Best way to secure plexiglass onto control panel? (using screws)

[sofakng]

Well, I think I made another mistake...

On my control panel plexiglass, I have 6 screw holes (going through the plexiglass and into the mdf).  It's definitely way too late now, but I wish I knew I could have used my buttons to hold the plexiglass onto the control panel.

So now I'm left with the question...

What should I do with my screws going through the plexiglass?

I didn't countersink them because it seems like countersinking into plexiglass leaves a very ugly looking hole.  This might be my only option though unless I want the screws to be left just sticking out on the top of the plexiglass.

Anybody have any suggestions for me?  Cutting another piece of plexiglass is definitely not an option

[Soulcon]

They have these cool little Washer type things ( basically a cut in half donut) that you can get in brass gold and silver that go with the screws. It just makes it look more secure and proffesional. There cheap and later on when you can afford more plexi you can wire in some nice looking blue or red LED's where the screw holes where made in your wood .
Good luck but its just an idea I had.

-Soul

[boesiii]

http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?CNTTYPE=PROD_META&CNTKEY=misc%2fsearchResults.jsp&BV_SessionID=@@@@0810983039.1091723045@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccladcmejmidffcgelceffdfgidgki.0&MID=9876


its called a finishing washer

[hunky_artist]

or you could get those screws that have a little dome cap that pushes or screws into the head, giving a round top, as opposed to the usual ugly screw

[RayB]

How about drilling right through and using carriage bolts like most real arcade cabinets use?

(Carriage bolts, if you don't know, have a rounded top

[sofakng]

Good suggestions, thank you!

All of these methods will have the bolt (or screw) still sticking out of the top, right?  (eg. theres no way to make it flush so when I run my hand over the CP I don't feel the bolt/screw?)

Carriage bolts aren't sold in Home Depot / Lowes are they?  Do you have any pictures of them? (or on a control panel?)

Can you explain finishing washers a bit more?  (the link you gave me didnt seem to work) Is the point of it to allow the top of the screw to fit inside the washer giving it a smooth, rounded edge?

[Soulcon]

Finishing Washers

Here ya go this should work! Also if you would like top make it flush why not find some sort of Clear plugs that can fit in the holes. But before you plug them drill all the way through. Then add LED's that way the wholes look proffesional instead of an initial oops. (in my eyes not an oops at all) Then just use your buttons and T-molding to hold down the plexi from there.

-Soul

[ras2a]

Sure I've read about people using those 'glass clamps' < type of thing used on fix glass on cocktail cabs!  Could look cool...but depends how much of a lip you have on your CPanel top.  Maybe get some smaller ones so they don't look as conspicuous.  Myself personally, I'm going to use either countersunk bolts that sit flush with the plexi/acrylic...  That was a good idea about the domes that come with a thread that screw into the 'actual' screw top...think these are used on mirrors ?

[bwest]

Why not cut the head off of a small bolt and epoxy to the under side of the plexi.  This is what I am doing.

[sofakng]

Wouldn't there still be a small hole on the top of the plexiglass?  I can't picture what you're saying...  Do you have any pictures of that method?

Right now finishing washers sound like they would be the easiest but carriage bolts also sound really good, but I don't think Home Depot or Lowe's sells them.

[Soulcon]

Imagine using a hacksaw and sawing off the heads of lets say 4 bolts file them flat and then turn your plexi over and Apoxy the sawed off theaded area to the Plexi. This will make it look like a table with 4 legs if you had it on a flat surface.

Then drill 4 matching holes in your wood and the Plexi will just drop in place. Add some nuts to the threaded area and tada a flush mount plexi sheet. .

-Soul

[ThePaul]

Do you need to screw it in at all?

[Onji]

Carriage bolts aren't sold in Home Depot / Lowes are they?  Do you have any pictures of them? (or on a control panel?)

Here is my control panel that has carriage bolts on it around the joysticks, and no, its not smooth when you run your hand over them, there is a bump.
http://www.lamerc.com/users/onji/mame/cab/image_4.html

Also, you can get them at homedepot, or lowes, heck i got mine at walmart

[sofakng]

Ahh, ok.  They don't look too bad.  Do the carriage bolts come in different sizes like #10-24 (1") ?

[Onji]

Yes, several lengths and diameters. I would have gone with black carriage bolts if i could have found them, but i had no luck locally.

[sofakng]

Great, thanks!

I'll take a look at these and finishing washers to decide which I like better.

Thanks everybody!

[RayB]

Carriage bolts are sold in most hardware stores, including Home Depot. The only problem is finding some without any "writing" on the top (manufacturers like to put numbers or other markings on the tops--you need some that have nothing).

As for size, there's a big variety of them. The size commonly used in classic arcade cabinets is not generally sold in stores (I've never found any). But since this is your own project, you can use whatever size you need to fit your joystick's bolt holes...