Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: SNAAAKE on July 22, 2002, 09:02:00 pm
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okay i bought cheap 10$ plexi glass to go in front of my monitor.now it keep getting scrached for no reason.what will be the solution here?buy lexan or real glass.which type is everyone using.the scratch is very very annoying.will lexan do.then i buy.it cost more but i will buy to get rid of scratch.or real pure glass.its kinda risky because i never worked on those before.please post any helpful info.
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If you don't want to chance getting any scratches i would go with glass. If you dont plan on removing the bezel once it is installed go with lexan. I personaly would use lexan just don't remove the plastic coating till you get it installed. Lexan is almost shatter proof, but it will show scuff marks very easy similar to plexiglass. Unless you have the poper tools or know someone who has the tools to cut glass you will have to have a glass company cut it for you. My Dad just had to have a new glass cut for his storm door a little bit but not much bigger than a monitor bezel and it cost around $100, but that was also tempered glass.
Hope this helps
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hey man..thanks for the help..i can have someone cut the glass for me but how thick should i get?afterall i dont want this to be broken or damaged.also how safe is it?any chance of cutting hand or anything..i know raw glass is sharp so just wanted to know.thanks again..
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Arcade glass is pretty thick. Id say about 3-4mm. Im sure you could go with less and it be fine... as most old house windows are like 2mm and are very strong. I guess it depends on how much abuse the angered guest may dish out! : ) Maybe... put down some rubber strips behind the glass, and where is 'sits', to absorb any strong shock or vibration : )
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hmm..there will be no abuse..hopefully...but where can i get this protective rubber thing..home depot maybe?
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Any rubber should do.
You could use those rubber tie-down straps... bike tire innertubes... a bathtub or dinner place mat..ect.
Im sure you will find zillions of things that will do the job at HomeDeopt : ) Luv that sore! :)
Sincerely,
Steve
:)
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THANKS MAN ;D
i think this will do for me..finally i get rid of the damn scratches..
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you could use that thin foam stuff that comes in a roll. I think it is an insulation or weather stripping of some kind. Pretty handy - only about .25 - .5 " thick, and the back is peel-off adhesive. I think I will be going with glass myself - the scratch potential is a big turn-off. good luck man!
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ONE LAST QUESTION TO ANYONE READING,is it possible that i drill REAL GLASS.because i am holding my plexi with little screws so if anyone worked with lots of glasses..please post any info on the drilling stuff...THANKS to anyone who helps..
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I have seen drill bits at places like Lowes or a home depot that are ceramic/glass drill bits, but I have never used one. So I can't tell you if they work worth a crap or not. I would say that they are made to be used with thick cuts of glass though.
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well..i was trying to find out if i can use screw on glass..
AGAIN..anyone worked with glass..please post your experience.will be really really helpfull ;D
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*cough* *cough*
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=how+to+drill+through+glass (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=how+to+drill+through+glass)
Rampy
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Umm... best not to drill thru the glass. Its very tricky, dangerous, and someone could overtighten them and crack it. Best to use a pressure mounting - like the mirror mounts. Basically, they are small L-shaped holders that have a hole for the screw on one end... and a raised area on the other end, so that it rest above the glass. Its hard to describe... kust look at home depot for mirror mounts... and you will see what I mean.
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neo,
thanks man..i will be in home depot tomorrow..see if i can find something...thanks for the advice..i thought about it..and i knew i would not drill glass..what are the thoughts on LEXAN..does it scratch easy.i am thinking of lexan too..but again..dont want any scratches...anyone having similer problem?
thanks for any post with this problem..
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The glass place (where you buy the sheet) will usually drill the holes for you.
However, they usually make you sign something that says "if we break it,
that's not our problem". caveat: you can't drill tempered glass.
-C
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If you want to make sure that it won't scratch go with glass. If your sure that you dont need tempered glass (no kids throwing stuff ect.) get a glass shop to make it from 1/4" thick plate glass. It should be around that same price as plexi (at least around here it is) for the same size piece. Get them to drill the holes too, the trick about overtightning is to put rubber grommits in the holes so you are never tightening directly on the glass. use washers under the screws also, the more you spread out the pressure the less chance of cracking the glass.
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i knew gotta use finishing washer.but thanks for the other stuff..also 1/8 thickness glass is good enough?there wont be no kids throwing stuff at it :P.we are kids ourselves..also why does lexan cost 3 times more then plexi.will that fix the problem of scratches..still undecided which to take.this scratch thing is making me sick.
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Actually I'm intersted in the outcome of this discussion too FWIW. Is Lexan scratch resistant?
What are the pros, cons, costs of glass/lexan and plexi?
(*goes to check the FAQ* to make sure it isn't explicitly covered already in the meantime)
rampy
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Snaaake: 1/8" (thats what I have, btw it was $6 cut at Home Depot) is fine but 1/4" will be stronger since you want holes in it. Get them to quote it both ways.
Rampy: Plexi is the cheapest and least scratch resistant, it tends to chip and crack when cut. (alot of stuff at Home Depot, Loews, ect. is not real plexiglass, its clear acrilic sheets, not really very scratch resistant at all and cuts very poorly) Lexan is the most expensive (for the same thickness) it easier to cut than plexi and is more scratch resistant. Next is glass: it is cheap, very hard to cut, and very scratch resistant.
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jello,
thanks for the advice..i will go with this 1/8 glass.since you are using this.i just wanted to make sure someone atleast using something similer...
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I built a few countertop cabs.
The other day at Lowes I got a 15" x 19" piece of glass that cost $5 and they cut it to my exact measurements for free. A bit thin so I may go get another one and double it up. On my last project I used automotive window tint film for the bezel. I used Lexan on that one. It's OK, but the tint had bubbles I couldn't get out because it was too flexable. I will likely do the same this time and put the tint in the middle of the thing.
I'll probably put a instruction card in there as well.
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Plexiglass is an acrylic material. Lexan is a polycarbonate material. Both materails will scratch. Acrylic is much more prone to chipping or breaking than polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is nearly unbreakable, and is often used for bullet proof windows and such.
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yeah..i knew something had to be wrong with lexan too...i did get a small piece just to see what it was.AND IT SCRATCH >:(...anyways glass is working much better..thanks for letting know ;)