TIP: Use Corner Protector from Home Depot as a Marquee Holder

[Chad]

Home Depot sells 1/2" plastic corner protectors (like the ones used in schools and hospitals) in 4' and 8' pieces. I got an 8' piece for 3$ and used a utility knife to cut it down to size. I sprayed the inside with black so the outside is gloss black. My marquee is 2 sheets of 1/8" plexi-glass so I had plenty of room to drill holes for the screws. I used sheet metal screws that I colored black with a sharpie marker. This is just an alternative to Happs 11$ Marquee Holder. They also sell other sizes and it comes in aluminum, too.

Just trying to help.

[OSCAR]

That is a good tip.  I have used 3/4" x 3/4" aluminum angle on my last couple of cabinets for the marquee holder.  I think the aluminum angle when painted black looks more authentic and professional than the Happ plastic one.  You are right, too, that it is quite a bit cheaper.  I think I paid about $6 for a 6' stick.

Here it is installed on my current project.

[Sasquatch!]

Not a bad idea at all.  Thanks for the tip!

[Wienerdog]

Oscar you little devil.  Hey, we all like your stuff, do you have a page with you cab/cabs?

[hedge]

That is a good tip.  I have used 3/4" x 3/4" aluminum angle on my last couple of cabinets for the marquee holder.  I think the aluminum angle when painted black looks more authentic and professional than the Happ plastic one.  You are right, too, that it is quite a bit cheaper.  I think I paid about $6 for a 6' stick.

Here it is installed on my current project.

Wow!  That looks great.  I have cut all my MDF but am still trying to figure out how to put it all together.  Where exactly do the screws go for the marque holder?  Are you attaching it to the sides, or to the wood above and below the marque?

I'm having trouble visualizing how the whole marque fits together...

[OSCAR]

Wow!  That looks great.  I have cut all my MDF but am still trying to figure out how to put it all together.  Where exactly do the screws go for the marque holder?  Are you attaching it to the sides, or to the wood above and below the marque?

I'm having trouble visualizing how the whole marque fits together...

Thanks!

I drilled two holes in one leg in each of the angles for securing it to the cab.  The screws are hard to see in my photo because I painted them black when I painted the angles.  I made the holes about 2" from each end, but put the holes close to the toe of the angle so you can still hit the cabinet wood with the screw after the marquee is installed.  I whipped up a quick sketch that can hopefully explain it better.  If something isn't clear just let me know.





Wienerdog -  Sorry, I don't have much in the way of documentation on my previous projects except for my bartop cabinet, www.skum.org/bartop.  I've been taking pictures and documenting the construction of my current upright so I can put together a decent website for it when it's complete.  I just need to finish off the artwork and my Star Wars / trackball panel then I will consider it 99% (it'll never be 100%, as you all know   ) and then I will get a website up for it.

[hedge]

Oscar: That clarifies things a lot.  A picture says a thousand words!

A couple of followup questions, if you would be so kind:

1. It looks like the marque is simply held in place between the gap between the angle and the cabinet wood.   Given that there are 2 screws on the bottom as well, does that mean you have to unscrew the angles to remove/replace the marque?

2.  What is the marque itself made of?  Did you print the design on some sort of clear medium, and then sandwich it between 2 sheets of plexyglass or lexan?

Believe it or not things are starting to become much clearer!  I must have seen 100 examples of great cabs on the web, but for some reason have never been able to visualize the marque...

[OSCAR]

1. It looks like the marque is simply held in place between the gap between the angle and the cabinet wood.   Given that there are 2 screws on the bottom as well, does that mean you have to unscrew the angles to remove/replace the marque?

You are correct.  I can remove the marquee by removing the top angle and sliding the marquee straight up.  I do have to loosen the bottom angle screws just slightly because I have the angles holding the marquee in fairly tight.

2.  What is the marque itself made of?  Did you print the design on some sort of clear medium, and then sandwich it between 2 sheets of plexyglass or lexan?

The marquee is actually from www.emdkay.net.  See my post in the Buy/Sell/Trade forum for details on that.  I took the marquee and sandwiched it between two peices of 1/16" plexi.  To keep both pieces of plexi aligned I attached them together with masking tape wrapped over the edges, but that is hidden behind the angles.

[Chad]

I used 2 sheets of 1/8" plexi. I just printed the marquee out on regular with a laser printer and cut the white away with a utility knife and a straight edge. This is the cheep way out because you can see the lines between the three sheets. But it still looks good. I did read where someone printed there marquee twice to make the colors more rich. I did this and it helped a lot.

[skirge66]

hmmmm...plain unfinished aluminum?...that's kinda handy, that would mean that i could actually anodize my marquee bracket to match the colors of my cabinet, i think that would be really sharp  

[SNAAAKE]

okay so just spray paint the aluminum?
everyone spray painting?
thanks  

[OSCAR]

okay so just spray paint the aluminum?
everyone spray painting?
thanks  

Yes, that's what I did.  I did use gray primer on it first, though.

[SNAAAKE]

Yes, that's what I did.  I did use gray primer on it first, though.

NIIICE !
I am sold...just saw that picture where you installed the aluminum retainer...
prime the aluminum..doesnt sound bad..goin to home depot right now !

[Sprucemoose]

Thanks for the info guys.  I am just about to install my marquee, but wasn't sure the best method.  I was thinking about recessing the marquee about a 1/2" to expose T-molding where you have installed the aluminum angle, but this seems much easier with a clean finish.

[SNAAAKE]

I found another "marque retainer wanna be" at home depot today...I will post a pic...cant find the damn camera that is.
this thing looks almost like happs marque retainer.I think same material as well(PVC plastic or whatever that is).  

[Zakk]

What section was it in?  (ie what is it used for normally).  I've used the aluminum method as well, but plastic would be much more handy, if it was sturdy enough.