Acrylic is the generic name for the more popular brands such as Lucite or Plexiglas. It is a special form of plastic, and what sets it apart from other plastics is its water-clear transparency at any thickness.

Of course it can be colored or tinted as well. The entire manufacturing operation is done in a clean-room environment to prevent impurities and air-born particles in the air from spoiling the optically clear casting.The material takes from one to two days to be processed and cooled.

Any spoilage cannot be reused, and has to be discarded. Because of the cost of raw materials, the limited volume of manufacturing, and the meticulous production process, as well as the absolute cleanliness required all the time, acrylic becomes relatively expensive and is a sought-after product.Unlike glass, acrylic will not shatter when dropped and will only chip or break. Scratches can always be polished out. Never use glass-cleaning products, which include Windex or products that contain ammonia or abrasives to clean acrylic.

Use only a soft, clean lint-less towel or cloth, warn water and mild dishwashing liquid to clean acrylic. Use acrylic polish and Brillanize to give a high luster.