Acrylics are the source of many different questions, so I wanted to address several here in a single post. I will likely add posting later with more, as there is no limit to the volume of questions that acrylics create. These are based on real email questions.

I need an acrylic, can’t I just go buy some plexiglass much cheaper?
Won’t work. Plexiglass blocks about 97% of UV. That is why tanning beds use acrylics, which are made from…acrylic. Acrylic is one of the few clear plastics that does not block ultraviolet.

Ok, but I can buy acrylic at the local home improvement store, what about that?
It might, but check the price, as it isn’t much cheaper and certainly isn’t the right size. Most acrylic material is made by extrusion, where it is pressed through a slot to make sheets. This is the least expensive way to make it, but it makes the acrylic very brittle. It is very difficult to cut this material, and requires a very high speed and very sharp type saw. A hacksaw, sabre saw, jigsaw or other hand tool will shatter it in just a few seconds. Also, many tanning bed acrylics must be molded, so if you try to force a flat piece of acrylic into the curved section, it may break.

You say to use Novus #2 on acrylics when you change lamps, but my acrylics look like new!
They may be very clear to visible light, but block ultraviolet light. UV causes acrylic to break down. You can’t see the virtual film, but it is there, and there has been plenty of testing to demonstrate this. The reason you use Novus #2 (which is slightly gritty) is to remove just a microlayer of the acrylic. This will make it perfectly clear for ultraviolet AND visible light. No matter how perfectly clean you keep your acrylics, it needs this or you will start to lose 10%, 20%, 30% or more UV transmission. And yes, it has to be done on both sides.

Someone told me I am supposed to replace my acrylics every 4000 hours. Is this true?
I used to hear this, and never understood why. If you take care of the acrylics, use Novus on them, and they are not broken, I have no idea what advantage this gives you. I say no, and only replace if they get chemically fogged, broken or stained somehow. These things shouldn’t happen if you take proper care of them and use the right chemicals and cleaners anyway. And NO baby oil when tanning, since it is a mineral oil and will slowly damage your acrylics.