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Budget control panel covering?
bluevolume:
My project has gone way over budget (just like everyone else's), and I'm trying to find ways to cut some costs going forward. I need some type of covering for my control panel (which is probably going to be 3/4" MDF). I looked at mamemarquees, and while their stuff looks great I really don't want to spend $50 on this one part.
What else have people done here? I thought about using plexi, but I'm certain that with that many holes to drill I'd end up cracking it. Some type of laminate that was just a solid dark blue would be OK for now. I also thought about painting the MDF, then applying a few coats of thick Minwax.
lordtodd75:
You can use plexi, but dont use a drill, use a router. I used regular plexi, not lexan and mine overlay came out great. You would have to paint underneath as I am sure a plexi overlay on top of non finished wood/mdf would look kind of silly.
unclet:
An economical solution would be to simply use some black vinyl sticky overlay material. I believe people have indicated that PartsExpress sell this stuff. I believe you simply pull off the backing and then lay it on the control panel.
I bought my vinyl covering for my driving cabinet many moons ago from Happs ...... I got a great deal on the Black Pica Vinyl since it was on sale for something like 60% off.
Anyway, I believe enough people of these boards have used PartsExpress vinyl so you might want to seek them out and ask how the vinyl is holding up. Not sure you would even need to get plexiglass at all. Also, plexi can be expensive as well ..... depending on the size of your control panel.
BTW: For my standup cabinet I used plexiglass as a covering a used a a drill for the holes (ie: not router) and had no problems at all. The key to drilling in to plexi is to let the spinning drill bit spin enough to melt the plexi as it sinks into the plexi (with minor pressure applied). Typically, using a drill on wood, the person applies a lot of pressure to simply get the hole bored out, but with plexi minor pressure is key and just let the drill melt itself through. No problem at all. oh yeah, I used a jigsaw to round the coners of the plexi to match the rounded corners of my control panel.
bluevolume:
--- Quote from: unclet on September 13, 2007, 02:34:26 pm ---...oh yeah, I used a jigsaw to round the coners of the plexi to match the rounded corners of my control panel.
--- End quote ---
The last time I tried to use a jig saw on plexiglass I literally had pieces of broken glass flying everywhere. I had a bit specifically for cutting plexi as well.
CheffoJeffo:
--- Quote from: unclet on September 13, 2007, 02:34:26 pm ---An economical solution would be to simply use some black vinyl sticky overlay material. I believe people have indicated that PartsExpress sell this stuff. I believe you simply pull off the backing and then lay it on the control panel.
I bought my vinyl covering for my driving cabinet many moons ago from Happs ...... I got a great deal on the Black Pica Vinyl since it was on sale for something like 60% off.
Anyway, I believe enough people of these boards have used PartsExpress vinyl so you might want to seek them out and ask how the vinyl is holding up. Not sure you would even need to get plexiglass at all. Also, plexi can be expensive as well ..... depending on the size of your control panel.
--- End quote ---
I would second the vinyl suggestion.
I use the Happ Pica all the time ... although I have now run out of the batch I picked up during the last big sale at the local distributor.
Mostly I have used it on generic metal panels on generic cabs, but I have used it on wood with good results (on my very first cab and it still looks like new).
And, when you are ready for something else, just apply a little heat and it comes off fairly nicely.