Need Help Minimizing effects of sun bleached acrylic panels

[AdmiralSigns]

I have received a few acrylic slide panels for tenants of a shopping center and this shopping center specifically uses ivory white acrylic, which has become difficult to procure. The panels given to us still have the "shadow" of the previous vinyl sticker, probably because of sun exposure. We were thinking of using bleaching agents, but are afraid of the ivory color being lightened out. Any tips?

 

[MikePro]

my best ghosting removal usually starts by scrubbing the panel with RapidRemover.
also, if its actually acrylic then you should be able to flip the panel over and use the backside as the new face.

 

[unclebun]

Bleaching won't work. It's not a shadow of the old lettering; it's fading of the exposed acrylic, and the color goes all the way through the plastic, not just on the surface. Look at the "shadow" of the retainer. Like the areas behind the lettering, that's the original color of the acrylic. For the same reason, flipping the panel will only help for daytime viewing.

If you need ivory colored acrylic, N. Glantz shows 19 sheets available in their system.

 

[Gino]

Don't waste your time trying to get the discoloration removed. The time it takes will make very little difference if any at all.

Whoever provided those panels have 2 choices.
1. New panels
2. Live with it.

Remember.... the slight difference in color equates to about nil on a 0 to 9 scale, while the new lettering will probably equate about an 8 or 9 on the same scale. Who's gonna really look past that lettering, other than you or whoever you show it to. ?? People read signs, they don't study them or look for mistakes...... just us sign people do that stupid sh!t.

 

[citysignshop]

Hmmmm....I've seen the adhesive darken a white acrylic or polycarb sheet like that, just where the lettering is!
if I recall, standard procedure for used faces; if you've taken an accurate survey, then the options are....
1. make a new face, to the correct dimensions...and swap with the old one, thus saving an extra trip, setup, leaving the lamps exposed etc. etc. Show the customer how this saves them money, and they get a face that can now be re-used numerous times.
2. Turn the face upside down, flip back to front, if the retainer permits...to reduce 'readability' of the old image obviously.
3. A quick cut-polish if you have an automotive buffer...removes the part of the ghosting that is oxidation, plasticizer migration, adhesive staining etc......essentially as good as the old face can look!
4. The new graphics should NOT be skinny letters on an expansive blank background ( where the ghosting is most obvious!)
re-design to make the entire face a reverse panel - dark background, with the lettering illuminated...little if any of the old image will be obvious.