Dewey Schramm
12-06-2011, 11:04 AM
I've just gotten an opportunity for a commercial order for acrylic work. If my sample passes muster, the job is mine.
The application is letter squares - clear acrylic squares about 18 inches tall with a single large letter masked off and colored around it for each acrylic square. The letters will remain clear, and the surrounding areas will be colored. I've read through the entire forum front to back over the last year - entertaining and educational. My intended approach (barring wisdom to convert me to another approach) is to put some sort of a mask down and kiss cut the mask, remove the mask and then spray paint the remaining area. Then remove/weed the letters to unveil the clear acrylic below.
Here are my questions:
1) This acrylic will be subject to weather and occasional scratching. My intent is to use a Krylon fusion type paint around the masking material to bond with the acrylic and create a bit more longevity. Is fusion paint the wrong approach here? Is it really necessary in this application? Is there another brand of fusion paint I should be looking at?
2) Given the application and the fusion approach, am I going to be better off with Cast or Extruded (5mm required thickness)? These are occasionally dropped onto concrete from a bit of a height - which (cast or extruded) will give the customer the best chance of not shattering?
3) While this is a one shot order of about 80 pieces/letters, I can see repeat business in this area from the customer and possibly other customers. Of the 80 pieces in the order, there will be a mixture of repeats, i.e. I might need six letter 'E', four letter 'N', etc. What kind of mask would be appropriate for the acrylic and spray paint approach to avoid bleed unders, and perhaps equally important to me - is there a mask that would have reliable and consistent results if I were to reuse it on the letters to get my multiples? I need quality/consistency more than I need efficiency for this but if I can have both I'm interested.
4) What am I forgetting to ask? I know I'm new to this... what should I be thinking of or planning for to make this successful for my customer?
Thanks in advance... I'm excited for the job, but want to execute it the right way.
Dewey
The application is letter squares - clear acrylic squares about 18 inches tall with a single large letter masked off and colored around it for each acrylic square. The letters will remain clear, and the surrounding areas will be colored. I've read through the entire forum front to back over the last year - entertaining and educational. My intended approach (barring wisdom to convert me to another approach) is to put some sort of a mask down and kiss cut the mask, remove the mask and then spray paint the remaining area. Then remove/weed the letters to unveil the clear acrylic below.
Here are my questions:
1) This acrylic will be subject to weather and occasional scratching. My intent is to use a Krylon fusion type paint around the masking material to bond with the acrylic and create a bit more longevity. Is fusion paint the wrong approach here? Is it really necessary in this application? Is there another brand of fusion paint I should be looking at?
2) Given the application and the fusion approach, am I going to be better off with Cast or Extruded (5mm required thickness)? These are occasionally dropped onto concrete from a bit of a height - which (cast or extruded) will give the customer the best chance of not shattering?
3) While this is a one shot order of about 80 pieces/letters, I can see repeat business in this area from the customer and possibly other customers. Of the 80 pieces in the order, there will be a mixture of repeats, i.e. I might need six letter 'E', four letter 'N', etc. What kind of mask would be appropriate for the acrylic and spray paint approach to avoid bleed unders, and perhaps equally important to me - is there a mask that would have reliable and consistent results if I were to reuse it on the letters to get my multiples? I need quality/consistency more than I need efficiency for this but if I can have both I'm interested.
4) What am I forgetting to ask? I know I'm new to this... what should I be thinking of or planning for to make this successful for my customer?
Thanks in advance... I'm excited for the job, but want to execute it the right way.
Dewey