Question for Acrylic Experts

[temponaut]

I'm cross-posting this from the Props Forum in the hope of getting more advice. The modelers on this board have experience with a wide range of media and I'd wager there are some acrylic experts here.

I have several MR lightsaber display cases that are not being used.

I'm wondering if there is any way to remove the acrylic saber stands that are affixed to each base without ruining the mirror finish of the base. If this could be done, the bases could be combined with custom cut acrylic supports and covers of different shapes and sizes for a wide variety of other props. :love

Can anyone recommend a reliable approach for removing the factory-installed supports cleanly? Or is it just a pipe dream?

 

[star-art]

If you had a pic it might make it easier to surmise. If the parts are welded together (with solvent), good luck. Acrylic welds together quite strongly. If they used a good solvent like Weld On #3 then the acrylic itself might crack before the joints give way.

 

[REL]

Charles is right. I recently tried to dismantle an acrylic cross section on something I'm making and the plexi broke before the weld did. I used the IPS Weld On bonder which is probably the most widely used in the industry, so if they used that then you're out of luck.

 

[temponaut]

<div class='quotetop'>(star-art @ Aug 3 2006, 03:23 PM) [snapback]1292866[/snapback]</div>

If you had a pic it might make it easier to surmise. [/b]

They're standard MR cases. Here is a representative photograph taken from the Master Replicas site. I'll try to replace this in the next two days with some shots of my own cases showing close-ups of the joins between the mirrored bases and the acrylic supports.

Thanks for your thoughts. :thumbsup

Thanks, WC, for hosting.

 

[star-art]

OK, I get it. I have one of the MR sabres, but no case so I did not know what it looked like. If the mirror base is a piece of acrylic with a mirror backing (that's what it looks like) then those pieces are probably welded on. You are very likely to fracture either the base or the attached piece if you try to remove it.

Worse, even if you are successful, the base will be ruined anyway. The solvent would have melted the area where the pieces were attached. So you will just end up with a base that has two large, ugly spots in the middle. There is no way to remove those parts and end up with a clean base.

A piece of mirrored plex is not that expensive. You could check with a sign shop, plastic shop or trophy shop and just have one custom cut.

 

[temponaut]

Thanks, star-art (and you, too, REL). Your explanations make good sense.

It sounds as if trying to dismantle the cases would be a mistake. I had hoped it might not be too difficult to separate the acrylic supports from the base, but it sounds as if I'll end up with a bunch of ruined cases if I try to do that.

In the Props Forum, ob1al suggested I try to sell the cases as they are and use the proceeds to commission custom cases. I guess that will be the smarter way to go.

Thanks again, guys. :thumbsup

 

[Treadwell]

If any of those are E-11 cases I'll be watchin'.

 

[temponaut]

<div class='quotetop'>(Treadwell @ Aug 4 2006, 03:43 AM) [snapback]1293177[/snapback]</div>

If any of those are E-11 cases I'll be watchin'. [/b]

:lol Sorry, Treadwell. They're all saber cases. The E-11 I need to keep.

 

[Eagle]

<div class='quotetop'>(star-art @ Aug 3 2006, 07:26 PM) [snapback]1293164[/snapback]</div>

The solvent would have melted the area where the pieces were attached. So you will just end up with a base that has two large, ugly spots in the middle. There is no way to remove those parts and end up with a clean base.[/b]

The acrylic stands are actually rebated into the mirrored floor of the case so even if you did remove them, you'd have great big 'oles..

I've often wondered how to remove them too but never attempted it.

 

[Hand Solo]

How about removing them anyway and simply replacing the mirror with either another mirror cut to fit or some other material of your choice?

 

[superjedi]

<div class='quotetop'>(temponaut @ Aug 3 2006, 11:45 AM) [snapback]1293179[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>(Treadwell @ Aug 4 2006, 03:43 AM) [snapback]1293177[/snapback]

If any of those are E-11 cases I'll be watchin'. [/b]

:lol Sorry, Treadwell. They're all saber cases. The E-11 I need to keep.
[/b][/quote]

Hmm. . . saber cases you say? I might be interested depending on what you have, and price.

 

[temponaut]

<div class='quotetop'>(superjedi @ Aug 6 2006, 11:34 PM) [snapback]1294904[/snapback]</div>

Hmm. . . saber cases you say? I might be interested depending on what you have, and price. [/b]

Thanks for your expression of interest. But...

I see that the RPF Star Wars skin has been repaired so that members' locations are not automatically displayed under their avatars. I should therefore mention that I'm in Tokyo. If you aren't in Japan, then I'm afraid the cost of international shipping will probably make my cases less than cost effective for you.