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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Numbski on October 30, 2008, 10:32:59 am

Title: Plywood and plexi and molding oh my!
Post by: Numbski on October 30, 2008, 10:32:59 am
This should be simple, but it isn't - sorry.

Okay, so I'm rebuilding my control panel.  Again.  Last time I did this wrong, and I want to do it right this time.

What thickness of each do I use?  I remember seeing that 3/4 plywood is really something less than 3/4, so if I use 3/4" plywood, and 1/8" plexi, and use 3/4" T-molding, I wind up with plexi that sticks out the top about 1/16" or a little more.

I want to do one of two thing:

1:  Have the T-molding fully cover both the wood and the plexi edges (I've seen some REALLY nice panels done this way).
2:  Have the T-molding fully cover the wood, and then either partially or not at all cover the plexi, and then take a roundover router bit and round the corners.

I can't do the second now, because 1/16" isn't enough to work with, and I was really going for the first.  So how do I do this? :(
Title: Re: Plywood and plexi and molding oh my!
Post by: javeryh on October 30, 2008, 10:53:56 am
3.  Offset the slot so the t-molding will cover the plexi and all but 3/32" or so of the plywood (i.e. cut the slot above the centerline of the plywood).  Then use a beveling bit (NOT a roundover bit) on the bottom of the plywood set to 3/32" or whatever isn't covered.  Paint the bottom of the plywood black.  No one will ever know that the t-molding doesn't actually cover the entire edge.
Title: Re: Plywood and plexi and molding oh my!
Post by: Numbski on October 30, 2008, 11:19:58 am
So I'm right then?  3/4" plywood, 1/8" plexi, and 3/4" T-Molding?
Title: Re: Plywood and plexi and molding oh my!
Post by: Franco B on October 30, 2008, 11:50:22 am
Yeah, your right.

Here's a pic from mountain from a similar thread.

Here is a shot I took when I was building my control panel. i used 3/4" MDF so I had to bevel the bottom edge. You can't even tell it is done this way unless you bend down and look up at it.

(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=51525.0;attach=68828;image)
Title: Re: Plywood and plexi and molding oh my!
Post by: AtomSmasher on October 30, 2008, 12:04:51 pm
So I'm right then?  3/4" plywood, 1/8" plexi, and 3/4" T-Molding?
Or you can do it the way it says in the Project Arcade book (which is the way I did it) and use 5/8'' plywood, so the total of the plywood and plexi is 3/4'' making it the perfect size for the t-molding.
Title: Re: Plywood and plexi and molding oh my!
Post by: javeryh on October 30, 2008, 02:11:36 pm
So I'm right then?  3/4" plywood, 1/8" plexi, and 3/4" T-Molding?
Or you can do it the way it says in the Project Arcade book (which is the way I did it) and use 5/8'' plywood, so the total of the plywood and plexi is 3/4'' making it the perfect size for the t-molding.

True but 5/8" plywood is hard to come by for some people.  It's especially hard to come by in MDF form - I've never seen it and I've looked quite a bit.
Title: Re: Plywood and plexi and molding oh my!
Post by: AtomSmasher on October 30, 2008, 02:36:24 pm
So I'm right then?  3/4" plywood, 1/8" plexi, and 3/4" T-Molding?
Or you can do it the way it says in the Project Arcade book (which is the way I did it) and use 5/8'' plywood, so the total of the plywood and plexi is 3/4'' making it the perfect size for the t-molding.

True but 5/8" plywood is hard to come by for some people.  It's especially hard to come by in MDF form - I've never seen it and I've looked quite a bit.
I had no problem finding 5/8'' MDF and plywood at both my local Lowes and Home Depot when I did my projects.  Maybe it's a regional thing  :dunno
Title: Re: Plywood and plexi and molding oh my!
Post by: javeryh on October 30, 2008, 02:48:55 pm
So I'm right then?  3/4" plywood, 1/8" plexi, and 3/4" T-Molding?
Or you can do it the way it says in the Project Arcade book (which is the way I did it) and use 5/8'' plywood, so the total of the plywood and plexi is 3/4'' making it the perfect size for the t-molding.

True but 5/8" plywood is hard to come by for some people.  It's especially hard to come by in MDF form - I've never seen it and I've looked quite a bit.
I had no problem finding 5/8'' MDF and plywood at both my local Lowes and Home Depot when I did my projects.  Maybe it's a regional thing  :dunno

I think it is regional - everywhere I asked said they could special order it but at some crazy price.