Best way to attach background to acrylic?

[aquariaddictus]

I know, most people paint - blue or black. I'm a girl and I want my plastic background! How to attach it? Any special considerations that differ from glass? I know I can't do the wet method, so I guess we're talking tape?

Any hints?
tia
jj

[TomFromStLouis]

I am not sure what you mean by 'the wet method', but why wouldn't the vaseline approach work? You are asking about one of those postertype backgrounds? If so, lather a little vaseline on the outside of the tank and press all the bubbles out after slapping up the poster. Think that'll work?

Tape always leaves wavy detached background that takes away from the desired effect IMO.

[125gJoe]

Just a suggestion - use Pam. You know, that non-stick cooking spray.

HTH

It worked great for me, but I have glass..
Oh yeah, use one of those 'cancelled' credit cards to get some air bubbles that will be trapped, out from in between...

[aquariaddictus]

I don't think you're supposed to put ANYTHING on acrylic, except water and the special acrylic cleaner they sell you. That's why I wanted to know if anyone had experience with it.
I'll check with Tenecor and let you know what they say.
tanks
j

[bayoupr]

I have a tencor and I used clear scotch tape. I taped along the bottom, top and sides in 2-3" strips. Worked great. I do my glass tanks the same.

[tnlguinn]

on glass tanks, the best i have done is vegatable oil and run the bubbles out with a ruler, when done, use wallpaper corner protectors to fasten the ends to the tank. the color is amazing.

[Luca Brazzi]

Yeah... how do you attach the background?

I just taped mine onto my acrylic tank but I noticed that every now and then some water gets between the background and the tank, and causes the background to get stuck to the tank....

I prefer the stuck look.

How do I get the stuck look permanently?

Hmmmmmmm....

Vaseline contains petroleum which I think would eat the plastic...

Vegetable oil you say?

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by Luca Brazzi
Yeah... how do you attach the background?

.......Vegetable oil you say? Or try Pam cooking spray. It worked nice on my tank. I used an all black background, but I bet a color background would show up much more vivid than taping it on.

[tnlguinn]

http://pic7.picturetrail.com/VOL204/1088967/2285706/27632193.jpg
http://pic7.picturetrail.com/VOL204/1088967/2341935/28335452.jpg
i cleaned the back glass very good and took a paper towel with vegatable oil on it and smeared it down very good, then my wife helped me position it where i wanted it, then i took a heavy ruler and pushed all the bubbles out from one side to the other. when finished, i used some glass cleaner on the edges of the tank and the back of the background. bought some wallpaper corner guards and cut about 1/4" shorter than the height of the tank from bottom support to top support. you peel the backing off the glue inside ot the guards and start at the top and be very careful to get both of them even and press them firmly to the corner. wallah, the perfect wet look background that has no bubbles and wont blow loose after a little use.

[Luca Brazzi]

Now... The Big Question...

Will this work on Arcrylic?

Im testing the theory on a smal tank I made to see if it starts eating through....

[tnlguinn]

i have emailed a acrylic tank manufacturer to ask if the vegatable oil will work and if not what they would recommend. i will post the reply to my email.

[Luca Brazzi]

Thank you very much...:)

By the way....

I dont know if you asked them this... but I was wondering if the affects of vegetable oil on acrylic would be the same for all plastics...

I have some other things I was considering putting vegetable oil on, and I wanted to make sure I wouldnt harm anything...

Thanks again...