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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: mugwump on December 14, 2004, 07:42:49 pm

Title: Metal-topped CP
Post by: mugwump on December 14, 2004, 07:42:49 pm

OK, now that the weather has turned nasty it's time to redo the old CP.  My current CP is plexiglass over black contact paper and it's getting a bit scratched up.  For the next incarnation I was thinking of using a metal top along the lines of a brushed silver look.  What I want to do is find some really thin tin-like sheets that can be wrapped around an MDF CP and then easily drilled.  I don't have any metalworking tools so the metal needs to be soft enough to bend and kink with pliers and the like.  But if it bends easily then would it also dent easily and look like junk?  I'm just trying to think of something other than plexi/lexan to try out.  Any ideas?

Title: Re: Metal-topped CP
Post by: Apollo on December 14, 2004, 08:26:23 pm

I used 2mm mild steel for my four panels. I got a sheet metal place to make the bends used a bi-metal hole saw to drill holes and had them powder coated black for an indestructable finish. They are great. See this thread.

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=10;action=display;threadid=22004

Title: Re: Metal-topped CP
Post by: JonnyBoy on December 14, 2004, 10:40:55 pm

Yeah, go for steel. If I remember correctly tin can sometimes turn funky colors. I forget the exact type of steel...maybe zinc coated is the best? I'll try to get back to you on that one...

Title: Re: Metal-topped CP
Post by: mugwump on December 15, 2004, 08:11:43 am

Thanks for the replies.  The more I think about it I guess I don't really need the metal to be soft as I can just cut it to fit on top of the CP and then use a softer material as trim around the edges.  I just need something that I -- with my limited patience and tools -- can drill somewhat easily.