Smoked plexiglass over my Happ's bezel? (or any other suggestions?)

[sofakng]

After doing some searching it looks like most people are using "smoked plexiglass" or "smoked glass" (??) on top of their bezel.  Supposedly it really helps bring out the colors on the TV?

Is this the best thing to use?  Where can I buy this at?  (what is it called exactly?)

Also, how do you attach this glass to the cabinet?  (how do you get the glass to stay in place on top of my Happ's bezel?)

[spystyle]

.

[Sylentwulf]

Just go to a glass store (portland glass) and ask for tinted glass. Might want to ask about level of tint, and price, availability, etc....

As for attaching, most real cabinets have the glass set behind the control panel, and slide up first under the cabinet, then down behind the control panel to keep it secure.
Yeah, that made no sense. Basically, the control panel holds it in place, remove the CP and the glass can be removed.

[etumor]

Using tinted plexi (or glass) is a matter of personal taste.  Some old machines did it, others did not.

It's hard to explain what the benefit is, you just kind of have to see it.  It deepens the colors, so the blacks get blacker, reds and blues get deeper, and so on.  To my eye it also makes the picture a little sharper, because it eliminates some of the "bleeding" from one color to another.  The non-tinted picture is brighter and more vibrant, but that isn't necessarily a good thing.

I go back and forth on whether I like tinted or non-tinted better, but in the end, I think I'd go with tinted.  It's a more "arcade" type of look.  It also has the added benefit of hiding the bezel, which I definitely like better.

-Jeff "etumor"

[sofakng]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I'm definitely going to be using smoked glass/plexiglass now because my bezel does not fit perfectly.  So, if I place the smoked glass on top of the bezel it should darken it making the bezel harder to so.

Now the only problem is mounting the glass/plexiglass.  I've seen that Spystyle did it with screws but I really don't have anything to screw onto (unless I put support strips behind my bezel).  That is certainly an option.

Another option is using tiny strips of molding in front of and behind the bezel + plexiglass.  This way I could make it nice and tight but you would see the tiny strips going around the sides.

What do you suggest?

Are there any other methods?

[etumor]

Strips on the insides, for sure, but you don't need the strips on the outside, because your control panel will hold it in place.  See attached diagram for an example.

-Jeff "etumor"

[sofakng]

Ok, should I get smoked GLASS or smoked PLEXIGLASS?

Also, do I have to know anything else?  Does "smoked" come in different tints, etc?  Do I need to know anything else?

[Soulcon]

Grey Tint either Plexi or Glass I would suggest Plexi just incase you have brutal friends who slam the screen. Just for safety ofcourse I am going to be using Plexi because it is for my kids and if for some reason I think it would be safer. You know like when there playing sibiling hacky sack or something.

-Soul

[ThePaul]

Are you guys going to have the plexiglass for the monitor cut for you.. or are you planning to cut it yourself?

[clanggedin]

cut your own plexi out. i paid to have my lexan cut and it was $75 for the 2 pieces for my marquee 25 x 7" - 7/16" and a 25" x 27" piece for my minitor

[ThePaul]

So you used Lexan for in front of your monitor? Were you able to find smoked lexan? What thickness? Where did you find it?

[clanggedin]

I found the lexan at a local window/glass shop. They didn't have plexi, just Leaxn. I would have cut it myself, but the retard I talked to a Home Depot said they didn't carry plexi any more (which is not true).

I bought 1/8" Lexan, I didn't even think of asking if they had smoked Lexan. I was already paying way too much for the Lexan, so I didn't want to make it anymore expensive.

[ThePaul]

Doesn't the 1/8 Lexan bow and flex when used in front of a monitor? I'd prefer Lexan over plexi if I could get it thicker and smoked.

[nipsmg]

I think I paid $45-$50 for smoked, tempered GLASS from a local glass shop.  (and it was 25x27ish)

BEST investment I made..  You can always tell when you look at plexi that it's NOT glass..  (or I can at least)...  I absolutely love the glass.


Tempered glass is pretty strong.. I think you'd have to give it a REALLY GOOD whack with a REALLY HARD object to break it.  Casual use (even slamming into it off a trackball spin) I don't *think* would break it.

--NipsMG

[whammoed]

I replaced a window on my house that had tempered glass.  I needed to break the glass to fit in my trash bin.  I covered it in a plastic bag and gave it a good whack with a mini sledge hammer...nothing.  Gave it several more whacks...nothing.  Finally broke it when I stepped back a few feet and literally hurled the sledge hammer into it.  Broke into a million pieces.

[Chris]

I replaced a window on my house that had tempered glass.  I needed to break the glass to fit in my trash bin.  I covered it in a plastic bag and gave it a good whack with a mini sledge hammer...nothing.  Gave it several more whacks...nothing.  Finally broke it when I stepped back a few feet and literally hurled the sledge hammer into it.  Broke into a million pieces.

There's the lesson of the day: Hurling sledgehammers at your cab is not recommended.