Did everyone use plexi over thier monitor?

[SpAwN]

I'm pretty much done with my cab. I have my monitor mounted and happ bezel cut, it looks awesome.

I picked up a peice of clear plexi last night, they didn't have smoked, I got it home and I'm not sure I want to install it over the monitor. I think it looks better without it.

Do I have to protect my monitor? (d9200) Has anyone left off a cover glass and been happy with it? I know lots of people will touch my monitor, I guess it will clean up?

One issue I'm having is the UAII plans call for a screws to be installed all around the plexi, I'm not sure that is going to look good.

What do you guys think? Plexi, no plexi? Glass? Smoked?

[DeathMonk]

It is not necessary to install plexi or lexan over your monitor.  It just gives your cabinet a more authentic look.  In the arcades it was done so the crazies wouldn't mess up the monitor.

Personally, I would use the plexi, just for the fact of authenticity (and a little easier to clean).  As far as using smoked plexi, you would have to get a response from someone else who has used it.  I am using regular clear stuff.

[bionicbadger]

Putting plexi on makes it look more authentic.  Also it keeps the dust off the monitor itself and is easier to clean.  I used smoked plexi and am really happy with it.

[Krynos]

Smoked plexi looks amazing. It has also enhanced my picture quality, and reduced eye strain over endurance sessions.

Highly recommended IMO.

- Krynos

[ekopp2]

I'll second the opinion on smoked plexiglass - very nice look. It does a couple of things: 1) it adds some "warmth" to the colors on the screen. 2) It also hides the imperfections of your bezel (mine is plain black, for instance).

The difference between plain plexiglass and smoked is amazing. With plain plexiglass, you could see that my bezel is just a piece of black foam core board, cut to the size of the screen. With the smoked glass, the bezel is pure black - right to the edge of the screen. For me, it's much more polished.

[paigeoliver]

I prefer to use silk screened glass or plexi with artwork where possible. But when that isn't possible, then smoked GLASS is the second best choice, followed by smoked plexi.

Smoked plexi does hide stuff well. My Crystal Castles has it, and I have owned the thing nearly a year, and I just now noticed a faint video poker burn in on the monitor.

[Katana Man]

I'd say the main problem to adding plexiglass is the glare it causes. Too bad you can't find anti-glare plexiglass around.  Maybe the picture framing places have a big sheet I could buy. Expensive stuff I bet.

[RandyT]

I'd say the main problem to adding plexiglass is the glare it causes. Too bad you can't find anti-glare plexiglass around.  Maybe the picture framing places have a big sheet I could buy. Expensive stuff I bet.

Be careful how you ask for that stuff.  There is something known as anti-glare plexi, but it's not what you want.  It has an etched-like surface that will make things very blurry unless the image is in contact with the back surface (like a photo or a painting).

You would be looking for something with an optical coating (SiO2 or something similar).  And you would be right.  Expensive, if it can be found, especially in the size you'll need.

RandyT

[Wade]

I had 1/8" plate glass for awhile.  I like that look the best, as the monitor bezel can be seen easily and IMO it looks better with this style of cabinet since that was how it was originally configured (simpsons style).  But since it was 1/8" and not tempered it broke one day when my cat knocked my CP closed when I left it open.

I'm curious how smoked glass/plexi would look because I've been 100% satisfied with the look of my monitor.  Never have I wanted to cover screen burn or felt it was too bright or whatever.  I don't know if I'd like the smoked look with my monitor.

I haven't replaced it yet.  I am a bit worried that using plexi won't look very good because it won't necessarily be perfectly flat like glass, and because it could scratch pretty easily compared to glass.  I have been thinking about going with 1/4" tempered glass but I know it will cost a fair amount.  Since the game is only in my basement gameroom there has been no urgency to fix it.

I know there are different brands of plexi and I should probably go with that, and with the brand that is the hardest to scratch (probably also the most brittle).

Wade

[Carsten Carlos]

I've grey smoked tempered glass in my cab. 1/4" thick.

Would never go without smoked glass or plexi!

[vegetariansoul]

smoked vs. clear

I have never seen smoked and don't remember the clear!  The smoked sounds like the way to go.

Does the smoked plexi look darker?  Or is it very subtle?

Mike

[mkdevo]

how about when using a tv as a monitor? still go with smoked?

[Carsten Carlos]

I have never seen smoked and don't remember the clear!  

Some classics had smoked glass, some not. There was a thread some months ago, maybe you have luck with the search-function. Oscar also had some comparing pictures on his website.

how about when using a tv as a monitor? still go with smoked?

If you've a modern blackline or whatever blackxxx-called TV the glass of the tube is already smoked to enhance contrast.
Otherwise there is no real difference to an arcademonitor.

Remember the old TV's with the seperate smoked glass in front of it? Basically that's the same idea why to use it on a cab!

Using smoked glass would make you bezel-area look better, too, IMHO.

[etumor]

I used smoked plexi when I was using a TV on one of my old cabs.  I thought it looked a lot better than the clear.

When I built my latest cab, I didn't use smoked plexi because in tests I found that the ACT-LABS lightgun was less accurate with the smoked, so I used clear.  But my testing was sort of quick and dirty, and I'm thinking about re-visiting the issue.  I definately like the look of smoked plexi better.

-Jeff "etumor" Allen
http://www.cybercoma.com/supercade

[rdowdy95]

How do you guys lay the plexi over the bezel.  You use screws or just rest it aginst the bezel??

[releasedtruth]

I'm using Graylite 14, which is real dark glass. I used big fat velcro strips to secure it along the edges I needed to, just to keep it from jerking around. Holds like a champ, almost too much

[Angry_Radish]

Greylite as well here, I have enough of an angle where I can just lean it back with no problems or worries of it coming back at me.
I'm also using a TV, and posted some comparison pics in this thread:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=56719.msg561593#msg561593

[Rustynutts]

hi, just thought I would let you no that I mounted my monitor flush with the front of my cab, looks nice with out the plexi.
pluss way easier to clean.

[DavidsGames]

Hey that looks GREAT! Nice goin!