posted
I need to repair a museum display made of a clear plexiglass panel with the lettering screened on the back. They need 2 small words removed and replaced with vinyl lettering. I can handle the vinyl part, but does anyone have suggestions on what to use to remove the ink without damaging the plexiglass? I've been told to use paint thinner or turpentine...
------------------ Alan Dearborn Dearborn Graphics Rye, NH USA alan@dearborngraphics.com
posted
Alan, try using some of the 90% Iso Rubbing alcohol. Cover the lettering with a rag, soak the rag with the alcohol and let sit for about 10 minutes. Depending on what type of ink was used , it should then just wipe right off the plexi. If it has just started to loosen, then let it sit a bit longer. If the edges of the plexi has bee flame polishe, you want to take extreme caution as not to get the alcohol near the edges of the plastic or it will craze and crack it.
------------------ Greg Gulliford aka MetroDude Metro Signs and Banners 1403 N. Greene St. #1 Spokane, WA 99202 509-536-9452
Your success at removing the screen ink from the plexi is going to depend a lot on what kind of ink has been used. I doubt if paint thinner or turps is going to have any effect at all.
If the original lettering was screened with vinyl ink, it has probably etched itself right into the plexi and no matter what you use, the old lettering is goint to show. If it was screened with an enamel ink, you may be able to remove it with oven cleaner or lacquer thinner. If the plastic is Lexan rather than acrylic, automotive brake fluid will sometimes work.
Test your remover on an inconspicuous spot to be sure it doesn't attack the plexi, before your start. If it works OK, mask off the lettering you want to remove with scrap vinyl. Soak a piece of folded newspaper with the remover, place it over the lettering and let it soak for a few minutes, and see if the lettering rubs off, then polish the plexi with something like Turtle Wax. At best, you may still be able to see a "ghost image" of the old lettering. Good luck, and don't make any great promises.
------------------ Jerry Mathel Jerry Mathel Signs Grants Pass, Oregon signs@grantspass.com
Posts: 916 | From: Grants Pass, OR USA | Registered: Dec 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
I can't add much to what Jerry said but I had success with Goof Off with enamel. One question I have though is who is assuming liability on the piece ? If it is you, you are playing Russian roulette.
------------------ Artworks Olympia WA
Posts: 797 | From: Olympia, WA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
With all due respect intended here...what ever you do don't use lacquer thinner (especially if the plex is aged or been in the UV"s for any extended time (remember flourescents have RV ratings too)Lacquer thinner can (and in all likelyhood will) craze and shatter the material in a million little pieces (like a sun shattered windshield)or at the very least leave a mlky haze you'll never get rid of. I fully agree with other methods suggested here I especially like the brake fluid and the alcohol suggestions (oven cleaner can be risky)Just my opinion ...but then that is what you asked for.
------------------ Monte Jumper SIGNLanguage/Norman.Okla.
posted
Let's see, Monte.........Excuse me while I go up to the top and check......................mrbzr......mtrbzd...brdlzgrmzz.......rmlnez......Nope. He didn't ask for your opinion.............BUT..........of course, you're right about crazing. SO LISTEN TO MONTE!!
heh...............
------------------ St.Marie Graphics & Makin' Tracks Sound Studio Kalispell, Montana stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com 800 735-8026 We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)
posted
Sounds like a great place to experiment with Rapid Remover.
I'd make it real clear to the customer that replacing the plastic will very likely be in order, however, you'll give a try at removal. Many times I've spent more moneys worth of time trying to salvage the material than it would have cost to replace it.
There's also a Ripid Plexi Glas Polish
------------------ The SignShop Mendocino, California "Where the Redwoods meet the Surf"
Posts: 6712 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Monte really is right about crazing potential, but a specific for restoring an acrylic surface to some semblance of gloss is Maguire's. Their Scratch Remover and Glazing Polish truly do work.
We regularly use Ditzler's DX440 for removing many, but not all, of screened inks on acrylic. We know it's safe on acrylics, but NOT on Lexan. Many solvents will cloud Lexan.
------------------ St.Marie Graphics & Makin' Tracks Sound Studio Kalispell, Montana stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com 800 735-8026 We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)
posted
Thanks for the many different suggestions, conflicting or not! I tried a few of them and found Isopropal Alcohol to work quick and clean on this display(Thanks Greg). Fortunately they had a similair panel that was no longer needed to experiment on. The paint thinner cleaned off the ink, but clouded the plexi. I used RapidTac's glass & plexi cleaner to clean up after removal.(Thanks Roger)
------------------ Alan Dearborn Dearborn Graphics Rye, NH USA alan@dearborngraphics.com
Printer-friendly view of this topic