Paint, laminate or contact paper?

[null]

I've been researching various sites about the best way to color my arade unit and I wanted to have an expert's opinion before I started anything. I am kinda shying away of laminate because of it's price and more in favor of contact paper for a cheap alternative but I have no idea how it would look seeing that I haven't seen one in real life. I am thinking about painting too but I can't make up my mind.

Can I get your opionions on the best way to color you machine to make it look most 'professional?'

Thanks in advance,

null

[TheGatesofBill]

Paint and rollers.

[zaphod]

If not laminate, then, as Gates said, Paint applied with rollers.  Color is all personal preference.  Only you have to live with the color choice.

[night]

a foam roller makes a nice texture similar to laminate.
but it will never hold up to being bumped. once u start getting scuffs its gonna drive u nuts lookin at it. be careful putting it together.

[paigeoliver]

Contact paper WILL NOT hold up.

Paint it with a roller, or if it is plywood then you can just stain it instead of painting it.

[SNAAAKE]

Laminate.
paint is "ok" but sooner or later it will scratch and other stuff.Laminte looks so perfect

[PedroSilva]

Hi,

I'd go for pistol painting ... If you don't have (or don't wanna buy) a compressor, there are some electrical painting pistols not very expensive (at least here) around 25

[slycrel]

  Somewhere I heard that Liquid latex works pretty well.  Dunno how much it costs or holds up over time though.

[menace]

I painted and it looks good--but the scuffs are definitely a pain in the --I'm attempting to get by the auto-censor and should be beaten after I re-read the rules--  I haven't even finished construction and i can see I'm going to need another coat  avoid the contact paper route though--corners will peale and unless you have a flwless surface you'll get pockets that are visible.

[hyiu]

contact paper doesn't hold up.... especially on wood...

I think I have heard other who had acceptable results on metal... but definitely not on wood....

luckily... that one is just my prototype joystick....

definitely paint... or laminate will be better....

[Tailgunner]

I'd suggest some of both, laminate on the outside of the cab side panels, the coin door panel, and the control panel surface. Paint everywhere else. This gives you durability on the places most likely to get dinged up, while keeping your overall cost down.  

[unclet]

HappControls sells a self adhesive vinyl pretty cheap which comes in hugh rolls which are either 40" or 49" wide.   This could be used to cover the sides (and other parts) of an arcade cab without having any seams.

Just go to www.happcontrols.com and search for "vinyl"

PS:  I am using the Black Pica vinyl 49" wide to cover parts of my driving cab.

[MameMaster!]

....due to limitations on space/area to strip paint, I used contact plastic. I bought a huge roll (100 ft) for about $25.00 from a Teacher's supply company on the web.

I've had my machine for almost a year and it seems to be holding up well.

Attached is a recent picture........but to be honest...if I had the space/time I would have preferred to strip/paint the cab.

The MameMaster!  

[saintjo]

i used vinyl plotter. its stronger than contact paper, but goes on just as easy. got it on ebay for like 10 bucks a roll. i havent had any peeling problems yet.