Plexi over stainless steel? (CP)

[RayB]

Hey, we all remember that great looking stainless steel control panel that a certain member of BYOAC showed off a few weeks ago... Well I was shopping at Rona the other day (That's a Canadian competitor to Home Depot) and they sell rectangles of nice stainless steel for about $10 cdn (looked to be about 24" by 10" I think).

Now, the first thing I noticed about it was how many finger prints were visible. That's one big reason not to use this. BUT what do you think it would look like with clear plexi over it? Would that ruin the look of steel? Anyone tried this?

~Ray B.

[ChadTower]

I haven't, but seeing as how I just picked up a pretty Tank II with steel panel... I'm interested to see if this is viable.

[RayB]

Well hell, for $10 maybe I should just try it!
:-)

[ChadTower]

Well hell, for $10 maybe I should just try it!
:-)

Sure can't hurt if you don't need to drill the stainless panel or anything... I'm considering making a plexy overlay on top of the original Tank II panel and just using some white velcro in the corners to hold it in place.

[NoOne=NBA=]

I think Lexan would really detract from the appearance.

If you are just trying to minimize fingerprints on it, I would:
1) Do a brushed finish on it, or
2) Keep a rag handy.

If you are trying to protect graphics, I'd hit it with a few thin layers of non-yellowing spray lacquer.

You are still going to need to wipe fingerprints off anyway you go.

[ChadTower]

I think Lexan would really detract from the appearance.

If you are just trying to minimize fingerprints on it, I would:
1) Do a brushed finish on it, or
2) Keep a rag handy.

If you are trying to protect graphics, I'd hit it with a few thin layers of non-yellowing spray lacquer.

You are still going to need to wipe fingerprints off anyway you go.

I'd be trying to protect the remaining original graphics.  I think I'd rather detract slightly from the appearance than alter the panel the way spraying it with a lacquer would.  99% of people would never know that the plexi wasn't original anyway even if they thought about it.

[RayB]

Doesn't lacquer itself yellow with age?

[ChadTower]

Doesn't lacquer itself yellow with age?

Don't know, but he did specify nonyellowing lacquer.

[RayB]

OOPS~!

[Blakey]

Hey, we all remember that great looking stainless steel control panel that a certain member of BYOAC showed off a few weeks ago... Well I was shopping at Rona the other day (That's a Canadian competitor to Home Depot) and they sell rectangles of nice stainless steel for about $10 cdn (looked to be about 24" by 10" I think).

Now, the first thing I noticed about it was how many finger prints were visible. That's one big reason not to use this. BUT what do you think it would look like with clear plexi over it? Would that ruin the look of steel? Anyone tried this?

~Ray B.

My panels perchance?

After being used for over a month, they're not looking nastily fingerprinted. They would look better if they were wiped down, but they don't look nasty like polished or unfinished stainless. The brushed finish helps a lot. I'll attempt to take an unattractive photo of them to show you how bad they don't look.