anyone use adhesive to mount a duratrans to plexi?

[j1345]

I'm looking to mount my duratrans marquee directly to the plexiglass.  What adhesive would your recommend?

[RandyT]

I'm looking to mount my duratrans marquee directly to the plexiglass.  What adhesive would your recommend?

That's a tough one.  No matter what you use, adhesive wise, you are going to see it when it lights up.  To do something like this properly, you really need to have a double side PSA film applied to the face of the duratrans, and use great care when applying it the acrylic.  You might still see it somewhat, but the effect will at least be uniform.

The best bet might be to just pull it tight on a layer of acrylic, and hold it in place with clear tape.  Then sandwich the duratrans, with another piece of acrylic on top.  The tape will help to keep it from buckling between the acrylic.  If it is printed on the surface , rather than reverse printed, properly laminating it might be good idea as well.  I've see the printed surfaces adhere to parts of the plastic in the past, which creates an uneven appearance when it's not lit.

[j1345]

I've seen photography face mounted directly onto plexiglass.  You can't even tell it's there....I just have problems finding small sheets of this adhesive to use for my duratrans:

http://www.bumblejax.com/

[Mr. Peabody]

You could try spray adhesive. Do a very light coat on the plexi, then apply the marquee with a roller.

[RandyT]

I've seen photography face mounted directly onto plexiglass.  You can't even tell it's there....I just have problems finding small sheets of this adhesive to use for my duratrans:

http://www.bumblejax.com/

Heh.  Did you happen to watch the video showing the process?  Lots of specialized jigs, lamination equipment, materials, and experience go into getting them to look that way.  Without at least a laminator, and maybe an extra print or two to experiment with first, it's going to be a rough ride.  They even state how important it is to remove the liner at a very even pace when going through the laminator, to keep lines from forming in the adhesive, and being visible on the print. 

I think that's why most just use the "sandwich" method.  But this type of backing is often used in sign shops which do a lot of digital printing for backlit applications.  Maybe contact one of them to see if they would sell you a piece?  Or look for sign supply houses on the web, but you probably don't want to purchase a whole roll of the stuff ($$$).

You could try spray adhesive. Do a very light coat on the plexi, then apply the marquee with a roller.

You could try it, but my experience with that stuff tells me it will look awful, and likely waste both the print and the acrylic.  You really need something which is uniform, optically clear, and is absolutely bubble and dust free.  Spray adhesive will be none of these.

[Mr. Peabody]

I'm wondering how he got it on that material, and why. If it's polyester, the spray should work just fine. Even more so if it's plastic.

[RandyT]

I guess it's a matter of whether the OP just wants to mount it on the acrylic with the printed face out (not recommended, unless it's reverse printed, or laminated on at least the face to protect it), or whether he's looking to face mount it, as shown in the link provided.  If the former, and the possibility of some shadowing and/or color shift isn't a concern, the light coat of spray glue might be okay.  But, if you are going to be looking at the print  through the adhesive, it's not a route I think I would attempt to take.

The actual arcade machine marquees are screen printed in reverse on the substrate.  Conversions were often a Duratrans which were simply taped at the edges to the inside.  So if one is looking for that authentic look, a layer of acrylic on the front, regardless of the method used to get it there, is what one would be shooting for.

[pbj]

Fold a piece of scotch tape over the edge like everyone else.

[RandyT]

Fold a piece of scotch tape over the edge like everyone else.

That's what most of the conversions were.  And if you were lucky, it was Scotch tape.  I've seen masking, electrical, etc.