to bolt or not to bolt lexan down onto control panel?

[Timoe]

I am working on a 2up control panel.  I will cover the artwork with polycarbonate(lexan, not carbonite.  That was the stuff that Boba Fett froze Han Solo with in Empire Strikes Back)

here is a link to the control panel in question - http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=51579.0

Anyway,  I really dont want to use carriage bolts.  A) I dont have any and B) they dont look that great.

Do you think I'll need them or will my buttons hold it all down?  Note:  no button is closer than 4-6 inches to any edge.

[cabe]

I have some pan headed allen bolts I used for my mini control panel, they worked a treat and they dont have the square section you have with carriage bolts. When I get home I shall dig out the website I bought them from and take some pics.

[sodapopinski]

use small bolts with a finishing washer(fisheye). Thats what I used and it looks good.

[Mark70]

You have a ton of buttons and they go fairly close to the edges.  Each of those buttons is acting like a fastener.  Why put ugly, scratch your wrist bolts there; unless you're putting it someplace public.

The edge of my CP is trimmed with t-molding which keeps the edge from getting flipped up.  I haven't noticed a need for bolts or screws.

[Fozzy The Bear]

You have a ton of buttons and they go fairly close to the edges.  Each of those buttons is acting like a fastener.
The edge of my CP is trimmed with t-molding which keeps the edge from getting flipped up.  I haven't noticed a need for bolts or screws.

I have to agree with Mark on this... All of your buttons are fastners.... No need to add more. It's not going to go anywhere.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[Frosty]

I agree...

If you have a lot of buttons situated more towards the edges of your control panel, you should be fine without bolts.  But, adding is a good idea, I think.

I needed to bolt the lexan down, so I used 1 1/4 inch carriage bolts, and you can barely notice them.

[MikeDeuce]

I spray painted black and halogen-lamp baked woodscrews to match my CP and countersunk the holes in the acrylic. Clean, flush and I like knowing the edge of the acrylic will never lift.

Link to pic:

http://www.ironvulva.com/g/leon/25_G?full=1

[Luckydevil]

I gotta give it to ya MikeDuece...

That Leon control panel is fuggin sick! Probably my all time favorite control panel, even though it isn't attached to a cab. I'm a huge fan of the movie too, so I guess I am partial.

You should definitely think about making a full size cab themed like that. 

[MikeDeuce]

I gotta give it to ya MikeDuece...

Thanks a lot for the super kind words! Got a few more tricks up my sleeve (i hope )

[BamBam]

I did the same as Mrkdeuce did, but I would lean towards Mark's idea of just having the buttons etc. hold down the Lexan.  I trimmed the edging with a T'Moulding that wrapped around the edges.

John