Control panel vinyl ...

[steve_pss]

I see all manner of self adhesive vinyl on Ebay but I don't know what brand, thickness, yada yada film is standard for control panels. I dont want to go plexi. Just a solic color, durable, clean looking application of vinyl.

thanks for any advice.

[rampy]

steve..... stevo ... stev o rama... the stevenator...

you see Oscar's howto on partsexpess vinyl?  and it's cheap!

oscar's the man!

rampy

[steve_pss]

10 mil thick!! WHOA MAMA MIA!!

I think someone has an issue when they start getting excited by cpo material. I have an issue.

[SirPeale]

Thanks for reminding me of this stuff!  I was about to order some from Happ.  I know it's on sale until the end of the month...hm...

(after checking)

It's on sale @ $2.18 a foot, and the Parts Express stuff is on sale @ $11.25 for a 2' x 10' roll.  Score!

[brooksware2000]

Thanks for reminding me of this stuff!  I was about to order some from Happ.  I know it's on sale until the end of the month...hm...

(after checking)

It's on sale @ $2.18 a foot, and the Parts Express stuff is on sale @ $11.25 for a 2' x 10' roll.  Score!

I've used the vinyl from Parts Express and it is good stuff, easy to work with. Not exactly the same texture as Happs but it works great.

[SirPeale]

Heh...I'm thinking it wasn't so much of a score once I factored in shipping.  I should have gotten more than one roll.  Total came to ~$21, and 1/2 of it is shipping.

[zaphod]

Another vote for the PartsExpress vinyl.  Very nice stuff.

I lowered the shipping by ordering multiple rolls and splitting with a local buddy.  The extra shipping for the second roll was less than $2, and the 3rd and 4th rolls were nothing more.  I always toy with quantities online to see how shipping is impacted.  I normally end up using whatever extra I order, or resell to friends who may have a need.

[SirPeale]

I would have cancelled my order, but they didn't give an option for that, and likely there won't be anyone there until Monday.

Ah well, a lesson learned.

[mahuti]

If you just want a bit of vinyl for a CPO, just go buy it from your local fabric store. They always have pleather type stuff (which I have on one of my CPOs localarcade.com) and they sometimes have smooth vinyl. Another good place is reupholstery shops. They might sell you some if you ask nice.

Saves on shipping / waiting, but might be more expensive by the foot.

[OSCAR]

I use that partsexpress vinyl for everything, it comes in very handy for pretty much anything you want to finish on a cab.  Here are a few examples of where I've used it on some cabs other than control panels:

Centipede cab back door
http://www.oscarcontrols.com/centipede/cab-backdoor1.jpg
My cab was missing the back door, so I made a new one and finished it with the vinyl.

Centipede front panel:
http://www.oscarcontrols.com/centipede/cab-coindoor1.jpg
http://www.oscarcontrols.com/centipede/cab-coindoor2.jpg
After I installed the new front panel on my cab, again I used the vinyl.

Speaker board for my Dynamo cab:
http://www.oscarcontrols.com/guerrilla/speakerpanel.jpg
The original paint/vinyl finish had been removed when I got the cab, so I used the vinyl to refinish it.


I really like using this stuff, it saves so much time painting and leaves a finish better than you could probably paint anyway.  The vinyl is pretty abrasion and scuff resistant, and I haven't had any problem with it at all.  I've had it installed on my MAME cab cp and my Ms. Pac/Galaga cocktail cp's for quite a while and they still look like new, even after all the play those cabs get.

[GroovyTuesdaY]

Wow   , That looks awesome oscar!  That looks almost like formica really.  That looks like it would definately be a NICE alternative to using formica and i assume its alot cheaper  then?   I've never prices formica, so i have no basis for comparison, but it looks pretty reasonable to me.

g~

[OSCAR]

Price aside, I find the vinyl to be much easier to use when retrofitting and refinishing specific panels on a cab that is already built.  And since you can trim the vinyl with a razor instead of a laminate bit like you would have to use for a formica laminate, it makes it that much friendlier for installation.

I've actually had people ask me if my MAME cab cp was formica when they see it.  The vinyl is stiff enough that it doesn't have any "give" to it when it is applied directly to wood or metal.  I believe a lot of people may envision this vinyl to be soft like a decal or sticker, but it isn't.

[Minwah]

I use that partsexpress vinyl for everything, it comes in very handy for pretty much anything you want to finish on a cab.  Here are a few examples of where I've used it on some cabs other than control panels:

Centipede cab back door
http://www.oscarcontrols.com/centipede/cab-backdoor1.jpg
My cab was missing the back door, so I made a new one and finished it with the vinyl.

Centipede front panel:
http://www.oscarcontrols.com/centipede/cab-coindoor1.jpg
http://www.oscarcontrols.com/centipede/cab-coindoor2.jpg
After I installed the new front panel on my cab, again I used the vinyl.

Speaker board for my Dynamo cab:
http://www.oscarcontrols.com/guerrilla/speakerpanel.jpg
The original paint/vinyl finish had been removed when I got the cab, so I used the vinyl to refinish it.


I really like using this stuff, it saves so much time painting and leaves a finish better than you could probably paint anyway.  The vinyl is pretty abrasion and scuff resistant, and I haven't had any problem with it at all.  I've had it installed on my MAME cab cp and my Ms. Pac/Galaga cocktail cp's for quite a while and they still look like new, even after all the play those cabs get.

Looks great

Maybe I'll use some if my final painting looks as bad as I am expecting (I hate painting!)

[steve_pss]

Just ordered 3 rolls. Thanks man!

[saltypenguin]

Can somebody give me the part number?  I want to order some of this, but don't want to buy the wrong stuff.  Thanks.

[SirPeale]

Read http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=7427;start=msg60189