Covering for arcade cabinet?

[Warborg]

I know someone had posted a link to rolls of a material that could be used to cover a cabinet (I belive it was used for cabinet restorations), not Vinyl or contact paper, and I am unable to find it again...

I've been exploring the options of how best to color/cover my Showcase, and was thinking of looking into this option...  I was going to paint it at first, but I don't think my setup at this point is conducive to this.  I would think that Vinyl or contact paper would be very difficult to apply without bubbling over such a large surface area...  So I am looking for something that is heavier then contact paper but not rigid such as laminate sheets...

Anyone have the link or suggestions on what I could use...  Looking for something that would just be a smooth gloss black...

[SNAAAKE]

Maybe wallpaper?

from Home Depot.

[SirPoonga]

Lexan maybe?

Or gloss black paint, a few coats will do.  Look at my cabinet, it's just two coats of hammerred metal rustoleum paint.  Very glossy.  Rustoleum is thick paint too, meant for proctecting.

[1UP]

Lexan maybe?

Or gloss black paint, a few coats will do.  Look at my cabinet, it's just two coats of hammerred metal rustoleum paint.  Very glossy.  Rustoleum is thick paint too, meant for proctecting.

Nice finish...BTW, where's YAPCab?

[Warborg]

Lexan maybe?

Or gloss black paint, a few coats will do.  Look at my cabinet, it's just two coats of hammerred metal rustoleum paint.  Very glossy.  Rustoleum is thick paint too, meant for proctecting.

I was originally going to look into painting, but I don't think so now...  If for nothing else I'd like to be able to do it in my room here instead of trying to cart this Showcase out of here after disassembling it, and I'd have to paint outside which would mean I'd have to wait a few months for the weather to improve...

So at this point I am thinking more along the lines of contact paper, decorative vinyl, or something along those lines...

[spidermonkey]

Warborg,
For the resuts you're looking for I think 3 4x8 sheets of laminate from Home Depot is your best bet. Its really not hard to apply and you can't beat the professional look. Anything soft and pliable is much harder to work with and will only be more susceptible to air bubbles/pockets Especially when covering a large area like the side of a cabinet. The only reason I can see where a pliable material would be useful is if you're cabinet has flat panels in the front  that are forced into a curved position and even if this is the case then laminate can be bent to a certain extent so unless cost is a factor I can't see any reason to use anything else. 3 sheets of 4x8 black laminate should be less then $150.00. Add a few of bucs for the cement and a roller/applicator. The only major expence would be a laminate trimmer and the bit for trimming off the excess but I bought one from Home Depot and then just returned it when I was finished . Sorry if I sound like a salesman for a laminate producing company but after seeing the results on my cabinet I can't imagine using anything else. Whatever you decide to use I hope it comes out to your expectations
S.M.

[lightspeed]

The stuff that most manufacturer's use is a laminate called melamime or melamine (can't remember which).  I believe its carried by Lowes and Home Depot.

[mcleanjoel]

I would think that Vinyl or contact paper would be very difficult to apply without bubbling over such a large surface area...  lack...

I had vinyl lettering put on a window for a business. The guy soaked the window with Windex and applied the vinyl. He was able to squeegee it so there were no bubbles/air pockets.

Don't know if this helps but if you go with an adhesive vinyl it may be worth experimenting with.