Any alternatives to 'real' cocktail table glass clips? & Do I really need 8?

[quarterback]

In my effort to make my cocktail cab as cost-effective as possible, I'm looking for glass clip options.

It's just difficult for me to rationalize $4+/- for a little bent piece of metal, especially since you have to buy eight of them.   Dropping $40 for these things just seems a little... crazy.  Particularly when I have a gaping coin-door-hole in my cab that I haven't filled because the coin door is $60-$80.   Heck, if I won't spend $70 on a coin door (which actually has lights, moving parts and plays an active role in game playing) then how can I drop $40 on a set of tiny metal angles?

I've searched and searched, and the cheapest I've been able to find them is for ~$30 shipped for eight of them.  I'm close to biting the bullet, but I thought I'd ask if anybody had any other ideas.

Also, I'm wondering if I really need eight of these.  It seems like I could totally get away with only six (two on each side and one on each player's end), and maybe even only four.   At least that would bring my cost down a little bit in the event I can't find a 70-cent HomeDepot replacement option.

Any suggestions?

[markrvp]

You can get away with fewer, but you will hate yourself later.  Don't go to lunch 4 times this month and buy the clips.

[whammoed]

You could use some aluminum channel with the proper inside dimension.  Just cut it down int 8 small pieces and drill 8 holes and paint.

Wait, that sounds like work...

[RayB]

If you use clips at the corners, you only need 4

[quarterback]

You can get away with fewer, but you will hate yourself later.  Don't go to lunch 4 times this month and buy the clips.

In the past 12-months I've gone out to lunch twice, and both times were required for my job.   That, combined with this post, should give you a good idea of where my mind/wallet is.  Maybe I should change my name to "The Frugal Arcader"

So you really think 6-clips wouldn't hack it?  Or would just just look funny?

You could use some aluminum channel with the proper inside dimension.  Just cut it down int 8 small pieces and drill 8 holes and paint.

I was thinking that but, my guess is, that it'd look sloppy.  I doubt I could easily do the 'edges' to where they didn't look like i had done it myself.   

I was also thinking about some kind of corner-braces/protectors.  The kind of thing that people sometimes use on the bottom corners of their cabs when they get all beat up.   I'm not sure about their wraparound abilities (cuz I don't think that they do wrap-around) but maybe I can find something like that.

[quarterback]

If you use clips at the corners, you only need 4

Hey RayB, I was still typing my last post when you posted this.

So, will the standard (real) cocktail table glass clips work at the corners?  Since they're so small and seem to have very little glass-overlap anyway, I wasn't sure if they'd work on the corners.

Are there any examples out there?

[RayB]

If you use clips at the corners, you only need 4

Hey RayB, I was still typing my last post when you posted this.

So, will the standard (real) cocktail table glass clips work at the corners?  Since they're so small and seem to have very little glass-overlap anyway, I wasn't sure if they'd work on the corners.

Are there any examples out there?

Well, you need "Atari" style clips.    They occasionally pop up on Ebay.

[quarterback]

Well, you need "Atari" style clips.    They occasionally pop up on Ebay.

Gotcha.  I think the coner radius on a Midway cocktail cab is too different than an Atari style.  But basically that's the type of "clip" that I was picturing when I mentioned the "corner-braces/protectors".   It seems like I could potentially find some off the shelf corner piece that's something like this.. but different



It's have to wrap around the bottom as well... or maybe I could sanwich two of them, I'm not sure.  I was hoping to hit the hardware store this evening but didn't have a chance.

In the end I may just buy the Midway clips, but I don't mind spending a little time working on it if it ends up saving me $25.

[Brax]

Personally I only used 6 for my cocktail cabinet and they work great. I made them myself out of 3/4" aluminum barstock. I think a 4ft bar only cost 6 bucks. The aluminum polishes up like chrome and looks amazing, much better than the OEM option.

I bought this mini bending brake from Lee Valley, worked like a charm.
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=32011&cat=1,43456,43407

[quarterback]

Sounds cool Brax.  I searched your older posts but couldn't find any pcitures of your cab.  You have any pics up somewhere?

Thanks

[danny_galaga]

still stuck on those clips, eh? i can tell you now that it will be very hard to find the right sized aluminium channel. these are the ones i made (i cant remember if youve seen these or not). i only ended up using four on mine because the lid ended up slightly off centre and i just couldnt fit the side ones on!

[Brax]

Sounds cool Brax.  I searched your older posts but couldn't find any pcitures of your cab.  You have any pics up somewhere?

Thanks

I'm afraid I don't have any pics up anywhere. No digital camera.
I'll try to describe what I did.

The barstock is alum. 3/4" wide x 1/8" thick.
1. I cut the barstock to length (for me it was around 2", you'll have to calculate how thick your top and glass is and how much stock you want protruding on the top and bottom)
2. Drilled and countersunk a hole in the end of the bar to accept a screw.
3. Marked all lines to be bent.
4. Bent clip. Checked fit and tweaked clip accordingly.
5. Filed out all score marks and small cracks in the aluminum from the bending process.
6. Using a file I tapered and rounded the end of the clip that contacts the glass.
7. Sanded the with 400 grit sandpaper and polished alum. with Nevr Dull. It looks like chrome now.
8. Install clip and screw into place.
9. Repeat 5 more times!

There are quite a few steps but once you have it down it goes fast. The first clip took almost an hour to get right but the last clips were done in 15 minutes. The polished aluminum looks great on my cabinet too. If I were given a set of midway clips I'd still use mine. They're the best looking clips I've seen and they only cost me 6 bucks. (I already had the bending brake)

[quarterback]

still stuck on those clips, eh?

     My entire life seems to be a 'work in progress'.    I'm estimating 2007 for cocktail completion

i can tell you now that it will be very hard to find the right sized aluminium channel. these are the ones i made (i cant remember if youve seen these or not). i only ended up using four on mine because the lid ended up slightly off centre and i just couldnt fit the side ones on!

I hadn't seen those before d_g, but they look pretty darn good!

I'm afraid I don't have any pics up anywhere. No digital camera.
I'll try to describe what I did.
....
The polished aluminum looks great on my cabinet too. If I were given a set of midway clips I'd still use mine. They're the best looking clips I've seen and they only cost me 6 bucks. (I already had the bending brake)

Thanks for the step-by-step, Brax.   If you ever feel like cranking out some sets of these, you might have a home based business on your hands

[RayB]

I wanted to resurrect this thread because I just got ahold of an original Bally Midway PacMan cocktail and guess what? It only has 4 glass clips. 2 on either side.

[quarterback]

I wanted to resurrect this thread because I just got ahold of an original Bally Midway PacMan cocktail and guess what? It only has 4 glass clips. 2 on either side.

Ha!  I knew it could be done!

That being said, I just finally bit the bullet and bought eight of them almost exactly 2 hours before you made that post.  Oh well

I also bit the bullet on a coin door that fits the hole in my cab.  It's been almost 3 months since I bought my cocktail kit.  I spent a lot of that time pondering my options and looking for the cheapest way to complete the cab, I still think I did okay and got a good deal on both the clips and the coin door.  And my (used) cocktail glass cost me under $25 delivered to my door, so I'm still "below retail".... we'll see what the bottom line ends up being

[markrvp]

You will be happy that you got eight.  When I got my Gorf cocktail, it only had 4 and the glass could be slid out easily.  It started with eight, though, becasue the screw holes for the other 4 clips were evident underneath.

[Trenchbroom]

I definitely recommend you use all eight.  Glass slides around to much with less than eight clips--chipped my glass on two corners just moving the cabinet up a flight of stairs.   

[quarterback]

You will be happy that you got eight.  When I got my Gorf cocktail, it only had 4 and the glass could be slid out easily. 

Yeah, they're not here yet but I think you're right.  Even aesthetically I think 8 will look better.  And what the hell, it's only money, right?

I definitely recommend you use all eight.  Glass slides around to much with less than eight clips--chipped my glass on two corners just moving the cabinet up a flight of stairs.   

  That sucks.

[markrvp]

And what the hell, it's only money, right?

I'm sure some day we'll wish we had saved it, but that is not today. 

[RayB]

You will be happy that you got eight.  When I got my Gorf cocktail, it only had 4 and the glass could be slid out easily.  It started with eight, though, becasue the screw holes for the other 4 clips were evident underneath.

OH CRAP! I just checked again, and you're right! My pac cocktail has screw holes where the other FOUR clips used to be! This thing had 8!!!

[MazzMn]

If found some brass corner brackets for < $1 each at Home Depot:

Tight fit but works well for me


More details:
http://ripplinriver.com/?p=67

[surface tension]

Have you had the glass made already? If not, maybe have holes put in the glass if aesthetics allow it. I imagine this will add cost, but may not be as much.

[ArtsNFartsNCrafts]

I am trying to figure out the best solution for clips, given that my top is 3/4" and not 1", and most clips are made for 1" thick tops...

[CheffoJeffo]

I am trying to figure out the best solution for clips, given that my top is 3/4" and not 1", and most clips are made for 1" thick tops...

Maybe spacies would do another run -- IIRC he builds with 3/4" tops and they looked AMAZING!

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=58578.0

[MazzMn]

ArtsNFarts: Mine is 3/4" plywood as well. I guess this is another reason I'm trying out the brass clips shown in my last post.

Chef: I agree the spacies clips look great

st: I already ordered my glass, but I you are right, if I would have had holes drilled it would have been a better install.

[spacies]

Hey fellas.

I only have 1 1/4". I have bumped up the thread.

I do have some corner ones but you have to screw through the side.

[quarterback]

Wow, a 2-year old blast from the past with this thread!

[lcddream]

personally i just have rubber feet on the bottom of my glass to keep it from sliding. i have the clips just never installed them.