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| severdhed:
I used plexi on my panel, drilled small pilot holes with a regular drill bit, and then used a dremel to make the holes the right size. then i spraypainted the back side of the plexi...it came out looking very nice. i did learn the hard way that you cant drill plexi with a spade bit...next time i will probably go with lexan, even though it is a bit more money. |
| bluevolume:
I went to HD and checked out the plexi and lexan, I'm trashing that idea. There's little chance that I'd be able to drill that many holes in plexi and not crack it, and the lexan is $50 a sheet for the size I would need. I could get an overlay from Mamemarquees for that price, so that's out. My control panel is going to be made from MDF, why couldn't I just prime and paint the wood, then spray clear acrylic over the whole thing? A couple layers of that stuff and it should be pretty durable. |
| Senator:
I second the router idea for cutting plexi. I never worked with this stuff ever, I read a few tips on this board and it worked fine. Clamp the plexi over your drilled out CP. Use a standard drill bit in reverse to drill guide holes in each of your button holes. Go light on the pressure so you dont crack it, but I never came close. After a few holes you get a feel for it. Then use the router with a carbide tipped flush trim bit. Obviously, your guide holes need to be big enough so the router bit fits thru. Cuts like butter, messy butter, but it cuts real nice. I was surprised how easy it was and how nice the cuts turned out, like factory edges. Used the same flush trim bit around the outside of the CP. Used the same technique to cut the plexi for my marquee. Best way to cut plexi IMO. |
| FrizzleFried:
Cutting plexi, while more difficult than Lexan, isn't THAT hard...just take it slow and constant. DO NOT STOP the bit while drilling. For holes I run a hole-saw backward. For small holes just go up in bit size from smaller to larger one bit at a time. For straight cutting get a PLEXI-CUTTER and score/snap it. |
| FrizzleFried:
--- Quote from: Senator on September 20, 2007, 06:11:00 pm ---I second the router idea for cutting plexi. I never worked with this stuff ever, I read a few tips on this board and it worked fine. Clamp the plexi over your drilled out CP. Use a standard drill bit in reverse to drill guide holes in each of your button holes. Go light on the pressure so you dont crack it, but I never came close. After a few holes you get a feel for it. Then use the router with a carbide tipped flush trim bit. Obviously, your guide holes need to be big enough so the router bit fits thru. Cuts like butter, messy butter, but it cuts real nice. I was surprised how easy it was and how nice the cuts turned out, like factory edges. Used the same flush trim bit around the outside of the CP. Used the same technique to cut the plexi for my marquee. Best way to cut plexi IMO. --- End quote --- I'm gunna have to get me one of these flush-trim bits. |
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