Debate: Frosted acrylic Vs. Clear?

[Dmc5]

I have to replace acrylics. Just got off the phone w/ LOOP, who says I 'm losing 3-10 percent by going with the frosted. I like the look of the frosted, and see the value in having a situation where the client doesn't see undesireable wiring, dust, etc. on the inside of the bed. What does everyone think, and why?

[kpowr82]

Simple solution, meter the bed with the acrylic in, and then with the acrylic off and see what kind of drop off (if any) there is. With newer, clean, clear acrylic, you shouldn't drop more than 1-3 mW/cm2 on a 5.0 meter.

[engfant]

Which bed? if the bed is a close canopy then go for it. If it's a high canopy then forgetit.

They do block about 5% of the output but up close it won't make a difference. I use them in my Sundazzler and it's worth it cause people like how they don't feel like they are surrounded by lamps.

Also, I had them in my Ovation bed and I found they were brittle compared to regular acrylics. Had to replace them in a year and just went with clear.

[kpowr82]

Originally Posted by engfant

Which bed? if the bed is a close canopy then go for it. If it's a high canopy then forgetit.

They do block about 5% of the output but up close it won't make a difference. I use them in my Sundazzler and it's worth it cause people like how they don't feel like they are surrounded by lamps.

Also, I had them in my Ovation bed and I found they were brittle compared to regular acrylics. Had to replace them in a year and just went with clear.

Without trying to hijack the thread...when you switched to clear, did you purchase any vinyl to put on the acrylic to hide the components at the lamp ends?

[perfecttan01]

Originally Posted by kpowr82

Without trying to hijack the thread...when you switched to clear, did you purchase any vinyl to put on the acrylic to hide the components at the lamp ends?

I have some UWE beds that I am changing from frost to clear, Sterling has put masking on certain acrylics when I requested.

[engfant]

Originally Posted by kpowr82

Without trying to hijack the thread...when you switched to clear, did you purchase any vinyl to put on the acrylic to hide the components at the lamp ends?

I did BUT I ended up tearing it off. Ovation's top acryllic is tight and the vinyl was starting to look like crap after a while so I peeled it off. Now I have the "industrial" look going which I think looks 100times better than the vinyl.

[perfect_tan69]

Originally Posted by engfant

Which bed? if the bed is a close canopy then go for it. If it's a high canopy then forgetit.

They do block about 5% of the output but up close it won't make a difference. I use them in my Sundazzler and it's worth it cause people like how they don't feel like they are surrounded by lamps.

Also, I had them in my Ovation bed and I found they were brittle compared to regular acrylics. Had to replace them in a year and just went with clear.

Sorry, I like clear only because I can't compete on price so I compete with having cleaner beds and see thru acrylics with no smudges or fingerprints.

[Dmc5]

I don't have any new or clear acrylic with which to compare...I have only used frosted, because that's what they were built with. I actually like the look, but don't know if compromising the output is worth it. That's the real ? that I'm asking...
Eggy made an excellent point regarding the client feeling like they're "surrounded by lamps"

I had a couple pieces of acrylic crack (significntly) early on, and so went w/ a slightly thicker choice (1/70 vs. 1/8 ?) and have had no further crackiing problems.

Loop also offers a choice w/ some frosting around the edge, but I don't know the dimensions and it does cost a bit more.

[kpowr82]

have you ever metered your bed with the acrylic off? I guess what I was saying was, from my experience, clean acrylic may only cause a 1-3 mW/cm2 drop versus NO acrylic.

If you meter the bed without any acrylic and it meters 5 or 6 mW/cm2 higher, then I'd get rid of the frosted stuff.

[engfant]

never thought of using frosted to "hide" anything. Nothing to hide over here. I bought them for the same reason this thread was started. Wanted to know the true low down on these things without the sales pitch. Actually I did the bed with 9K90s at the same time when they first came out. Some didn't like the lack of UVB. I thought it was the nuts. Perfect brown tan without the crazy red.

That kookie UWE HP combo has 15min timer and the bottom acrylic is a super thick piece of frosted that has VHRTTs behind it. 15min laying on TTs??? There HAS to be some UVB absorbsion going on there or you'd be crispy in 15min.

Not for everyone or every bed.

[solman]

Yep, clear vs. frosted has a lot to do with the lamps/wattage. I don't think I'd want to try a session in one of my Elixirs (160 watts) without the frosted acrylics.

[engfant]

15min it is?

[solman]

Nope, 12. Twan didn't nickname them his "little evils" for nothing.

[engfant]

Frosted does look cool ass with fresh lamps. Like a giant light bulb when it turns on.

[Dmc5]

Originally Posted by engfant

never thought of using frosted to "hide" anything. Nothing to hide over here. I bought them for the same reason this thread was started. Wanted to know the true low down on these things without the sales pitch. Actually I did the bed with 9K90s at the same time when they first came out. Some didn't like the lack of UVB. I thought it was the nuts. Perfect brown tan without the crazy red.

That kookie UWE HP combo has 15min timer and the bottom acrylic is a super thick piece of frosted that has VHRTTs behind it. 15min laying on TTs??? There HAS to be some UVB absorbsion going on there or you'd be crispy in 15min.

Not for everyone or every bed.

The idea of hiding dust, etc, was Loop's sales pitch, not something I need to do. Don't get me wrong, I like loop, but we all have to recognize a sales pitch. And the frosted does cost more.
These are 12 min max 38 lamp 160 w beds, and I do like the look of the frosted...I think it has a higher end look to it.

I'm really glad to hear that I'm not the only person to have this question...and everyone thanks for all your help...sorry I didn't get back onto this thread this week. I didn't get any e-mails regarding responses to it, so when I WAS on, I didn't go to it.