Author Topic: Good material for overlay (Home Depot?) (Read 8819 times)

liche · « **on:** November 07, 2002, 08:37:58 pm »

My initial attempts of bending lexan have failed and I am looking for a nice alternative.

Basically, what is the standard material most people are using for an either solid color or marbled color overlay on the control panel.

I think I saw a bunch of people using some type of self-adhesive material purchased from Home Depot for this.

Thanks

electricd · « **Reply #1 on:** November 08, 2002, 12:00:13 am »

The people I have seen who do this have used plain contact paper used to line cabinets. I had good luck bending lexan however (1/8") using a quality heat gun and metal rods to shape. How did you try it?

ED7

liche · « **Reply #2 on:** November 08, 2002, 07:40:34 am »

I managed to bend it somewhat okay, but its not as flat against the panel as I'd liked. I too used a high quality heat gun and formed it against the panel using some wood jigs.

What is that thick adhesive material i usually see ontop of control panels. This stuff usually comes in solid colors from what i've seen in the arcades etc...

L

electricd · « **Reply #3 on:** November 08, 2002, 08:21:53 am »

You are not talking about simply laminate are you? Comes in various sheet sizes and has to be cut with a router?

ED7

Brax · « **Reply #4 on:** November 08, 2002, 08:33:32 am »

He's talking about an adhesive backed vinyl. Good luck finding that.
Happs has some ugly geometric patterned stuff they sell. (blue, black and white if I remember correctly) Look under amusement, accessories, then "high quality control panel overlay".
You might be able to find some single coloured stuff from a sign shop.

Other than that I can't think of anywhere.

rampy · « **Reply #5 on:** November 08, 2002, 10:26:45 am »

I believe happs does have a generic vinyl control panel overlay that's just grey/speckled grey.. it might not be self adhesive (i don't remember) but it wasn't as tacky (stylistically) as the cubist one...

rmapy

neuromancer · « **Reply #6 on:** November 08, 2002, 12:19:45 pm »

Quote from: Brax on November 08, 2002, 08:33:32 am

He's talking about an adhesive backed vinyl. Good luck finding that.

After you have your design, you take it to a commercial print shop that specializes in "large format printing". They get the stuff on spools and print whatever you want on it. They all do different things, so just tell them what you want, and they will decide the best way to get there. A cheap solution is to front laminate printed paper and stick it down with rubber cement.

Bob

dhansen · « **Reply #7 on:** November 08, 2002, 01:03:28 pm »

Video Connect sells this stuff:

http://www.videoconnect.com/content/overlays.htm

I got the large black overlay and it worked great. Doesn't show fingerprints like laminate. I used it on quite afew control panels but now I'm doing the graphic overlay, lexan thing..

Doug

OSCAR · « **Reply #8 on:** November 08, 2002, 06:27:00 pm »

I've used both of these:

http://www.happcontrols.com/vending/acesor/49057200.htm - Item D

http://www.wicothesource.com/new2/pages/page17.htm - Black levant

Very nice & durable stuff. It's pressure sensitive, so you can adjust it while applying it, and you won't have to worry about any bubble problems.

OnigumO · « **Reply #9 on:** April 25, 2003, 05:01:12 am »

Hey Oscar, how is the texture on it? That stuff looks rough. What could you best compare that to and have you ever handled an X-Arcade because what type of finish did they use on that? Thanks.

paigeoliver · « **Reply #10 on:** April 25, 2003, 05:20:49 am »

I have used rubber floormat from Home Depot as plain control panel overlay on more than one cabinet.

The stuff is on big rolls in the area with the carpets. Look for the cheapest, plainest black stuff.

You install it upside down. Stretch it over your panel, and then knock it in with small nails on the underside. Then cut your holes for your buttons and joysticks and you are good to go.

The stuff is indestructable, and looks just fine on any cab. Heck, you could probably coat an entire cabinet in the stuff if you wanted to.

It is also really cheap. Something like $1 per foot, and the rolls it comes on are like 2 or 3 feet wide. So it only takes like one or two feet for most any panel.

OnigumO · « **Reply #11 on:** April 25, 2003, 05:28:42 am »

Rubber? the stuff isnt too rought is it? I just want something similar to an X-arcades feel.

paigeoliver · « **Reply #12 on:** April 25, 2003, 05:40:46 am »

It isn't rough at all. Pretty soft actually. It doesn't have the same feel as the control panel overlays on my other games though, as it is kind of cushiony. It both looks and feels good. I have no idea why nobody else uses the stuff?

Brax · « **Reply #13 on:** April 25, 2003, 07:13:36 am »

I just discovered this stuff at Ikea. (Canada) It's on sale (which probably means "discontinued") It was $.95 a roll I believe. I couldn't find it on the Canadian website and you may not be able to find it on your countries website but go in the store and have a look. It's with the kitchen stuff...... knives and such.

I really like it, its reminiscent of the blue and black grid pattern you see on some of the overlays around here. It's meant to tear off in square sheets but I just unrolled it and put packing tape on the back to prevent it from coming apart. You'd never know it wasn't a solid roll. I do plan to put lexan over it but you wouldn't have to if you used a good spray glue. Heck, it's meant to be a placemat! It'll stand up to our grimey little fingers!

(they had an orange and red one at my store as well)

http://www.ikea.co.uk/product_presentation/show.asp?productnumber=40042989&type=ART

shmokes · « **Reply #14 on:** April 25, 2003, 05:49:25 pm »

I love Ikea

Grasshopper · « **Reply #15 on:** April 25, 2003, 05:55:43 pm »

Quote from: liche on November 07, 2002, 08:37:58 pm

My initial attempts of bending lexan have failed and I am looking for a nice alternative.

Basically, what is the standard material most people are using for an either solid color or marbled color overlay on the control panel.

I think I saw a bunch of people using some type of self-adhesive material purchased from Home Depot for this.

Thanks

Several people on this board have covered their panels with vinyl or PVC cloth with apparently good results.

I considered doing this because PVC cloth is cheap and easy to obtain where I live. However the temptation of being able to design my own artwork proved too much so I'm now going down the Lexan/Plexiglass route.

Tiger-Heli · « **Reply #16 on:** April 26, 2003, 11:15:42 am »

Quote from: Brax on November 08, 2002, 08:33:32 am

He's talking about an adhesive backed vinyl. Good luck finding that.
Happs has some ugly geometric patterned stuff they sell. (blue, black and white if I remember correctly) Look under amusement, accessories, then "high quality control panel overlay".
You might be able to find some single coloured stuff from a sign shop.

Other than that I can't think of anywhere.

Sign shops will have it, but they may only want to sell it in 100' rolls.

It's on E-bay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2723736156&category=1246

Searching for "Vinyl plotter" seems to work well for me.

PAIGEOLIVER - neat suggestion on the black rubber carpet stuff. I think I'll check that out!!!

ahofle · « **Reply #17 on:** April 28, 2003, 05:06:24 pm »

Has anyone used that vinyl stuff to cover the sides of a particle board cabinet in lieu of laminate? I'm in the process of building a cab from the mameroom plans, but I'm not looking forward to laminating the side pieces (mostly due to cost). Just wondering if there are any alternatives.

paigeoliver · « **Reply #18 on:** April 28, 2003, 11:21:09 pm »

If nothing else. That rubber carpet mat stuff could cover your sides cheaply and effectively. And if it looked bad, you would only be out $20, and would still have the stuff for another project.

I once saw an Asteroids with carpeted sides. Looked kind of funky, but not too terribly bad.

paigeoliver · « **Reply #19 on:** April 28, 2003, 11:21:56 pm »

Speaking of carpet.

Has anybody ever covered a cabinet in automotive speaker box carpet?

HeadRusch · « **Reply #20 on:** May 01, 2003, 11:15:36 pm »

Haven't tried, but my next project (which should be a mini coctail type of thing) will probably be done in Bamboo wraps with bamboo trim....gotta make a Titi mame for my bizarro home theatre/recroom....

Brax · « **Reply #21 on:** May 01, 2003, 11:18:10 pm »

Quote from: paigeoliver on April 28, 2003, 11:21:56 pm

Speaking of carpet.

Has anybody ever covered a cabinet in automotive speaker box carpet?

Theres an examples of that in the projects pages... He did his cocktail and his upright... looked just ok.


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