Screen Covering - Acrylic Glass, Polycarb Laminate, etc...

[StriderDSO]

Hey all,

I was wondering if I could get some advice for what to use as a possible cover in front of my LCD TV. I was thinking of getting a  32x24" piece of ~1-2mm thick plexi/acrylic glass to place on the wooden bezel in front of the monitor for two reasons. First, to protect the LCD screen surface itself from finger prints and objects (and cat claws, since my cats are continually poking at it), and second to act as a back plane to mount some artwork to. I called a local glass shop and said I was looking for some acrylic about 1/16" thick, and was told plexi that thin wouldn't support it's own weight very well, so I would need to go with a polycarbonate laminate type material. However, when I told him it would be covering a screen, he suggested against both materials as he said they would get washed out/scratched/cloudy after several months, and the screen wouldn't be very viewable.

So I'm wondering if this is actually the case that acrylic or PC laminate would be as bad as he thinks, and if so, what else could I use? He mentioned some other type of product (whose name I forget, but it started with Ma- something) but said it was significantly more expensive than acrylic and is special order...

Any advice appreciated!

[phyrosis]

i have used acrylic sheets for years, smudges and such come right off of them easily. the polycarb can scratch easily but is super strong.

i also have some classic arcade tinted glass, it has been used in a cabinet in a commercial arcade for 15 years, was taken out of the cab and placed into storage for 10 years, it looks great.

i get the feeling this guy wants you to special order some expencive piece, and thinks he can get away with it because you asked for such a thin piece of acrylic. (he assumes you know nothing about what your trying to do, and thinks he can make a quick buck) i assume he suggested Macrolon or Marcoclear as the sufficent replacement as that is the only clear hardy plastic i know that starts with MA. if this is what he suggested do not deal with him. Macrolon is a brand name of polycarbonate much like Lexan. this means he is trying to sell you something that is more because it sounds cool.

my suggestion, go with a 25-45% (grey or black) tinted acrylic 1/4 at the thickest 1/8 at the thinnest for the cover, 1/8 is the thinnest i have seen acrylic, he was right in that the 1/16th would not hold its own. he said own weight, what he wanted to say was suface tension is not sufficent to provide solid status.


EDIT: in rereading your post i figured i would do a little inform here. Plexiglass is a brand of acrylic, so is lucite, much to the same effect that klennex is a brand of facial tissue and kraft dinner is a brand of macaroni and cheese.

EDIT #2: because i cant let things go, i went and found the website for the guy that i use sometimes, the website actually has a 1.5mm thick acrylic sheet... that means it is actually slightly skinnier than a 1/16th sheet. He has it listed as ACRYLITE FF SHEET so new tech might have made it possible... i want to see this stuff now...

[Afterburner]

My cab uses a 30x28 piece of 1/8" (it may even be thinner) acrylic sheet I bought at Home Depot years ago and I've had zero problems with it.

It is supported at the left/right sides only and rests in the middle on the LCD monitor bezel.

Over Christmas I built a small display case for a bunch of shark teeth and dug some old piece of the same acrylic out of my shop.  I'd had it so long that the protective plastic sheet had virtually fused to it and I had to *very* carefully scrape that off.  Even that piece of acrylic looked crystal clear and shiny after I got it all cleaned up.

The only way you'll see cloudyness or hazyness in it is if it sits in direct sunlight for an extended period....something that isn't likely with an arcde cab.a

[StriderDSO]

Hey guys, thanks for the replies.

i assume he suggested Macrolon or Marcoclear as the sufficent replacement as that is the only clear hardy plastic i know that starts with MA.

I believe it was Macrolon that he had suggested.

So I guess I will try what Afterburner mentioned and just pick up a piece of plexi from HomeDepot or Kent and give that a go, since I am now sceptical of the guy at the glass shop I think I'll just get a 1/8th sheet and see how it goes. Thanks for the advice.

Plexiglass is a brand of acrylic

Heh yes, I know, but like Klennex, "plexi" is the colloquial term, so I use them interchangeably