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Drilling laminate. Router or Forstner?
markrvp:
--- Quote from: pointdablame on June 22, 2005, 12:24:23 pm ---If you're using a trackball mounting plate, its a lot easier.
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nickbuol:
Thanks for all of the tips.
On the trackball, I am looking at getting some artwork for the CP from MameMarquees, so I think that ultimately I am going to want the mounting plate (yes, I have one on order) flush with the top of the laminate.
I know, why laminate it if I am covering it with art anyway, well I want the added durability of the laminate under the art.
I've also heard that the product from MameMarquees doesn't need lexan on top, but I could be wrong there too.
So I think that I will go with a good Forstner bit for the buttons and joysticks. For the trackball, I will cut out the trackball hole in the particle board (route out any excess to get the right height for the trackball. Then do I cut (route) out the laminate bit enough for the maounting plate to fit, and fill the cracks with something so it is even for the artwork, or what?
CJK:
--- Quote from: nickbuol on June 22, 2005, 01:54:03 pm ---I know, why laminate it if I am covering it with art anyway, well I want the added durability of the laminate under the art.
I've also heard that the product from MameMarquees doesn't need lexan on top, but I could be wrong there too.
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Personally, if you're using MDF, I'd just give it a coat of primer and a single coat of paint and put the overlay on top of that. Whether you put Lexan over top of the panel or not is personal preference. Mark, for instance, didn't use it on his son's mini Pac-Man cabinet and was happy with the result. (He did laminate the artwork, though.) A lot of other people here have used Lexan to protect the artwork, and the results (from the pics they've posted) look great.
If you're going to use Lexan, I wouldn't bother with the laminate underneath. If you aren't, it saves having to paint the CP first, but other than that, I don't see that it adds much except extra work. :)
--- Quote ---So I think that I will go with a good Forstner bit for the buttons and joysticks.
--- End quote ---
nickbuol:
I was going to use particle board, and not MDF since I am laminating it, but I guess that I could always skip the lamination of the CP, use some MDF (not sure if I can get it in a size just for the CP) for the CP, cut it, get the holes, etc, install the art, and put lexan on top. Protects the art, saves on having to drill holes in the laminte (I've done plexi and lexan in the past without problems)...
Hmmm. Wheels are turning. You guys are great with these suggestions.!
CJK:
Home Depot (aka the Borg) should have 3/4" and 1/2" MDF in 2x4 sheets. (They call them something like "HandyPanels" or similar.)
-- Chris