What to use for monitor glass?

[justinjstark]

I'm looking at installing the monitor glass as Knievel did for his cabinet here.

I need a 15.5in x 12.5in piece of glass.  What should I use?  Tempered glass?  Acrylic?  Lexan?  I don't want it to scratch easily.  The last piece of lexan I bought wasn't very clear...it had wavy rough marks on it which probably came from the machine that produced it.  While they are not very visible on the cp it went on, it would be very noticeable over the monitor.

Also, can I paint the black part around the monitor on these without it flaking off?  I am also thinking I could cut a piece of masonite (hard board) and paint it black to surround the monitor.  It looks like Knievel uses black posterboard or something.

[DrFrag]

I used 5mm clear tempered glass for mine.  I'm very happy with it.  It doesn't scratch.

For the bezel I used a single sheet of 15mm ply, with a square centre hole routed with a 45 degree edge for the LCD screen.  It's painted black.

Painting the reverse side of the glass/acrylic/whatever sounds doable.

What are you using for your screen?  I had an old arcade cab and the glass was smoked.  Seemed to be okay over the old CRT iirc.

[justinjstark]

I used 5mm clear tempered glass for mine.  I'm very happy with it.  It doesn't scratch.

For the bezel I used a single sheet of 15mm ply, with a square centre hole routed with a 45 degree edge for the LCD screen.  It's painted black.

Painting the reverse side of the glass/acrylic/whatever sounds doable.

What are you using for your screen?  I had an old arcade cab and the glass was smoked.  Seemed to be okay over the old CRT iirc.

I'm using a 17" lcd.

Where did you get the glass cut and how much did it cost you?

15mm > 1/2in.  I don't know if I want mine to be that thick but I do like the idea of routing the hole at 45 degrees; I bet it looks slick.  I may give hardboard a go since it is thin, inexpensive, and very easy to work with.  I can get it in 1/8in or 1/4in.

EDIT: I have another idea: cut the monitor hole in a piece of 1/2" and then make a 1" rabbit about 3/8" deep that the monitor can sit in.  Then just throw a piece of glass over it.  This will eliminate the need for the intermediate piece of hardboard.

[zafdor]

If price is not a problem and your cabinet may get roughed up, go tempered glass.  Since most of us have our cabs in our house, I do not expect it will see much abuse I just went with regular glass cut at Lowed for <$5.    Tempered glass cannot be cut, it has to be fabricated for you, i.e. you can't just walk into home depot and walk out with a custom cut piece under your arm.

There are different styles of lexan, but I do not think any will look as good as glass.

[justinjstark]

If price is not a problem and your cabinet may get roughed up, go tempered glass.  Since most of us have our cabs in our house, I do not expect it will see much abuse I just went with regular glass cut at Lowed for <$5.    Tempered glass cannot be cut, it has to be fabricated for you, i.e. you can't just walk into home depot and walk out with a custom cut piece under your arm.

There are different styles of lexan, but I do not think any will look as good as glass.

You got a piece of glass at Lowes for under $5?  Or do you mean you bought a piece of glass and they cut it for $5?  How is it?  Do they polish the edges?  Should I be worried about untempered glass shattering?

I'm wondering how much a piece of 15.5" x 12.5" glass cut, tempered, and polished costs?

[apfelanni]

i m using floatglas 5,6 or 8 mm, cut and polished . its a lot more scratch resistant than acrylic and strong enough for homebrew arcade ,as long u dont jump in or hit it with a hammer . a 50/50 cm (20/20) inch float , 6 mm thick may cost around 2o euro . i avoid plexi/acrylic for table arcades and fullsize cabinets. on a bartop or for marquees purpose it may be a good choice .

[justinjstark]

I called a glass shop.  For a 1/4" thick piece of glass measuring 15.5" by 12.5" they want $15 which includes polishing.  To have it tempered is another $20 which I don't think is worth it.

[FrizzleFried]

I called a glass shop.  For a 1/4" thick piece of glass measuring 15.5" by 12.5" they want $15 which includes polishing.  To have it tempered is another $20 which I don't think is worth it.

Damn... I just bought a pinball playfield glass for $32.00 tempered... total... with tax.

[Hoopz]

Tempered is always worth it. Always.  Think of it as insurance.  You don't want to use it, but it's nice know it's there just in case something happens.

[saint]

I called a glass shop.  For a 1/4" thick piece of glass measuring 15.5" by 12.5" they want $15 which includes polishing.  To have it tempered is another $20 which I don't think is worth it.

Do you have kids? If kids are in the equation I would have tempered glass. The $20 is cheap compared to someone getting sliced or damage to your cabinet from a broken sheet of glass. No kids... meh, I'd probably get it anyway but wouldn't be stressed about it.

[justinjstark]

I only got a quote at one place.  I will look around; I'm sure I can get a tempered piece cheaper.

[FrizzleFried]

I only got a quote at one place.  I will look around; I'm sure I can get a tempered piece cheaper.

I'd also consider going a little thinner... 1/4" is THICK... pinball playfield glass is 3/16" and it gets hit by pinballs all the time.  I bet you could do 1/8" without so much as a 2nd thought...