Anyone using LED T-molding on their cabinet?

[rackoon]

I guess everyone here knows about the LED T-molding sold at T-molding.com.

I have a few questions for those of you that use the stuff.

1. Hows your cab look when its not lit?  I already know it probally looks bad ass when on.
2. Was it worth the cost?
3. Will I really need to re-route my cab and control panel or could I just shave the t-molding to fit the slot? Maybe I could just get it hot with a heat gun and pound in the the extra fat stem    
4. How often do you turn it on?

[yotsuya]

I’ve seen it in real life. It looks like ass because it’s not diffused.

[nitrogen_widget]

EL Tape would work if I trimmed a few mm off each side but I haven't built a cabinet I want to use it in yet so haven't gotten that far.

[rackoon]

Bummer that stuff looks cool

[Jakobud]

I’ve seen it in real life. It looks like ass because it’s not diffused.

How come it looks so defused in pictures and videos?

[yotsuya]

I’ve seen it in real life. It looks like ass because it’s not diffused.

How come it looks so defused in pictures and videos?

It probably has something to do with the way the camera optics filter the intensity of each individual LED, combined with the fact there are so many.

Ask anyone who went to ZapCon and saw the SkyCruiser cab, it’s not diffused. It looks like rope lights tacked on the side of a cab.

[harveybirdman]

As is the case with most LED's it looks dumb.

[yotsuya]

Go to any Dave & Busters. There will be at least three or four redemption cabinets with that stuff on it. Your first thought will be, “Oh yeah, it’s not diffused at all.”

[Mike A]

And then punch yourself in the face for walking into a Dave and Busters.

[yotsuya]

And then punch yourself in the face for walking into a Dave and Busters.

If you think LED t-molding is a good idea, Dave & Busters is probably your scene....

[shaolindrunkard]

EL Tape would work if I trimmed a few mm off each side but I haven't built a cabinet I want to use it in yet so haven't gotten that far.

EL tape has a very short life span so unless you plan to change it out every so often its not gonna work. Plus its expensive.

[shaolindrunkard]

I guess everyone here knows about the LED T-molding sold at T-molding.com.

I have a few questions for those of you that use the stuff.

1. Hows your cab look when its not lit?  I already know it probally looks bad ass when on.
2. Was it worth the cost?
3. Will I really need to re-route my cab and control panel or could I just shave the t-molding to fit the slot? Maybe I could just get it hot with a heat gun and pound in the the extra fat stem    
4. How often do you turn it on?

I don't use it but like the others I've seen it plenty of times. I don't think it looks as bad as other do but the leds are too close to the covering so it just looks like a bunch of dots instead of a smooth diffused light. I don't think it would look very good when its off. You really need to be looking for a big spectacle if you use them.

I'm working on a driving cab right now and have found other more subtle ways to use leds.

A few people have messed with routing a very deep grove where the t-molding would normally go and then filling the hole with silicone to diffuse the light and putting the t-molding on top of that, but that's a crap ton of work and not worth it in my opinion.... plus if the leds ever die, you're screwed.

[csnow]

LEDs on an arcade cabinet are like light bars on trucks.  Novel concept but more times than not, they look awkward, gaudy, and serve little practical purpose while screaming "poser".  Just not my thing. Maybe if they were around back in the day, but a big no for me.  I have seen the LED molding in person and it looks absolutely hideous and rather shocking to me. 

[Nephasth]

LED or DIE!

[scooterg]

Has anyone tried turning the LED's inward rather than facing outward?  Seems like that might get the diffusion working?


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[shaolindrunkard]

That can working in some situations but only when there is a little space between the led and the diffuser plus you would need to use a reflector. The leds fit so tight in the t-molding that putting them in backwards would just block out most of the light.

[yotsuya]

Has anyone tried turning the LED's inward rather than facing outward?  Seems like that might get the diffusion working?


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The backing of the LEDs isn’t generally opaque, so that won’t do much.

[nitrogen_widget]

And then punch yourself in the face for walking into a Dave and Busters.

If you think LED t-molding is a good idea, Dave & Busters is probably your scene....

It reminds me of traveling carnivals that set up at pirate festivals.

but my kids love Dave and Busters so i'm there at least once a yr for their birthdays.