Cost of plexi/lexan??

[reptileink]

I know this will vary differently depending on where you get it, but I dropped off the original control panel overlay this morning to get reproduced out of a new piece of plexi.

The lady at the glass shop said they'd probably do it in lexan because it's more durable.

However, she quoted "probably over $100" to shape and drill all the holes out.....

Does this seem right?? 

I know you can get sheets of lexan for like $20-30. She said that the cost was in the labor of drilling out all the holes(20)

They are supposed to call me in a couple of hours, and I just don't want to overpay....

[Shecky]

I am at this stage for my control panel too. I went to Home depot and the Plexi/Lexan they had that was large enough to cover my panel was 40ish bucks. I would probably pay around $100 bucks to get one cut. I figure if I buy one sheet and mess it up then have to buy another one then I am already close to $100 bucks with no guarantee I get the second one perfect. Plus your guaranteed a professional  looking product when completed. If it is not perfect have them fix it. I am still debating on what to do so if you do pay for it could you please post what they charged you and how it looked.

[Shecky]

Are they just cutting 20 holes? What about the edges and are they all straight edges or curved? Do you have a track ball? If so are they going to cut a chamfer in it?

[reptileink]

20 holes for buttons and joysticks

6 small holes for bolts

and curving the edges/top(basically looks like a stretched out piece of toast...lol)

I also am having them cut the bezel plexi(24x20) and the marquee(24x8), but those weren't included in her first guestimate

Control panel in question:

You get the idea

[BobA]

Lexan cuts easier but even thou it is bullet proof it scratches easier than plexi.   Also lexan costs about 3 times as much as plexi.

[jholman76]

For that you could get a router, flush trim bit, a forstner bit, and then just pay for the plexi.

Reminds me of when I got my laminate. They charged $3 per cut so I could fit it in my car. I was expecting some laser-guided 1000 tooth finishing saw.

nope. I got a table saw with probably 10 teeth rough cut and chipping on my edges. yay!

[reptileink]

I kept telling them to use plexi, but they said the holes were so close together that they didn't want to risk splitting it.

I still haven't heard from them and it's almost 2pm EST. They said they would call around lunch??
Not that I am in a rush.

I hear you Jholman, but I don't posses the skills to rout out the curves and such, and like Shecky said, there is no promise I don't eff it up.

[MikeDeuce]

I hear you Jholman, but I don't posses the skills to rout out the curves and such, and like Shecky said, there is no promise I don't eff it up.

I know you've already committed, but for future reference with a flush trimming bit with a bearing, you don't really need skills, just a template (which the control panel top can serve as):

My first try (from 2006, I think):



Not sure where you're at, but over here we have a place called Tap Plastics ( http://www.tapplastics.com/ ), and of the three locations I've frequented, they're just the nicest people ever. They'll give you actual price quotes on the spot, not ballpark figures, and they don't ever try to upsell... It's always about what's ideal for the use.

That said, I could see being charged $100 on the top end of the spectrum being within reason... I'd still expect them to throw in abrasion resistant polycarb at that cost though (where the materials alone at 1/8" would make up about half that cost).

[reptileink]

I don't have the tools either, so by the time I go and buy them, and the materials, I'd already be at $100. I gotta call them because they close at 4:30 and it's now 2:40 and I haven't heard back.

Of course, I have a buddy who would do it free, but getting a hold of him is like asking God to come down to earth and play checkers, and I am sort of under the gun for my cookout on the 24th.

[Franco B]

$100, ouch. Like the others said you can buy the tools to do it yourself for that and then you will always have the tools for future use.

Failing that, I'm sure $50 or a few beers would get hold of your friend.

I'm a bit curious to how they are going to line the holes up to match your CP?

To be honest they sound like rip off merchants who don't know what they are on about. You should use Acrylic (Plexi and not Polycarbonate (Lexan). Acrylic is harder wearing than Polycarb and will scratch less easily.

Polycarb machines easier than Acrylic but at those kind of sheet thicknesses you wouldn't really notice.

[reptileink]

Well, the verdict is in(only because I called them  )

All three pieces for $78

I was willing to go up to $150, so that was a pleasant surprise.

Sorry guys, I have no plans to build a second cabinet, and don't do much of my own woodworking, so investing in a router would be pretty much a one time use, maybe I'm wrong, but whatever.

They insisted on Lexan (polycarbonate), and actually will do the bezel glass and marquee glass out of it too.

 

Thought it was a good deal.

[DashRendar]

I cracked the plexi when I had to add a Tron stick to my CP.  I was pretty unhappy about that.

Fortunately the crack is hidden, so it's not super obvious.  But I wish I would have paid to have someone else (with the right tools) to do the cuts for me.

It's just not worth the risk of botching up the whole thing to save a little cash IMO.

[MikeDeuce]

Cool, that actually sounds fair for everyone involved.

No pressure implied... woodworking isn't necessarily a fun hobby for everyone

DashRendar: For some of us, it's about spending _MORE_ cash just to own the tools... it's an addiction

[reptileink]

Well, like most married guys, the wife gave the ok if I did it "as cheap as possible"....lol. I've already brought home enough bags from Ace Hardware to raise her suspicions....lol. I did buy a nice new sander though! 

[DashRendar]

I totally understand, heh.

But yeah, I'm getting married in 3 weeks, so I don't have a ton of expendable income for power tools at the moment.