Frequently Asked Questions

What plastics do you work with?

Our main specialty is acrylic, but we also work with polycarbonate (more commonly known by the trade name Lexan), PVC, PETg, Polypropylene, ABS and even engineering plastics such as nylon if the project requires it.

What is acrylic?

Acrylic is a hard durable plastic , available most often in clear but also available in coloured grades. Known more commonly under various trade-names such as Perspex, Altuglas, Plexiglas, Repsol Glass etc, it is an excellent material for small items like business card holders and trays, right through to larger items such as custom aquariums, boat windows and museum display covers. It gives a stunning appearance of quality.

Is acrylic fragile?

While acrylic is more resistant to impact that glass, it makes sense to treat it the same level of respect as it can be brittle, more so if cold. If your job requires more toughness then we can use impact modified acrylic grades, or even polycarbonate, a common component in bullet proof glass and police riot shields.

How do you clean items made from acrylic?

Use of chemicals on acrylic can often damage it through chemical attack. This often results in the item being rendered useless. To clean acrylic on a day to day basis, all that is required is a mild solution of soap and water – washing up liquid is ideal, watered down. This can then be applied to the surface (a spray bottle is perfect) and wiped off – soft tissue or kitchen roll works great.

Does acrylic scratch?

All plastics will scratch, but acrylic is quite durable if treated right! Never dry-wipe acrylic as grit will cause fine scratches in the surface.

What thicknesses and colours can you supply acrylic in?

We stock acrylic in clear in all the common thicknesses – 2mm right through to 6mm in 1mm increments, 8mm and 10mm too. We also use 12mm, 15mm, 20mm and 25mm.

As for colours, the most common we use are black and opals, but there is a wide range of colours and tints available to suit almost any requirement. Most colours are available in 3mm and 5mm thicknesses, with a select few available in 10mm.

Are the edges of your items sharp?

Raw cut Perspex can have sharp edges, but when we manufacture any item for you, we can soften the edges for you to almost any degree – from a simple flame-polish which dulls the sharpness, to a full radiusing if required!

I accidentally got a scratch on my acrylic item, what can I do?

Don’t panic! It depends on the severity of the scratch – if you cant feel it with your finger nail, then gentle rubbing with a soft cloth and a little “T-Cut” or similar can often take it out, or at least remove so much of it that it will barely catch your eye. Just remember and clean off any residue with the soapy water.

If the scratch is more severe, gently sand with fine “wet or dry” paper first, then try polishing as above.

I want to buy some full sheets of acrylic – do you sell full sheets, and what sizes do they come in?

Yes we can supply full sheets no problem. Very often the sheet size varies depending on the thickness and colour, but common sizes include 2.5m 1.25mm, 3m x 2m and 1.5m x 2m.