Author Topic: How dark to you get your monitor GLASS smoked?? (Read 3866 times)

AGGIEZ · « **on:** June 13, 2004, 11:54:06 am »

I am planning on using 1/4" grey smoked & tempered glass to cover my monitor and bezel. I've read all the posts, and no one really says how dark they get their glass done. How dark did everyone smoke/tint their glass? I don't want to get it too dark or too light! Also, do ya'll use glass for the marquee too or go with plexi? Thanks in advance...

AGGIEZ · « **Reply #1 on:** June 13, 2004, 11:21:29 pm »

nobody??

Apollo · « **Reply #2 on:** June 13, 2004, 11:37:05 pm »

How would you like us to measure this "darkness" or "lightness"?

Tilzs · « **Reply #3 on:** June 13, 2004, 11:58:50 pm »

I just told the glass shop "grey smoked" It didn't seem like there is a bunch of different tints.

AGGIEZ · « **Reply #4 on:** June 14, 2004, 12:04:18 am »

Quote from: Tilzs on June 13, 2004, 11:58:50 pm

I just told the glass shop "grey smoked" It didn't seem like there is a bunch of different tints.

Thanks Tilz. That's all I needed to know.

Kremmit · « **Reply #5 on:** June 14, 2004, 04:47:48 am »

When I had the plastics shop make the windows for my Jeep hardtop (Lexan), they had little sample chips of the different tints available- I just pointed at the one I wanted. And yes, you can go too dark on your arcade machine.. I just picked up an old Crystal Castles cab, I originally thought the monitor was dim.. until I took off the overly-dark glass. (The dark glass is what Crystal Castles came with originally, I believe.. but the game's been converted to Sky Soldiers, and the brighter display is better, IMHO.) How dark is too dark? Well, the glass on that Crystal Castles was so dark, I didn't even know there was a bezel/artwork under there until I got it into some direct sunlight. Mabye try bringing something (like a bezel or instruction card) with you to the plastic/glass shop that you can read through the tint you're gonna buy.

big_garryb · « **Reply #6 on:** June 15, 2004, 07:40:51 pm »

i was also wondering about the tint levels having not bought the glass yet...... when i got my mk3 golf cabrio windows tinted, i had to pick the tint - they started at 15% - 95%. apparently the 95% was comparable to limo rear windows...... so i picked 70%, sounded ok. the first time i drove at night i had to put the windows down, all i could see was the reflection of the dash board!!!!

erm... i seem to have got side-tracked... heyho
garry

Pasqualz · « **Reply #7 on:** June 16, 2004, 12:02:30 am »

Aggiez, I'm in the same boat as you. After research, I decided that glass was better because it doesn't scratch as easily as lexan/acrylic, It doesn't change color like some plastics can. I just made some calls today to a few local glass shops and I got the following info:

- gray tinted glass is a specail order item, requires about 2-3 weeks for delivery.
- Apparently, this glass only comes in two tints, 43% light transmission and 14% light transmission. Light transmission literally means what percentage of light passes through the glass.
- Average cost for a 26" x 26" piece of this glass was $60.

Obviously, the 43% tint is the only serious choice, but I'm wondering if that is too dark! Hopefully, someone else who has even more research/experience with this can help us out!!!!

AGGIEZ · « **Reply #8 on:** June 16, 2004, 12:27:53 am »

Quote from: Pasqualz on June 16, 2004, 12:02:30 am

Aggiez, I'm in the same boat as you. After research, I decided that glass was better because it doesn't scratch as easily as lexan/acrylic, It doesn't change color like some plastics can. I just made some calls today to a few local glass shops and I got the following info:

- gray tinted glass is a specail order item, requires about 2-3 weeks for delivery.
- Apparently, this glass only comes in two tints, 43% light transmission and 14% light transmission. Light transmission literally means what percentage of light passes through the glass.
- Average cost for a 26" x 26" piece of this glass was $60.

Obviously, the 43% tint is the only serious choice, but I'm wondering if that is too dark! Hopefully, someone else who has even more research/experience with this can help us out!!!!

Pasqualz - thanks for the info! I need a piece that is about 24" x 21", so thanks for the price. That will give me an idea of what to expect.

big_garryb · « **Reply #9 on:** June 18, 2004, 07:58:31 am »

im in the uk - phoned around some glass companies also:

and ordering the glass up only takes 2-3 days.
price for 26" x 26" was

Pasqualz · « **Reply #10 on:** June 18, 2004, 09:27:32 am »

2-3 days??? That's awesome. Maybe all of the glass tinting companies are in the UK! LOL. Anyway, Gary, please respond back with what you found out concerning the different tint darknesses offered. Thanks!

Stingray · « **Reply #11 on:** June 18, 2004, 01:38:14 pm »

I used pre tinted plexi on mine. I just went to the shop and picked the tint I wanted from their counter smaples. I chose the darkest of three levels of tint. The monitor shows through it nicely, and when the cab isn't on it looks totally black.

-S

fredster · « **Reply #12 on:** June 18, 2004, 02:04:06 pm »

Another way of doing it is to go buy window tint at any Auto Parts store. They may even have spray on, I don't remember.

ChadTower · « **Reply #13 on:** June 18, 2004, 02:27:54 pm »

I just smoke until I don't care HOW dark the monitor glass is anymore...

:

big_garryb · « **Reply #14 on:** June 21, 2004, 10:30:37 am »

called up the glass people, as im ready to order. they do both grey tint and bronze tint.

i asked about the options of tint; are they done in % maybe........... he said no. you get two options - take it or leave it!!!

pick it up on wednesday!
garry

Pasqualz · « **Reply #15 on:** June 21, 2004, 10:38:12 am »

Garry, since it only comes in two options, I'm assuming you chose the lighter tint option??? Please let us know how it looks as soon as you get it!!!!!

big_garryb · « **Reply #16 on:** June 22, 2004, 11:19:34 am »

Pasqualz,
picked up the glass - when i was in i asked them a couple of questions - mine is 1/4" thick. the thicker the glass the darker the tint is. obvious now i think about it.

I've only held it over the monitor to have a look - and it is simply stunning.............

I had my doubts over getting it - but i am very very glad that i did. just hope it fits now!

i will try and get some photos done soon - but still at the building process and pc aint even anywhere near running yet.

garry

big_garryb · « **Reply #17 on:** June 22, 2004, 04:36:52 pm »

also while making sure the glass fits............ the marquee retainer fits perfect for 'trimming' & securing the glass top and bottom and also sides - this eliminates that wee gap people complain about between CP and cab...... that wee bit at the back..... you know what bit i mean!!!

garry

MiKman · « **Reply #18 on:** June 22, 2004, 07:56:17 pm »

So did you get grey or bronze?

big_garryb · « **Reply #19 on:** June 23, 2004, 05:29:00 am »

Grey - after reading loads of the posts on this forum - people said that the bronze wasnt very good and removed some of the colours. whereas the grey highlighted the colours...........

i set it up last night with my PS2 and played some Pro Evo3 football - looked great................i highly recommend it.

Pasqualz · « **Reply #20 on:** June 23, 2004, 07:36:13 pm »

Garry, thanks for the update on your glass! I can't wait to get my cabinet completed and get grey glass for it!!!

sofakng · « **Reply #21 on:** July 12, 2004, 08:25:02 am »

Ok, I'm going to stop at my local glass shop this afternoon. From what I've read lots of people use smoked plexiglass and lots of people used "smoked, tempered, glass"

I've decided to use gray and not brown.

However, I still have two questsions:

1) Should I use smoked plexiglass or smoked, tempered glass?

2) How thick do I want it? 1/4" or 1/8"

I'm using a 27" Toshiba TV with a Happ's bezel but no bezel graphics or anything. I was going to go for 1/4" smoked, tempered, glass but then I read a thread from a while back where people said 1/4" is too dark?

sofakng · « **Reply #22 on:** July 12, 2004, 11:50:39 am »

Ok, I just checked a local glass shop...

They only have one level of tint (eg. smoked grey) and they said it's "light". They gave me a sample to take home and it looks pretty good. It is not very dark (which I like) but it still darkens everything behind it. I like it.

They gave me prices...

26 1/4" x 24 x 1/8" = $35 (wow thats cheap!!)
26 1/4" x 24 x 1/4" = $45

or if I need bigger...

26 1/4" x 30 x 1/8" = $45
26 1/4" x 30 x 1/4" = $55

That's for "smoked tempered grey". He didn't say it was tempered, but when I gave him a list of what I needed I listed it as such so I'm assuming it is. The guy also said 1/4" vs 1/8" won't really make much of a difference in darkness.

So, what do you all suggest I get? 1/4" or 1/8"?

Santoro · « **Reply #23 on:** July 12, 2004, 02:10:59 pm »

I say 1/4" . You can still break the 1/8 glass, it just won't come apart in deadly shards.

I have 1/4" tempered and it looks great and feels strong. It would take a deliberate attempt to break it.

sofakng · « **Reply #24 on:** July 13, 2004, 06:54:08 am »

That's what I'm planning to order... 1/4".

Anybody else want to agree or disagree? I'll be placing the order this afternoon... Unfortunately it takes a week to come in


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