Blasting lightly with glass beads works well.
"Marcel Gonzalez" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Hello. I am turning some transparent polycarbonate rods (1" thick) and
shaping
> them into hollow shells to each house a lamp unit. To evenly distribute
the
> lamp nicely, how can I frost the outside of the polycarbonate ?
Sandblasting ?
> Please advice.
>
> Thank you,
> Marcel
>
I have made a couple of lamps using plexiglass. I started with clear
plexiglass and then sanded it on one side with my random orbit sander
with some fine (220 I think) sandpaper. It "frosted" it nicely. You
might want to try some tests on scrap.
Dale
"Greg Moore" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Definatly wouldn't be sand blasting although blasting with soda might work.
> Sand would be way to aggressive and generates heat, not what plastics want
> to see.
>
> The solvent used to 'weld' acrylics produces a frosted appearance until you
> buff it out, but not sure how evenly you could make it look. To try it you
> would have to pour or spray it on, certainly don't rag it or brush it on.
> When I have done projects, anywhere I ran too much liquid and it ran out
> onto the project it dried with a frosted look. If I tried to wipe the
> excess off I made a hell of a mess with lint etc, found it best to leave it
> to dry then buff it off.
>
> My only other thought would be using 400 grit wet/dry (black carbide paper).
> It leaves plastics very white but smooth.
>
> Greg
>
> "Marcel Gonzalez" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> > Hello. I am turning some transparent polycarbonate rods (1" thick) and
> shaping
> > them into hollow shells to each house a lamp unit. To evenly distribute
> the
> > lamp nicely, how can I frost the outside of the polycarbonate ?
> Sandblasting ?
> > Please advice.
> >
> > Thank you,
> > Marcel
> >
"Marcel Gonzalez" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Hello. I am turning some transparent polycarbonate rods (1" thick) and
shaping
> them into hollow shells to each house a lamp unit. To evenly distribute
the
> lamp nicely, how can I frost the outside of the polycarbonate ?
Sandblasting ?
> Please advice.
>
> Thank you,
> Marcel
sandblasting is the easiest way, if you have access to the equipment.
Definatly wouldn't be sand blasting although blasting with soda might work.
Sand would be way to aggressive and generates heat, not what plastics want
to see.
The solvent used to 'weld' acrylics produces a frosted appearance until you
buff it out, but not sure how evenly you could make it look. To try it you
would have to pour or spray it on, certainly don't rag it or brush it on.
When I have done projects, anywhere I ran too much liquid and it ran out
onto the project it dried with a frosted look. If I tried to wipe the
excess off I made a hell of a mess with lint etc, found it best to leave it
to dry then buff it off.
My only other thought would be using 400 grit wet/dry (black carbide paper).
It leaves plastics very white but smooth.
Greg
"Marcel Gonzalez" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Hello. I am turning some transparent polycarbonate rods (1" thick) and
shaping
> them into hollow shells to each house a lamp unit. To evenly distribute
the
> lamp nicely, how can I frost the outside of the polycarbonate ?
Sandblasting ?
> Please advice.
>
> Thank you,
> Marcel
>