the Lucite story
Lucite acrylic was invented
by the DuPont Corporation in 1931. It was crystal clear with a 93% transparency
rate, resistant to water and UV rays, and was low density yet stronger than
previous plastics. It quickly became the material of choice for WWII aircraft
windows because of its clarity, weight savings, and bullet resistance. Shortly
after WWII other uses for Lucite were found including embedments. It has
remained one of the best kept manufacturing secrets, handed down through trusted
associates. Because of the tremendous technical knowledge required and the
highly labor intensive nature, the total number of actual manufacturers are only
a couple in the US. While much of the process is technically demanding, a
basic overview is helpful to enhance understanding of the finished product.
A Better Idea has been selling Lucite for over 35 years.
![]() |
Casting |
The manufacturing of acrylic embedments began shortly after World War II. It has remained one of the best kept manufacturing secrets, handed down through trusted associates. Because of the tremendous technical knowledge required, the total number of actual manufacturers remains very small. While much of the process is technically demanding, a basic overview is helpful to enhance understanding of the finished product.
![]() |
Curing |
"Lucite" acrylic is a high
quality
product. The versatility of acrylic allows it to be custom
designed into a variety of shapes and sizes, incorporating many different types
of embedded elements. However, due to chemical reactions during the process, not
everything can be embedded. This
chemical reaction is analogous to paint thinner or nail polish remover, many
inks, paints and plastics can be affected in either color or physical
appearance. We can only embed customer supplied items with their understanding
of the risks involved.
The process starts with two basic ingredients, an acrylic resin powder and
monomer, a crystal clear liquid. The powder and monomer are mixed together in
specific proportions.
![]() |
Sanding |
The result is a
thick, opaque liquid. The mixture is hand poured into molds and allowed to
partially harden. Objects to be embedded are then hand placed into the acrylic
layer. Another layer is poured over the embedded object and the acrylic is again
allowed to harden.
During this stage, the liquid acrylic is an opaque, milky white. It is very
difficult to center objects on multiple levels when the objects below cannot be
clearly seen. Because these embedded objects are placed by hand, no two acrylic
embedments are ever 100% alike.
![]() |
Buffing |
After the acrylic
has hardened, the molds are placed into an oven. There, heat cures, and pressure
squeezes out the air bubbles, to completely harden the embedment. This curing
process may take up to seven hours. After cooling, the acrylic embedments are
removed from the molds and the sizing process begins. All acrylic parts are cast
oversized to allow for shrinkage, which varies from part to part. Three steps
are taken to size the embedments. The parts are ground down to size by hand on
large industrial sanders. A coarse grit belt is used first, followed by a medium
grit belt. A final sanding with a fine grit belt makes it easier to polish the
sanded acrylic. Variations occur in this sizing process since it is all done by
hand.
![]() |
Inspection |
Polishing is the
next step in the process. It is also done by hand. This brings out the luster
and high gloss of the acrylic not previously seen during production. A rough
buffing is administered to remove all sanding lines. A final polishing then
brings out the bright crystal-like finish. The production of the acrylic
embedment is completed.
The final phase now begins. Each embedment is carefully hand wiped and visually
inspected. If flaws are detected, the part is returned for additional finishing
or rejected for recycling.
After passing through inspection, each part is individually bagged and boxed.
Orders are then shipped out all over the world. Each acrylic embedment is a
unique creation, ready to satisfy another customer with the knowledge that their
message will be forever displayed in striking acrylic.
Why Choose A Better Idea for Your Lucite/Acrylic Awards and Recognition Items? |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
· | Assists you at
the creation level of your award, if you wish.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
· |
Is equipped with a comprehensive computer graphics department staffed by experienced people who can accurately replicate your logos and corporate texts or receive your artwork electronically .
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
· |
No cost setup of all your pieces, except those which are molded in 3-D.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
· |
Supplies at no additional cost prior to sample production a proof by email or by fax to validate the accuracy of the information with you.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
· |
Offers you support and expert advice at all times during your project.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
· |
Possesses a high production capacity that is suited to small lots and large-scale projects alike.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Advantages of Lucite
|
a) Choose the shape/s you are interested in. Pick the shape from this site or fax us a diagram.
b) Settle on an approximate size you would like. (Lucite is price on volume...it's a liquid)
c) Decide on what you would like embedded. White card? Clear insert? How many sides or colors?
d) Call us for a RAPID quotation! If you have art, send us your artwork and we can get you a specific quote!
There are some misconceptions about acrylic, namely that it
yellows, turns brittle and cracks over time. Though this might be true of very
cheap forms of plastic, it is not so with true acrylic. For example, the fighter
planes of WWII have acrylic bubble-tops. Airplane windows are also acrylic. If
taken care of, acrylic remains new looking regardless of age or exposure to sun.
Acrylic is a high quality product. The versatility of acrylic allows it to be
custom designed into a variety of shapes and sizes, incorporating many different
types of embedded elements. However, due to chemical reactions during the
process, not everything can be embedded. This chemical reaction is analogous to
paint thinner or nail polish remover, many inks, paints and plastics can be
affected in either color or physical appearance. We can only embed customer
supplied items with their understanding of the risks involved.
The process starts with two basic ingredients, an acrylic
resin powder and monomer, a crystal clear liquid. The powder and monomer are
mixed together in specific proportions. The result is a thick, opaque liquid.
The mixture is hand poured into molds and allowed to partially harden. Objects
to be embedded are then hand placed into the acrylic layer. Another layer is
poured over the embedded object and the acrylic is again allowed to harden.
During this stage, the liquid acrylic is an opaque, milky white. It is very
difficult to center objects on multiple levels when the objects below cannot be
clearly seen. Because theses embedded objects are placed by hand, no two acrylic
embedments are ever 100% alike.
After the acrylic has set to a gel state, the molds are
placed into an autoclave (pressurized oven). There, heat of approximately 350
degrees F cures, and pressure squeezes out the air bubbles, to completely harden
the embedment. This curing process takes several hours. After cooling, the
acrylic embedments are removed from the molds and the sizing process begins. All
acrylic parts are cast oversized to allow for shrinkage of about 10% during
curing, but varies from part to part. Three sanding steps are taken to size the
embedments. The parts are ground down to size by hand on large industrial
sanders. A coarse grit belt is used first, followed by a medium grit belt. A
final sanding with a fine grit belt makes it easier to polish the sanded
acrylic. Variations occur in this sizing process since it is all done by hand.
Polishing is the next step in the process. It is also done
by hand which takes place in two steps. This brings out the luster and high
gloss of the acrylic not previously seen during production. A rough buffing is
administered to remove all sanding lines. A final polishing then brings out the
bright crystal-like finish. The production of the acrylic embedment is
completed.
The final phase now begins. Each embedment is carefully hand wiped and visually
inspected. If flaws are detected, the part is returned for additional finishing
or rejected for recycling.
After passing through inspection, each part is individually bagged, boxed and
then shipped out all over the world.
Each acrylic embedment is a unique creation, ready to satisfy another customer with the knowledge that their keep-sake message will be forever displayed in striking acrylic.
Submit Lucite or Acrylic Request & Quote Form
OR CALL NOW: 401-841-5646 or 800-520-1691 & ask for Lucite Quoting
PRODUCT CATEGORY PAGE LINKS:
LUCITE DEAL TOYS & EMBEDMENTS: SOLID CUSTOM w/ FLOATING DOCUMENT INSIDE cast acrylic-permanent insert-deal toys Lucite Main Page |
Lucite Gallery | Lucite Awards | Standard Shapes | Standard Shapes #2 | Special Shapes | Special Shapes #2 | Special Shapes #3 |
Lucite Order Form | Shapes w/ Bases | Metal Castings | Metal Castings in Lucite | Special Awards | Special Awards 2 | Lucite Key Tags |
Shapes w/ Bases | Theme Pieces | Groundbreaking | Oil & Gas Pieces | How to Buy Lucite | The Lucite Story | Custom Pieces | 3D Cast Parts | Wall Plaques |
BROWSE BY LUCITE SHAPE: Lucite Gallery of ALL Shapes |
Cube | Rectangle | Wedges | Square | Pyramid | Round | Oval | Trapezoid | Prism | Taper Square | Star | Easel | Dome | Diamond | Pentagon | Cylinders | Flame Shape |
Photos of Shapes | Laser Cutting | Quote Form | Order Form | Printing Processes | Insert Choices | About Lucite | Packaging/Box | Lucite Gallery of Ideas |
STOCK ACRYLIC SHAPE PAPERWEIGHTS: SOLID - SURFACE PRINTED cut acrylic - surface printed - one piece Acrylic Paperweights Main Page |
World Themed | Star Awards | Ovals | Circles | Triangles | Themed | Econo Awards | Acrylic Displays | Acrylic Hollow Pyramid Displays |
BROWSE BY ACRYLIC SHAPE: |
Rectangles | Stars | Pyramids | Triangles | Diamond | Circles | Obelisks | Globes | Flame | Earth Themed |
FLAT PLAQUES - WALL OR EASEL: cut acrylic - surface printed - one piece |
Acrylic Plaques | Full Color Plaques | Curved Acrylic Plaque | Star Plaques | Thin Photo Plaques | Acrylic Wall Plaques | 2 Panel Plaques |
Flat Acrylic Frames & Plaques | Curved Acrylic Frame Plaques | Full Color Flat Easels | Brochure Holders | Curved Acrylic Photo Frames | Pocket Holders |
SANDWICHES & ENTRAPMENTS / 2- PC ACRYLIC 2 piece acrylic - sandwiched SNAP OR SCREW TOGETHER: Acrylic Entrapments Main Page |
Acrylic Entrapments | Wall Entrapments | Credit Card Holders | CD Holders | Business Card Holders | Sports Ticket Holders |
2 pc Sandwich | 2 pc Wall Sandwich Plaque | Building Replicas | Econo Awards | P.O.P Displays | Full Color Plaques | Coin Encasements |
Certificate Holders | Currency Holders | Slide In | |
MAGNET FRAMES - 2 PIECE 2 piece acrylic - sandwiched Acrylic Entrapments Main Page |
Magnetic Frames | Magnetic Sandwiches | Sports Ticket Holders | Wall Entrapments | CD Holders | Currency Holders | Credit Card Holders |
RUSH SERVICE Ready to Ship Products Ready to Ship Stock Items | RUSH SERVICE |
GROUND BREAKING & THEME PIECES: hard hats, shovels, scissors, keys, oil awards etc Groundbreaking Main Page |
SHOVELS: Shovel Awards | Large Gold Shovels | Large Silver Shovels | Mini Shovels | Shovel Letter Openers | Shovel Plaques | Cast Letter Openers |
Shovel In Stone Award | Shovel in Lucite |
ENERGY: OIL, GAS, WIND, SOLAR Oil & Gas Lucite Ideas | Theme Ideas | Oil & Gas Lucite Paperweights | Oil Drop Awards | Trucks | Oil Gas Clocks | Oil Derrick Themed Gifts | Oil Pump Jack Gifts | Oil Themed Gifts & Awards | Solar Energy | Wind Turbine Awards | Construction Gifts |
GRAND OPENING: Scissors / Dedication | | Scissors Plaques | Ceremonial Scissors | Scissors in Lucite | Gavels | Grand Opening | Custom Bricks & Stones |
Trowels | Cinder Block Award | Building Replicas | Cast Brick Award | Cast Truck & Tool Awards | Theme Ideas | Stones & Bricks | Building Replicas |
KEYS & KEYS TO THE CITY GIFTS: Keys to the City | Key Letter Openers | Theme Ideas | Key in Presentation Box | |
OTHER GROUND BREAKING: Groundbreaking Awards & Plaques | Hard Hat Key Tag | Hard Hats | Cast Letter Openers | |
Hammers | Trucks | Picks | Trowels |
STONECAST CUSTOM MOLDED PAPERWEIGHTS/ MINIATURES: "Stonecast" Awards | Custom Bricks & Stones | Shovel In Stone Award | Trucks Cast Brick Award Construction Gifts | Stones & Bricks | Trucks | Building Replicas | Cast Brick Award | Cast Truck & Tool Awards | Cinder Block Award |
THEME PIECES patriotic, earth friendly, flag, oil awards, sport ball shapes |
Patriotic | Flag Themed Award | Environmental | Oil & Gas Award Ideas | Theme Ideas | |
1151 Aquidneck Avenue, Suite 498, Middletown, RI 02842 USA
home | search products | contact us | shipping + ordering information | artwork | disclaimer | online order | link to us | glossary of terms sitemap
Sales Inquiries: info@lucitetombstones.com Quotes: Online Quote Form Terms: General Terms & Conditions Artwork: Artwork Requirements
Need to
translate this page? Copy the URL and
Click
Here
Toll free: 800-520-1691 Worldwide: 401-841-5646 How to Place an Order
Major credit cards accepted. Secure
online transactions
email us:
Search Our Entire Site By Keyword, Item#, Shape or Size
Here:
|
Copyright © LuciteTombstones.com. All Rights Reserved. |