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Doc
science forum beginner
Joined: 26 Feb 2006
Posts: 4
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 Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 5:19 pm Post subject:
Chemical or method to etch/frost lucite or other clear plastic VERY finely & evenly?
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What would you recommend to give one side of a clear sheet like lucite or
plexi a "frosted" appearance? I need it to be as even as possible - i.e.
without visible striations/unevenness when held up to light, and little or
as tiny a grain as possible (*no* grain would be ideal) for projecting an
image onto one side.
I thought about sandblasting, is there an off the shelf chemical that would
do this?
Thanks for all input. |
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Lloyd E. Sponenburgh
science forum beginner
Joined: 25 May 2005
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 5:34 pm Post subject:
Re: Chemical or method to etch/frost lucite or other clear plastic VERY finely & evenly?
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There are few chemicals that will dissolve acrylics. Methylene chloride and
ethylene chloride will.
However, I cannot think of any way to get an effective "ground glass" finish
using those sovents. Even if spray-misted onto the surface, you won't get
the texture and diffusive quality you want.
I know from having build rear-projection boxes myself that acrylic sheeting
is available in a ground finish on one side or both. You want single-sided
treatment. Rather than doing it yourself, this really would be a good thing
to buy.
LLoyd
"Doc" <docsavage20@xhotmail.comx> wrote in message
news:hcfmg.9253$o4.8226@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...
| Quote: | What would you recommend to give one side of a clear sheet like lucite or
plexi a "frosted" appearance? I need it to be as even as possible - i.e.
without visible striations/unevenness when held up to light, and little or
as tiny a grain as possible (*no* grain would be ideal) for projecting an
image onto one side.
I thought about sandblasting, is there an off the shelf chemical that
would
do this?
Thanks for all input.
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RAM³
science forum beginner
Joined: 21 Jun 2006
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 5:36 pm Post subject:
Re: Chemical or method to etch/frost lucite or other clear plastic VERY finely & evenly?
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"Doc" <docsavage20@xhotmail.comx> wrote in message
news:hcfmg.9253$o4.8226@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...
| Quote: | What would you recommend to give one side of a clear sheet like lucite or
plexi a "frosted" appearance? I need it to be as even as possible - i.e.
without visible striations/unevenness when held up to light, and little or
as tiny a grain as possible (*no* grain would be ideal) for projecting an
image onto one side.
I thought about sandblasting, is there an off the shelf chemical that
would
do this?
Thanks for all input.
|
How about simply buying frosted Lucite sheets?
http://www.lucitecp.com/Myst.asp comes in clear and colors... |
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David Billington
science forum beginner
Joined: 13 Jan 2006
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 6:34 pm Post subject:
Re: Chemical or method to etch/frost lucite or other clear plastic VERY finely & evenly?
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You can buy frosted film for applying to glass to give a frosted glass
effect from glass and sign shops.
Doc wrote:
| Quote: | What would you recommend to give one side of a clear sheet like lucite or
plexi a "frosted" appearance? I need it to be as even as possible - i.e.
without visible striations/unevenness when held up to light, and little or
as tiny a grain as possible (*no* grain would be ideal) for projecting an
image onto one side.
I thought about sandblasting, is there an off the shelf chemical that would
do this?
Thanks for all input.
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Leo Lichtman
science forum beginner
Joined: 10 Jul 2005
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 7:59 pm Post subject:
Re: Chemical or method to etch/frost lucite or other clear plastic VERY finely & evenly?
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"David Billington" <djb@djbillington.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:44999145.5080707@djbillington.freeserve.co.uk...
| Quote: | You can buy frosted film for applying to glass to give a frosted glass
effect from glass and sign shops.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ |
I have applied frosting to glass from a spray can. I don't see why this
wouldn't also work on acrylic. The difficulty I see with adhesive film
would be getting it absolutely bubble and wrinkle free, and eliminating
EVERY particle of dust. |
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Greg Heilers
science forum beginner
Joined: 22 Jun 2006
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 1:08 am Post subject:
Re: Chemical or method to etch/frost lucite or other clear plastic VERY finely & evenly?
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On Wed, 21 Jun 2006 17:19:09 +0000, Doc wrote:
| Quote: | What would you recommend to give one side of a clear sheet like lucite or
plexi a "frosted" appearance? I need it to be as even as possible - i.e.
without visible striations/unevenness when held up to light, and little or
as tiny a grain as possible (*no* grain would be ideal) for projecting an
image onto one side.
I thought about sandblasting, is there an off the shelf chemical that would
do this?
Thanks for all input.
|
Could you just sand it with 600 wet-and-dry paper?
Just enough, and with a fine enough grit...to just give
it a bit of "tooth"?
--
Greg Heilers
Registered Linux user #328317 - SlackWare 10.2 (2.6.13)
AUS
.....
He gets it from your side of the family, you know. No monsters on my
side.
-- Homer Simpson
Treehouse of Horror II |
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Mark Thorson
science forum Guru Wannabe
Joined: 04 May 2005
Posts: 102
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| Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 1:24 am Post subject:
Re: Chemical or method to etch/frost lucite or other clear plastic VERY finely & evenly?
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Doc wrote:
| Quote: |
What would you recommend to give one side of a clear sheet like
lucite or plexi a "frosted" appearance?
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Could you use paper instead? |
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Herman Family
science forum Guru Wannabe
Joined: 14 Jun 2005
Posts: 173
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| Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 1:57 am Post subject:
Re: Chemical or method to etch/frost lucite or other clear plastic VERY finely & evenly?
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"Doc" <docsavage20@xhotmail.comx> wrote in message
news:hcfmg.9253$o4.8226@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...
| Quote: | What would you recommend to give one side of a clear sheet like lucite or
plexi a "frosted" appearance? I need it to be as even as possible - i.e.
without visible striations/unevenness when held up to light, and little or
as tiny a grain as possible (*no* grain would be ideal) for projecting an
image onto one side.
I thought about sandblasting, is there an off the shelf chemical that
would
do this?
Thanks for all input.
I don't know if it would work, but the fumes from superglue might be |
sufficient, overkill, or whatever. It seems they tend to leave a white
residue wherever I don't want it.
Michael |
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Doc
science forum beginner
Joined: 26 Feb 2006
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 3:46 am Post subject:
Re: Chemical or method to etch/frost lucite or other clear plastic VERY finely & evenly?
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"Greg Heilers" <gNOSPAMheilers@earthNOSPAMlink.net> wrote in message
news:pan.2006.06.22.01.17.44.609017@earthNOSPAMlink.net...
| Quote: | Could you just sand it with 600 wet-and-dry paper?
Just enough, and with a fine enough grit...to just give
it a bit of "tooth"?
|
Tried it, with 2000 grit actually, but the striations are visible, even
trying it from multiple angles.
The idea is to make the surface such that it's obscured, such that it
supports a projected image, but still diffuses the surrounding light,
hotspot etc. and not be readily intrusive into the image - i.e. no grain or
irregularities in the surface.
Probably going to take some material to a sandblasting shop tomorrow and see
what they can do with it. |
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Doc
science forum beginner
Joined: 26 Feb 2006
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 3:47 am Post subject:
Re: Chemical or method to etch/frost lucite or other clear plastic VERY finely & evenly?
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"Mark Thorson" <nospam@sonic.net> wrote in message
news:4499F13A.4CC5A349@sonic.net...
| Quote: | Doc wrote:
What would you recommend to give one side of a clear sheet like
lucite or plexi a "frosted" appearance?
Could you use paper instead?
|
You can but the grain is too inconsistent for my taste, very visible in the
image. |
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Richard J Kinch
science forum beginner
Joined: 26 May 2005
Posts: 36
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| Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 5:51 am Post subject:
Re: Chemical or method to etch/frost lucite or other clear plastic VERY finely & evenly?
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Doc writes:
| Quote: | I thought about sandblasting, is there an off the shelf chemical that
would do this?
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Frosted surfaces are optically inefficient. A holographic light shaping
diffuser will perform much better. E.g., http://www.poc.com |
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Bert
science forum beginner
Joined: 22 Jun 2006
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 9:02 am Post subject:
Re: Chemical or method to etch/frost lucite or other clear plastic VERY finely & evenly?
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"Doc" <docsavage20@xhotmail.comx> wrote:
| Quote: |
"Greg Heilers" <gNOSPAMheilers@earthNOSPAMlink.net> wrote in message
news:pan.2006.06.22.01.17.44.609017@earthNOSPAMlink.net...
Could you just sand it with 600 wet-and-dry paper?
Just enough, and with a fine enough grit...to just give
it a bit of "tooth"?
Tried it, with 2000 grit actually, but the striations are visible, even
trying it from multiple angles.
|
Maybe try it with a random orbit sander? No experience -- just
speculating. |
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MKnott
science forum beginner
Joined: 22 Jun 2006
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 12:20 pm Post subject:
Re: Chemical or method to etch/frost lucite or other clear plastic VERY finely & evenly?
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Mark Thorson wrote:
| Quote: | Doc wrote:
What would you recommend to give one side of a clear sheet like
lucite or plexi a "frosted" appearance?
Could you use paper instead?
You could try and use 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper.It is best to use it wet. |
--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com |
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Junie Daise
science forum beginner
Joined: 22 Jun 2006
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 12:24 pm Post subject:
Re: Chemical or method to etch/frost lucite or other clear plastic VERY finely & evenly?
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In article <7oomg.9252$lf4.97@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net>,
docsavage20@xhotmail.comx says...
| Quote: | Probably going to take some material to a sandblasting shop tomorrow and see
what they can do with it.
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While you're out, stop into Walmart or another outlet selling
CLEAR self-stick shelving paper. It's not paper, but a clear
plastic film with low-tack adhesive. I've used it to "frost"
the windows of my house for privacy while letting in all the
light possible - hate drapes and window blinds. That was
nearly 9 years ago and the film still looks as good as the
day I applied it. Of course it takes a degree of care in
application to keep from forming air bubbles but it can be
done if the film is laid down slowly while squeegeeing as
it lays down. It also works great as a rear projection
screen when applied to a sheet of acrylic glazing. |
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Spehro Pefhany
science forum beginner
Joined: 01 May 2005
Posts: 43
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| Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 12:49 pm Post subject:
Re: Chemical or method to etch/frost lucite or other clear plastic VERY finely & evenly?
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On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 07:24:52 -0500, the renowned
juniebug@dontemailme.com (Junie Daise) wrote:
| Quote: | In article <7oomg.9252$lf4.97@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net>,
docsavage20@xhotmail.comx says...
Probably going to take some material to a sandblasting shop tomorrow and see
what they can do with it.
While you're out, stop into Walmart or another outlet selling
CLEAR self-stick shelving paper. It's not paper, but a clear
plastic film with low-tack adhesive. I've used it to "frost"
the windows of my house for privacy while letting in all the
light possible - hate drapes and window blinds. That was
nearly 9 years ago and the film still looks as good as the
day I applied it. Of course it takes a degree of care in
application to keep from forming air bubbles but it can be
done if the film is laid down slowly while squeegeeing as
it lays down. It also works great as a rear projection
screen when applied to a sheet of acrylic glazing.
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Is it roughly the same as the plastic film used to protect the surface
of metal etc?
Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
--
"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward"
speff@interlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com |
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