True Arcade Monitor Covers

[Visitor Q]

I'm sorry if this has been covered but are most arcade monitors covered with glass or plexiglas?

Thank You.

[CheffoJeffo]

It's not a representative sample, but 13 of my 17 machines have glass (includes 3 cocktails, all glass-topped).

[Turnarcades]

Genuine arcades used glass, most hobbyists use some kind of acrylic (plastic) as it's cheaper, but some still use glass.

[Visitor Q]

Are there any advantages to glass? More scratch resident maybe, clearer?
 
Am considering smoked glass over smoked plexiglas.

Thanks Guys.

[Ummon]

Lots and lots of threads on it. Recent or current, too. Just search under those names and you'll find 'em.

[Visitor Q]

Will do, thanks. Just looking for a simple answer is all...

[cmoses]

I was recently in your situation, couldn't decide what to replace the badly worn piece of Plexiglas that was on my cabinet that I am MAMEing with.  Looked around and found Plexiglas available at Home Depot and Lowes, but it was all clear.  Went to a local glass shop, they had grey tinted glass.  I heard it was the best way to go.  I had brought in my Plexiglas and they measured it and quoted me $18.00 plus tax for grey tint, cut and sanded, exact size.  I figured what the heck, even if I didn't like it, $20 was not much to try it out.  The Plexiglas I had looked at was all much more.  I needed a piece that was a little less than 2' x 2'.  The Plexiglas was available in 24" x 18" but then it went up to 24" x 48".

I picked up my glass the next day and took it home and installed it.  WOW, it looked amazing.  I did not have to adjust the monitor settings at all.  I did not have to turn the brightness way up.  I just left it alone and the colors really popped, plus with a black bezel that I cut out from black construction paper, everything is hidden.  It looks like the monitor is just floating there. 

I would go for the grey tinted glass.  I think it looks amazing, is MORE scratch resistant and can be cleaned easier.  Worse case scenario, you probably won't spend a lot and can try it and see for yourself.

Edited - meant to say more scratch resistant.

[shardian]

In the early 80's, many games had a piece of tempered glass with a 'bezel' image screen printed directly to the glass - like Ms. Pacman. In the 90's, many games (like Mortal Kombat), simply had  a piece of plexiglass over the monitor.

It is really personal preference. I personally had a 90's dynamo game which had a piece of tinted plexi. I have several 80's games with tempered glass - though I also use tinted plexi behind the glass to hid internals and crappy burnt monitors.

[Visitor Q]

Cool... Seems to me like glass would be more scratch resistant and give a clearer picture that plexi.

I am going to be speaking with another user here (Paul) today or tomorrow about the glass he bought on the phone.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=82241.msg865815#msg865815

He has the exact same monitor I am getting and all, nice guy.

[Visitor Q]

In the early 80's, many games had a piece of tempered glass with a 'bezel' image screen printed directly to the glass - like Ms. Pacman. In the 90's, many games (like Mortal Kombat), simply had  a piece of plexiglass over the monitor.

It is really personal preference. I personally had a 90's dynamo game which had a piece of tinted plexi. I have several 80's games with tempered glass - though I also use tinted plexi behind the glass to hid internals and crappy burnt monitors.

Form your experience, which do you prefer? I don’t think you really said?

[BobA]

I think what he meant to say is glass is MORE scratch resistant.    It take something very hard (diamond) to scratch glass.   

[cmoses]

I think what he meant to say is glass is MORE scratch resistant.    It take something very hard (diamond) to scratch glass.   

Correct - I fixed it.  It is MORE scratch resistant.

[Visitor Q]

I think what he meant to say is glass is MORE scratch resistant.    It take something very hard (diamond) to scratch glass.   

Correct - I fixed it.  It is MORE scratch resistant.

LOL! I fixed my post as well because I was not sure if he was speaking to you or me. 

[shardian]

Well I'll put it another way then. I only repurpose dead cabinets that already have glass/plexi.

If I was scratch building a cabinet I would go with plexi. It is easier to handle, can be cut to size, and doesn't magically shatter in your hands for no reason (been there done that, and it scares the ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- out of you).

[Visitor Q]

Well I'll put it another way then. I only repurpose dead cabinets that already have glass/plexi.

If I was scratch building a cabinet I would go with plexi. It is easier to handle, can be cut to size, and doesn't magically shatter in your hands for no reason (been there done that, and it scares the ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- out of you).

I can't understand why it would shatter for no reason but I guess either can you, strange that it would do that.

If I buy glass, it would be buying it pre-cut so I would just slide her in there. 

[Todd H]

I'm going with glass because every time I've dealt with plexi, it seems like it scratches way too easily.

[Visitor Q]

I'm going with glass because every time I've dealt with plexi, it seems like it scratches way too easily.

Thats what I was thinking Todd but I have not really dealt with Plexi before on this level.

[shardian]

Tempered glass is under alot of stress, which gives it the ridiculously high ultimate strength. You can hit tempered glass full force with a hammer without it breaking...most of the time. Unfortunately, when tempered glass breaks it is a most impressive "epic fail". Old tempered glass has tons of minor surface scratches and edge chips. For this older glass, it has been explained to me that the heat of your hands placed at just the right point on the edge can push the piece over the limit.

Nothing sucks more to one second be holding a large sheet of glass, then the next second be standing there wide eyed and empty handed wondering WTF just happened. The good news is that the epic fail break is a safety device - it is damn near impossible to get cut when tempered glass breaks.

Hope that explains why people use tempered glass.

P.S. Don't use regular off the shelf glass. You are asking for trouble with that.

[Visitor Q]

Tempered glass is under alot of stress, which gives it the ridiculously high ultimate strength. You can hit tempered glass full force with a hammer without it breaking...most of the time. Unfortunately, when tempered glass breaks it is a most impressive "epic fail". Old tempered glass has tons of minor surface scratches and edge chips. For this older glass, it has been explained to me that the heat of your hands placed at just the right point on the edge can push the piece over the limit.

Nothing sucks more to one second be holding a large sheet of glass, then the next second be standing there wide eyed and empty handed wondering WTF just happened. The good news is that the epic fail break is a safety device - it is damn near impossible to get cut when tempered glass breaks.

Hope that explains why people use tempered glass.

P.S. Don't use regular off the shelf glass. You are asking for trouble with that.

How does that stuff look that Paul is using?

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=82241.msg865815#msg865815