Marquee Retainer?

[okmike87]

Are there any alternatives to the Happs marquee retainer that still look nice?

I called Happs and they won't give me a shipping cost on their marquee retainer and after hearing of folks getting charged $20 for shipping with them, I want to explore some other options if possible.

This is my first post here (have lurked forever), here are some pics of my cab progress:
http://www.mikemaddux.com/mamecab

[RayB]

Hi lurker!

There are several cheap alternatives. One of the cheapest is this thin plastic retainers meant for screen windows. It's hard to describe since I'm not even sure what they are used for, but you can get 8' of it for under $2 at Home Depot. Check the screen and window depts.

Here's a link where I give more detail on these:
http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=23164;start=msg188845#msg188845


The next step up in price and quality is to use metal 90' angle holders meant for drop-ceilings. Home Depot and such home building places usually have a wide variety of these, some painted, some not, and some flat while some have texture. The ONLY problem with these is you have to drill your own holes, but still, you can get several feet for under $10 I think.

~Ray B.

[okmike87]

It just dawned on me that this was my second post, but I've still done a lot more lurkin than postin!

That screen retainer thing you suggested looks great. I'm going to try that.

[Sasquatch!]

Another alternative is to get those corner protectors that you can mount on your walls to keep the drywall from chipping.  A quiick squirt of black paint, and you're good to go.

[Tailgunner]

Yet another alternative is 1" by 3/4" by aluminum angle channel. Both Lowes and Home Depot sell it on the hardware isle. About $5 for a 6' piece as I remember.

[RayB]

I was looking at those angle channels this weekend, and I was wondering what kind of tool is needed to cut something like that?

[dmish82]

I just installed my marquee retainer last night and ended up going w/ that plastic screen door retainer(mentioned earlier by Ray B. on in this thread). I had to bend the thinner channel out a bit w/ some pliers to get both pieces of plexi & the marquee into it but it worked fine. Plus it's a little flexible so it would make it easier to install and remove down the road. As for the aluminum, I belive a hacksaw would be used to cut through it although I've never tried. Good luck.

[MonitorGuru]

Yet another alternative is 1" by 3/4" by aluminum angle channel. Both Lowes and Home Depot sell it on the hardware isle. About $5 for a 6' piece as I remember.

Definitely go with the 1" x 3/4" aluminum angle channel.  It works REALLY well.

It can be cut with a simple hack saw, even the cheapest ones (aluminum is VERY soft--you could even probably cut it with a good Ginsu knife!). You can drill in it with normal wood bits (well, steel bits, made for wood ) and you can use a countersink bit to make a nice dimple to level the screw heads off (use oval head screws)

A 36" piece is only $1.49 at Menards (if you have them, slightly higher at Home Depot and Lowes)  They should have longer ones too. I used 36 as I was building a cabaret that only needed 18" top and bottom.

It's going to be more durable than plastic.  You will need to prime and paint it however.  Scuff it up with a 120-180 sandpaper/sanding block, use bare metal spray primer, then coat with whatever color you want, a couple coats and bake in the sun. Do the same thing (sand, prime, paint) the screw heads too.

Mine turned out very nice.   If you want a little rounded look instead of the sharp edge, you can take a sanding block and sand it down a tiny bit, but you won't reach a high level of curve, just a small soft edge.

[Rocky]

I also went with the 1" x 3/4" aluminum angle channel. I like the results.