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Stripping & Reusing acrylic panels
Had a second enquiry, where the customer is looking to change an illuminated acrylic panel.
Whilst we’ve stripped smaller clear acrylic panels in the past, stripping an 8m sign is something different.
Just curious as to whether it’s common to recycle the acrylic, or if most just replace it with new to save time?
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8 Replies
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Hi Dave,
I’ve re-used the arcylic on a few light box signs (mainly kebab shop/takeaway menus, etc) but stopped as I found the time it was taking me to properly remove previous vinyl, and thoroughly clean up the sign enough to stick a new graphic on just wasn’t worth the time based on the cost of a new piece of acrylic.
Admittedly an 8m sign is going to be a different kettle of fish, but I’d still imagine the time it would take to thoroughly strip and clean it up still wouldn’t be worth it.
Just my opinion but personally, I’d just replace with new!
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I agree. If it ends being covered in glue you’ll soon wish you’d just gone with a new panel
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Just had the same conversation with a client.
We price it so the removal is about 10% less of new sheets. The way I see it is the hours to strip that and clean it up I could be making money doing something else.
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Yeah I thought as much.
I assume most are 5mm opal acrylic, what % opacity is the norm?
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We do it all the time when the customers too tight to buy new. 99% peel off ok.
As long as you warn them about ghosting, becoming brittle etc, it’s their choice .
It’s very frustrating sometimes when the customer only looks at the £ note. Not the overall look of the brand
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More often than not when I price up the labour for cleaning it comes to the same as a new sheet.
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We’re getting more & more signage enquiries, so it’s becoming more common for us.
The small internal acrylics it’s no biggie, but an entire shop sign. I’ll have to get some prices in on the opal acrylic.
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We have had to do the same. Removal is a pain, but depends on what else you have on, and the expense of your labour. I have used vinyl removal solution and it does work well but can soften the sheet. I only really strip polycarbonate. The cost of the poly is way more than acrylic. I also talk my customers into buying poly new as it is pretty much vandle proof.
I always turn the sheets over and upside down to reduce the ghosting.
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