Canal Plastics Center offers professional edge polishing and finishing services to give acrylic parts a clean, refined appearance suitable for display, signage, and public-facing installations. Proper finishing improves clarity, visual quality, and presentation, transforming cut acrylic into a finished, professional product.
Canal Plastics Center provides clean, professional edge finishing that elevates acrylic parts from cut components to display-ready pieces. Our polishing and finishing services are designed for applications where edge clarity, consistency, and overall visual quality matter.
All finishing is performed in-house at our NYC shop, allowing us to maintain consistent results and integrate polishing seamlessly with custom cutting, laser cutting, and CNC routing. Designers, galleries, and fabricators rely on our team for finishes that look intentional, refined, and appropriate for public-facing work. With more than 60 years of acrylic fabrication experience, we understand how finishing impacts the final presentation of a project.
We provide several levels of finishing depending on the project. High-gloss polishing results in a glossy, glass-like finish ideal for display cases, pedestals, retail risers, and presentation pieces. Satin, matte, or sanded finishing is available when a soft, diffused look is preferred.
If your acrylic requires additional shaping before polishing, such as routing, beveling, or deburring, our team can incorporate these steps into the workflow. Thicker materials benefit especially from mechanical finishing, producing edges that are smooth, refined, and visually clear from multiple viewing angles.
Acrylic edge polishing enhances the visual and structural quality of many types of work. Display cases, risers, plinths, and museum components gain clarity and a clean presentation. Product photography pieces, signage, and architectural models appear more professional with polished edges. Retail environments rely on polished finishes for fixtures, shelves, display blocks, and custom components used in merchandising. Artists frequently use polished acrylic for sculptures, light-based works, and installations where clarity and reflectivity matter.
Edge polishing and finishing are often added to custom cut, laser-cut, or CNC-routed parts to achieve a complete, professional result. Finishing services can be quoted as part of a larger fabrication project or requested separately.
To begin, send us your project details, including dimensions, thickness, quantity, and whether the acrylic will also require cutting or routing. You may submit everything through our custom order form or by emailing us directly. Once received, our team reviews the scope, confirms material compatibility, and provides a quote along with estimated turnaround time.
During production, each piece is inspected before and after polishing to ensure clarity, smoothness, and uniformity. If your project includes assembly, bonding, or additional finishing steps, these can be integrated to ensure your final pieces present as a cohesive whole. When your polishing project is complete, you can pick it up from our SoHo shop or arrange to have it shipped.
For the best results, pieces intended for polishing should be cut cleanly and accurately. Laser-cut edges respond well to polishing but may require additional preparation for thicker materials. CNC-routed parts polish beautifully when the appropriate bit profile is used. If your file or material might require special handling, feel free to send us a message and we will advise on the best finishing approach.
If your acrylic will be bonded into a case, box, or multi-panel assembly, polished edges may be required only on exposed faces rather than internal seams. Our team can help identify exactly which edges should be polished based on your design.
We offer a full range of fabrication services that pair naturally with polishing. These include custom cutting, CNC routing, laser cutting, heat bending, drilling, countersinking, and bonding using professional acrylic cements. Many projects require a combination of cutting and finishing steps to produce a final polished piece. If your project involves multiple operations, include the full scope in your inquiry so we can coordinate production seamlessly.
How long does acrylic edge polishing take?
Most polishing projects are completed within 24 hours, depending on quantity, thickness, and finishing level.
What type of acrylic polishes best?
Clear cast acrylic provides the best clarity and polished finish. Extruded acrylic can be polished but may not achieve the same optical quality.
Can you polish only certain edges?
Yes. We can polish specific edges or sides depending on which faces will be visible or exposed in the final presentation.
Do you offer museum-grade polishing?
Yes. We frequently prepare acrylic components for museum installations, gallery displays, and premium retail environments.
Do you ship polished acrylic pieces?
Yes, although thicker or fragile pieces may require special packing or local pickup.
Custom cut acrylic in NYC
Laser cutting services in NYC
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