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Author Topic: How dark to you get your monitor GLASS smoked??  (Read 3861 times)

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AGGIEZ

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How dark to you get your monitor GLASS smoked??
« 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

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Re:How dark to you get your monitor GLASS smoked??
« Reply #1 on: June 13, 2004, 11:21:29 pm »
nobody??

Apollo

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Re:How dark to you get your monitor GLASS smoked??
« Reply #2 on: June 13, 2004, 11:37:05 pm »
How would you like us to measure this "darkness" or "lightness"?

Tilzs

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Re:How dark to you get your monitor GLASS smoked??
« 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

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Re:How dark to you get your monitor GLASS smoked??
« Reply #4 on: June 14, 2004, 12:04:18 am »
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.

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Re:How dark to you get your monitor GLASS smoked??
« 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

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Re:How dark to you get your monitor GLASS smoked??
« 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
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Re:How dark to you get your monitor GLASS smoked??
« 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!!!!
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AGGIEZ

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Re:How dark to you get your monitor GLASS smoked??
« Reply #8 on: June 16, 2004, 12:27:53 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

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Re:How dark to you get your monitor GLASS smoked??
« 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
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Re:How dark to you get your monitor GLASS smoked??
« 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!
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Re:How dark to you get your monitor GLASS smoked??
« 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.

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Re:How dark to you get your monitor GLASS smoked??
« 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.
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Re:How dark to you get your monitor GLASS smoked??
« 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... :lol:

big_garryb

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Re:How dark to you get your monitor GLASS smoked??
« 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
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Pasqualz

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Re:How dark to you get your monitor GLASS smoked??
« 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!!!!!
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Re:How dark to you get your monitor GLASS smoked??
« 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.............  ;D 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
oh dear - not rain again......Scottish weather is crap, oh well - at least Mame can keep me company.

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Re:How dark to you get your monitor GLASS smoked??
« 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
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MiKman

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Re:How dark to you get your monitor GLASS smoked??
« Reply #18 on: June 22, 2004, 07:56:17 pm »
So did you get grey or bronze?

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Re:How dark to you get your monitor GLASS smoked??
« 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.
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Re:How dark to you get your monitor GLASS smoked??
« 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!!!
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sofakng

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Re:How dark to you get your monitor GLASS smoked??
« 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?
« Last Edit: July 12, 2004, 10:51:46 am by sofakng »

sofakng

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Re:How dark to you get your monitor GLASS smoked??
« 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"?

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Re:How dark to you get your monitor GLASS smoked??
« 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.



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Re:How dark to you get your monitor GLASS smoked??
« 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 :(