Paint Lexan?

[ucmj22]

So I am going to be putting up a lexan sign in the next couple of days and have what seems like a very basic question. Do I need to paint the lexan white before I put the translucent printed vinyl down? I put up a white acrylic sign with a transparent print on it about 6 months ago, and you can see where the florescent tubes are at night. Would pre painting it white diffuse the light enough to not show the lights?

 

[fmg]

So I am going to be putting up a lexan sign in the next couple of days and have what seems like a very basic question. Do I need to paint the lexan white before I put the translucent printed vinyl down? I put up a white acrylic sign with a transparent print on it about 6 months ago, and you can see where the florescent tubes are at night. Would pre painting it white diffuse the light enough to not show the lights?

NO paint!

 

[jwright350]

your sign mat'l supplier should have a diffuser material you can put behind the lexan face

the stuff i've seen is like 1/8" thick white foam... its strange, but it gets rid of the shadow caused by the light tubes in shallow cabinets

 

[ucmj22]

I had never used paint before, but the panels we took out today had a white paint base under the translucent vinyl made me wonder if this was something I was missing.

 

[ucmj22]

Thanx for the help

 

[UFB Fabrication]

How deep is the cabinet? S/F or D/F ? Flat or pan face? The problem may not be with the face and the faces may be to close to the lamps or the lamps may to far apart on center.

 

[Craig Sjoquist]

Depends on capability use vinyl 100% if unable to spray paint with proper paint.
White goes on last on back side.

 

[Gino]

If your cabinet is more than 4" to 4-1/2" from face to lamp, you should be fine without painting. You need that distance to keep the lamps from giving you those 'Hot Spots'. If the distance is less, you need to use a pan face. There is really no alternative.... either 4" or so...... or a pan face.

As for painting, their are a few manufacturers you can use. Grip Flex is probably the best known. This must be sprayed on... and you have to know what you're doing or you'll ruin the face.

In your situation, it doesn't sound as if you need paint, but just the right distance between lamps and face.

 

[ucmj22]

Thanks alot for the help. the panels are flat and the box is a foot deep w/ a panel on both sides, so it sounds like I should be OK with just the vinyl. It just threw me off a little when I saw the paint on the panel we are replacing. Thanks again

 

[skyhigh]

the panel you are replacing was clear in the beginning. I'm assuming you are using the white material again?

 

[ucmj22]

actually the panel I am replacing was white acrylic, with a white paint layer and I am replacing it with white Lexan