mounting fluorescent fixture -- how?

[snubber]

Hey all, I'm just trying to put the final touches on my cabinet.

So now I need to attach a fluorescent light fixture to the marquee area.  How have people done this?  My fixture is basically just a white metal box. On one side there are a couple holes - one at each end - but they don't seem to be screw holes, although I'm sure I could crack this box open and put a screw through there or something.

Anyway, so while I'm guessing this is a no brainer, for some reason I'm just not coming up with a good way to put this on the underside of the cabinet "roof."  Ideally I don't want any screws / bolts that have to go through the top, but not sure of my options.  I'm using 5/8" MDF on a Lusid design.


I appreciate any thoughts / suggesiton.

[LordDamo]

Im using the same design. Mine has a light in the marquee like yours. I had to crack the case open and put screws through the holes you mentioned, thats what there for.

I had some small 12mm screws and put two in each hole in a V pattern, if you get what I mean. Ive given the light fixture a shake (while not turned on!) and it dosent move.

Hope this helps

[KrawDaddy]

Dont bother get some 3m double sided tape from menards.  Plenty strong!  hats what I use and it give me no problems.  I used 2 4" X 3/4" in strips and thats it.

Kind Regards\

Kraw

[Gunstar Hero]

The 3M tape always ends up giving up on me... It holds so well at first too. 

Sometimes there are mounting holes behind the bulb. Check there!

[LordDamo]

Good idea KrawDaddy, but like Gunstar says, it can give up on you. So do both and it wont move an inch!!!

[KrawDaddy]

The nice thing about tape, You can always replace it without damage to your cab.

[JustMichael]

I have two flourescent lights in my cab.  I mounted one the normal way (screws through the screw holes) and the other flourescent gave better light on it's side so I screwed the screws through the plastic side of the light and into the wood of the cab.

[LeedsFan]

I have a cabinet that I've converted to Mame. It alreaady had a flourescent light fixture to the marquee, but it wasn't very bright. I uprated the bulb which really brought out the Mame marquee that I got from Mamemarquees.com.  However, I have to go around the cabinet blacking out the light leaks through all the little gaps.

Perhaps I'm just a perfectionist (without the knowledge  ) but I can't do with light leaking out where it shouldn't!

[NiteWalker]

Get some l brackets and screw those to the top of your cabinet with the screwed in side facing you. Then just bolt the light to the other holes on the other part of the L.

[Pacific Ripper]

there's a red double-sided tape that won't come off easily - I think 3M makes it. I use it at the sign shop and it's great for sticking things together and it won't come off without a fight.

[versapak]

Call me confused, but if there is a hole that goes completely through it, then wouldn't that just as easily become a screw hole, wether intended for or not?

Worse comes to worse, I'd imagine you could jsut drill some screw holes into the unit. I personally would much rather screw it in, and KNOW that it is not going to be falling, then to tape it and just HOPE that it isn't going to fall.

[Pacific Ripper]

Call me confused, but if there is a hole that goes completely through it, then wouldn't that just as easily become a screw hole, wether intended for or not?

Worse comes to worse, I'd imagine you could jsut drill some screw holes into the unit. I personally would much rather screw it in, and KNOW that it is not going to be falling, then to tape it and just HOPE that it isn't going to fall.

Trust me, with the red double-faced tape, it won't fall. It's used to hang signs and has the strongest tensile strength. It will even get stronger as time passes - but then again, mount the unit the way you want it.

[clanggedin]

I am using Velcro to hold up a fizture in my cab. It holds extremely well too.

[snubber]

I ended up just cracking it open and throwing two 1/2" screws through the fixture into the top panel.  It was quite a pain in the ass trying to get a screwdriver in there (ended up using a socket wrench with a screwdriver bit in it), but it worked.

Seems quite solid. Don't imagine it crashing down. The marquee looks really nice now. I got two pieces of plexiglass cut at a local shop and the fit perfectly (I'm using Happs marquee retainer).

Now just how to figure out how to affix the monitor glass and I'm all set!  Can't believe I'm close to finishing this thing.

Thanks all for the suggestions.

[Pacific Ripper]

I ended up just cracking it open and throwing two 1/2" screws through the fixture into the top panel. It was quite a pain in the ass trying to get a screwdriver in there (ended up using a socket wrench with a screwdriver bit in it), but it worked.

Seems quite solid. Don't imagine it crashing down. The marquee looks really nice now. I got two pieces of plexiglass cut at a local shop and the fit perfectly (I'm using Happs marquee retainer).

...Now just how to figure out how to affix the monitor glass and I'm all set...

Thanks all for the suggestions.

.

You can use some silicon compound to do that