bezel artwork with smoked glass?

[hunky_artist]

Hi there, I want to use smoked glass for the cabinet I'll be building soon, but I also want some kind of custom bezel artwork printed.

what would be a solution to this? Could the artwork be seen through the tint?

would you use clear glass on top, then the artwork, then the tinted glass/plexi underneath?

or maybe a cut out bezel artwork stuck on top of the glass.

anybody have this?

thanks

[BarontheFirst]

Well what I plan to do with mine is what you said. Sandwich the bezel between the smoked plexi and regular plexi. I have seen the effect of smoked plexi and it won't do the bezel any justice on top of it. If you do decide to try it please let me know how it works out. I won't actually be that far along with my cab for awhile. Life has made it a slow project.

[Arcadiac]

Hi there, I want to use smoked glass for the cabinet I'll be building soon, but I also want some kind of custom bezel artwork printed.

what would be a solution to this? Could the artwork be seen through the tint?

would you use clear glass on top, then the artwork, then the tinted glass/plexi underneath?

or maybe a cut out bezel artwork stuck on top of the glass.

anybody have this?

thanks

In retrospect I would "use clear glass on top, then the artwork, then the tinted glass/plexi underneath"
Altough my artwork http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=10;action=display;threadid=17788;start=40 is still visible beneath the tinted plex, it's not as visible as I would like.  BTW, I won't use plex again unless it's under glass, it's gotten too scratchy, even with adult only care and use.  Very disappointing, but another lesson learned.
ARCADIAC!

[patrickl]

I was wondering about this too. I have seen different answers to the same question (it pops up about every half year or so) Some people say the smoked glass/plexi brings out the color of the bezel and others say it obscures the artwork too much. I'll bet it depends on the percentage of light blocked by the smoked glass/plexi (the "which percentage smoked" to buy question is another one that keeps popping up without a real definitive answer).

BTW, I won't use plex again unless it's under glass, it's gotten too scratchy, even with adult only care and use.  Very disappointing, but another lesson learned.

I couldn't agree more. I really wonder why so many people use plexi for this.

[BarontheFirst]

Plexi is better for ppl who have kids and flying objects in there house I think! If it is adult care and adult use only then glass should be used. If you got to transport it better be extra careful! I plan on making it easy to remove the glass and or plexi glass. A bit of suction and get it right out! Then so what if plexi-glass get's scratched. Get a new piece.

[patrickl]

Tempered glass is save for kids (and adults ).

[BarontheFirst]

Tempered glass is save for kids (and adults ).

Ya well how easy does tempered glass get scratched since I haven't used it before?

[patrickl]

Same as regular glass. Only difference is that it shatters in small fragments instead of lethal shards. It's used for instance in car windows (in the side windows) or glas coffeetables and such.

You pay extra though and it's special order since you can't cut it anymore after it's tempered.

[daywane]

As stated above , Iwould guess how dark you get the tint
My Nintendo Vs Uni cab has very dark tint. there is no way would any art work show. I can not even see the monitors untill thay are turned on .

I just replaced the HUGE plate glass window in my living room and I never even knew it was tinted till we pushed it out and let it smash on the porch.  I did not even know it was 1/4 inch thick.
My house used to be a store once

[hunky_artist]

ok,  so with the clear glass/artwork/tinted plexi technique.. would the double layers cause any unwanted side effects like reflections or anything?

I can't imagine it would... but I wouldnt really know as I haven't done it.

Anyone?

[daywane]

the only time I have a reflection is when the sun beams in and hits the glass.

[Arcadiac]

Plex or glass will reflect light.  My cab, with plex, is in the kitchen and if I have the ceiling light on it causes enough reflection to be annoying.  But I have noticed the same thing when playing machines in the arcades.  Cab placement is the key.  
I too have a Nintendo Vs, but a cocktail version.  They used plex, then glass and yes its very dark and the screen reflects overhead lights badly.  
As far as tempered vs regular glass, the man I bought my cab from has been in the business for decades and uses plain 1/4" thick glass, no injury incidents yet.  
So for a household with unruly kids or idiot adults I suppose tempered glass would have to be the way to go.  
Since I can't afford to "get a new piece" of plex @ $20 a pop whenever it gets scratched, I choose to work a little smarter than before and cover the plex with some glass.  
Its held up for over 20 years in the Nintendo Vs, seems like a good idea to me!  
Anyway, just my experience, hope it helps.  ARCADIAC!

[allroy1975]

I'm using the sandwich meathod and have NO complaints.  I'm also using 1/8th inch tempered glass on both sides: the tinted and the clear.

No extra glare or anything.  Just sweetness.

That's my 2 cents.

Allroy

[hunky_artist]

sorry, I didnt mean normal reflections, I meant any kind of internal 'between the two sheets of glass' reflections.

in other words does it have any different properties than a single sheet