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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: 8way on July 20, 2008, 07:51:04 pm

Title: Plexiglass thickness
Post by: 8way on July 20, 2008, 07:51:04 pm
Just wondering what thickness plexi you guys use on your control panels? And do you use regular plexi or something more like Lexan or similar. Basically just need to know what thickness is to thin to drill and cut with a router.
Title: Re: Plexiglass thickness
Post by: javeryh on July 20, 2008, 07:56:49 pm
1/8"
Title: Re: Plexiglass thickness
Post by: 8way on July 20, 2008, 07:59:00 pm
1/8"

Is that just regular Plexi?
Title: Re: Plexiglass thickness
Post by: mountain on July 20, 2008, 08:18:23 pm
Get regular clear 1/8" Acrylic sheet
Title: Re: Plexiglass thickness
Post by: ivwshane on July 20, 2008, 11:27:58 pm
Has anyone tried Polycarbonate? I'm thinking about going with that because it's really durable but I don't know how easy it would be to work with.
Title: Re: Plexiglass thickness
Post by: mountain on July 21, 2008, 12:22:44 am
Polycarbonate is softer which does make it easier to work with but also easier to scratch. You will be better off with Acrylic because it is more scratch resistant.
Title: Re: Plexiglass thickness
Post by: ivwshane on July 21, 2008, 01:16:59 am
Really? I guess its the coating that they put on it that makes it scratch resistant. I was looking at tap plastics and it appears that they now have acrylic sheets with a scratch resistant coating on them now but damn it's expensive!
Title: Re: Plexiglass thickness
Post by: patrickl on July 21, 2008, 02:08:40 am
ivwshane ,

See the BYOAC Wiki Plastics page (http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Plastics).

or this one (http://www.acrylic-designs.com/plastic_FAQ's.htm)
Title: Re: Plexiglass thickness
Post by: 8way on July 21, 2008, 07:53:41 am
Is Acrylic Plexi standard? I mean is that what I'm going to find at my local store (Lowe's or Home-Depot)?
Title: Re: Plexiglass thickness
Post by: massive88 on July 21, 2008, 10:42:10 am
The typical stuff I saw at Lowes this weekend was 0.08" thick.  I was also a little surprised by the way the price was scaling for larger sheets.  Also the only 0.125" thick stuff was in very large (and expensive) sheets.

Are there other stores that you guys usually get the stuff from?  I'm looking at a one player stick that at the smallest will need an 11"x8" sheet.  At Lowes thats going to make me buy a 24"x14" or some such.
Title: Re: Plexiglass thickness
Post by: deadsoulz on July 21, 2008, 04:18:28 pm
I think tinted looks best, but it may just be me.
Title: Re: Plexiglass thickness
Post by: javeryh on July 21, 2008, 04:24:12 pm
I ordered mine from US Plastics based on mountain's recommendation and they had it at my door in two days flat.  Super fast and super easy.  The package was well protected and the price was also reasonable, IMO.   :cheers:
Title: Re: Plexiglass thickness
Post by: massive88 on July 21, 2008, 05:05:16 pm
Spot on, they are reasonable.  Ordered just now, thanks for the recommendation!
Title: Re: Plexiglass thickness
Post by: 8way on July 22, 2008, 08:46:50 am
OK, thanks a lot for all the help guys.