Monitor plexi glass and how I made it look professional

[mccoy178]

I didn't see anybody else's ideas, so I don't know if this is a repeat idea.  I remember when I started this part of the cab, I didn't know how to make the plexi look nice.  I tried applying a vinyl to the back side and it looked terrible.  So here is how I did it.

I used 1/4" plexiglass from Lowe's.  Once cut, I placed it over the monitor where it will sit.  I taped the outside(side facing player) of the plexi around the monitor as a guide.  I took the plexi out, taped the inside(the side facing the monitor) edge to edge with the tape on the outside.  This allowed me to know where my edges of the monitor were.  I also placed a round 1/2" sticker where the remote control receiver is.  After taping, I painted the area outside of my tape with the same semi gloss black that I painted the cab with.  It dried within an hour.  I peeled the tape and sticker, and viola, from the front it looked like a perfect bezel.  It was very easy because all I had to do was lap the paint on the back.  You can't see any of the streaks on the front.  Just nice and smooth.  Now for the best part.

I couldn't find smoked plexiglass in my area, so I went to a local car detail shop and bought a 24 x 24" piece of window tint.(56% shade).  It only cost $3 for it.  How nice to finally find something cheap!  The guy who sold it told me said the trick is to use soapy water on both the plexi and the tint.  So I cut the size that I needed, peeled the clear paper off the tint, laid it on the inside of the plexi, used a small straight edge to work out any bubbles and the final product was excellent.  Since the tint has a water based glue, it dried on its own and looks smooth as could be.  With the water, it slid very easily and took all of two minutes to apply.

I have a 27" Daewoo flat screen with components and I am very happy with the look now.  My plexi is very close to the monitor, otherwise, I feel that the posterboard trick to hide the area between would have been an awesome option. 

Since this is my first contribution, I hope it helps another noob just getting started!

EDIT: I have attempted to make it more understandable.

[quarterback]

I took the plexi out, taped the inside edge to edge with the tape on the outside.

This post makes my head hurt.

I think I understand what you're saying you did, but maybe you could find words that are more specific than "inside" and "outside"

[mccoy178]

I have a terrible camera.  The pics of the LED plexi gives the best look as to what I did.

http://ohiostate.photosite.com/

[Silver]

Hey looks really good! Much cheaper than what I was planning too....

AND I've just noticed you're rather flash marquee... Where did you get the Betabryte or whatever it is? How is it programmed? I'd love some info....

[daveg2000]

Whoops.. found a mistake on one of your pictures.

It appears the picture on the control panel is
of something other than lambeau field.

obviously this is a major flaw in the cabinet and
should be corrected.

 

Nice Job.  Love the marquee also!  Got more on it?

[Witchboard]

Where are the plans for the poker table? 

[RayB]

betabryte? lambeau?  what the ?! 

[tommy]

That tint you put on the plexi will turn purple after time and look horrible

[mccoy178]

Hey thanks Tommy!  Appreciate the tip!  Seriously I couldn't find any smoked plexi in my area, and if it does fade, the glass comes right out so it will be an easy fix to replace the glass.  I'll take my chances.

The marquee is a beta brite 213c-1 model.  Fits nice in my 27" wide cab.  I enclosed it with MDF.  It uses a remote and better yet, a program on the computer that makes it very easy to change between messages.  I bought it at Sam's club, but I have seen it on Ebay.

The poker table I made from ideas I got at various poker forums.  Thanks for the compliments.
www.homepokertourney.com is where I started.

[FractalWalk]

I can't see the pics so let me see if I understand.

With the glass in place you masked off the visible edge of the monitor on the galss front. Then you turned the glass around and used the masking tape from the front as a guide to mask off the back. This, in effect, masks off the entire monitor area on the back side of the glass.

Then you painted the exposed glass on the back (non-monitor area) resulting in a black area surrounding your monitor a.k.a. a bezel. Since you painted the back, the paint looks extremely smooth.

Very clever.