyone ever sandblast any acrylic? A customer wants some desk name thingies. I thought about doing them with beveeled edges and blasted from the back. Thanks
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com Posts: 7403 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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Depending on your set up, it may be wiser to buy frosted acrylic. But, yes, not a problem. Don't ask me how to do it though I've been ordering the acrylic already blasted. Here's a sample...
Havin' fun,
Checkers
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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Hi Wayne, I've done a few 1/2" thick back-blasted acrylic signs for a local golf course (years ago, but still...) that they were using for an event. The main difference is you can't blast as deeply as you would on glass - the acrylic ust starts to melt. If you have a router (or ask Dan) to back-rout the name plaques, it's a much nicer look.
Rick
-------------------- Rick Tam Arte Design Studio Downingtown, PA milne2@msn.com Posts: 278 | From: Downingtown, PA | Registered: Apr 2004
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You should blast with aluminum oxide instead of sand. It cuts much quicker and does not cause the friction (heat) that you will experience with sand. Believe me, the sand does not work.
-------------------- Curt Stenz Graphics 700 Squirrel Lane Marathon, WI 54448 Posts: 590 | From: Marathon, WI 54448 | Registered: Dec 1998
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I've blasted glass and acrylic at the same time and I could not notice any difference. The only difference I've noticed is if you're using recycled media, which you really shouldn't be using in the first place on a clear surface. Acrylic discolors very easily. Clean black slag will discolor, too. Glass is much more forgiving. White silica works fine for me, but it's not very healthy. Aluminum oxide is great. Curt's right. It's cuts much quicker. I just never have any clean aluminum oxide around. I recycle it to death.
The process is somewhat different between these materials. Glass blasting is a fracturing process and it goes very easily and relative fast. Stage blasting can be done on glass is very impressive. Deep cuts can be accomplished with relative ease.
Acrylic DOES NOT blast as easily at any perceptable depth. While it can be surface textured, the heat generated from the blasting pot and abresion of the sand, work against the removal of material. As plexiglass heats up, from the blasting process, removal of material slowss down and turn yellow. The rate of material removal is much slower than glass.
Your expecation should be for surface only.
I've tried allmost every media and sand on acrylics. The finer grades are more effective. Keep the nozel far away enough not to generate heat.
That's my take on it.
J
-------------------- Joe Crumley Norman Sign Company 2200 Research Park Blvd. Norman, OK 73069 Posts: 1428 | From: 2200 Research Park Blvd. | Registered: Sep 2001
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I sandblasted a load of 2m x3m 15mm thick sheets whats that 10ft by 6ft with fine sand both sides for a job that was to be routed afterwards, these were "acrylic stones" that were to be lit from underneath on a stage, and it worked fine obviusly we weren't going to any depth just to get a úniform finish.
Isnt' that Henry something. I saw photo's of his sandblast work wile we werein Greece. It was stunning. I believe that was for "Mamma Mia" the internations stage production.
This cat can do everything. Wish he was closer, so I could copy his stuff.
J
-------------------- Joe Crumley Norman Sign Company 2200 Research Park Blvd. Norman, OK 73069 Posts: 1428 | From: 2200 Research Park Blvd. | Registered: Sep 2001
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I've been ordering the acrylic already blasted.
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