Thickness of Plexi/Lexan over CP

[lovespicyfood]

Hello Everyone,

I'm very close to starting my first cab...

I'll be attempting to do the cab outlined in Project Arcade, but I'm a little bit confused about the CP...  Do I need to make the CP out of 5/8" MDF in order to use 3/4" t-moulding so that it is centered?  Would using 3/4" MDF for the CP look lame w/ 3/4" t-moulding because of the "overhang" or could I get t-moulding that was a little bit thicker just for the cp?

My local Home Depot did not have 5/8" MDF and even if they did, I would probably have to buy a 4X8' piece of it since they didn't have anything smaller than that in the 3/4" MDF.  Seems like a waste to buy that big of a piece for just a CP.

I really want some lexan/plexi over my CP though...
Is plexi/lexan usually found in thicknesses of .1"?

Thanks for your help1

[boykster]

AFAIK, lexan/plexi is available (in the US at least) in standard imperial fractional sizes (1/16, 1/8, etc), so, if you used 3/4" MDF and 1/8" plexi then you could use 7/8" t-molding.

I know that t-mold.com sells 7/8" in smooth black (most common size is 3/4")....

Rich

[lovespicyfood]

AFAIK, lexan/plexi is available (in the US at least) in standard imperial fractional sizes (1/16, 1/8, etc), so, if you used 3/4" MDF and 1/8" plexi then you could use 7/8" t-molding.

I know that t-mold.com sells 7/8" in smooth black (most common size is 3/4")....

Rich

Wow Rich, thanks for the quick and informative answer!

[Mark70]

I used 1/16" (actually I think it was a little thinner) acrylic.  I used 3/4" mdf.  My t-molding slot is 1/16" higher than center on the thickness of the wood.  By the time the t-molding flattens out from being hammered in well, it leaves a little lesss than a 1/16" of wood showing.  Mine is all painted black.  You never see the little edge at the bottom.  My CP is designes similar to the neon mame where the CP surface overhangs the box.  You could route off that 1/16" to the edges of the box, or even just 1" or so back from the edge of the CP surface (underside) and you'll be back to the desired thickness at the edge.

[WwonderLlama]

Do I need to make the CP out of 5/8" MDF in order to use 3/4" t-moulding so that it is centered?

I cut several prototype CPs out of 5/8" particleboard with the intention of using the best one as a template on MDF.  I ended up just using the particle-bard CP with 1/8" lexan covering the artwork.




IIRC, the partcileboard came in smaller sizes.  I think I got a 4'x4' sheet (and it was a bit less expensive than MDF) to play with.

Edit: added image:


In the end, I had this:


The molding fit just about perfectly. (I do need to clean up the edges of the lexan a bit)

[lovespicyfood]

I used 1/16" (actually I think it was a little thinner) acrylic.  I used 3/4" mdf.  My t-molding slot is 1/16" higher than center on the thickness of the wood.  By the time the t-molding flattens out from being hammered in well, it leaves a little lesss than a 1/16" of wood showing.  Mine is all painted black.  You never see the little edge at the bottom.  My CP is designes similar to the neon mame where the CP surface overhangs the box.  You could route off that 1/16" to the edges of the box, or even just 1" or so back from the edge of the CP surface (underside) and you'll be back to the desired thickness at the edge.

Mark70:  Thanks for your input, what you say makes a lot of sense.  I've been buying tools/equipment left and right to get ready for my build and I'm getting to the point where I need to watch my expenses somewhat.  I figure, first I gotta get the experience from building my first cab and then I can start designing the second, more "improved" cab.  I guess you can say I'm obsessed...

[lovespicyfood]

I cut several prototype CPs out of 5/8" particleboard with the intention of using the best one as a template on MDF.  I ended up just using the particle-bard CP with 1/8" lexan covering the artwork.

Wow, another simple but completely workable solution to my question, THANKS!  I like your CP with the atomic theme.  It looks like you used the Project Arcade plans too?

Right now I have three sheets of 3/4" 4X8 MDF and a sheet of 1/2" 4X8 MDF (for my sawboards) in my garage so space is beginning to be a concern.  I guess I better start cutting, eh?   

[boykster]

Wow, another simple but completely workable solution to my question, THANKS!  I like your CP with the atomic theme.  It looks like you used the Project Arcade plans too?

Right now I have three sheets of 3/4" 4X8 MDF and a sheet of 1/2" 4X8 MDF (for my sawboards) in my garage so space is beginning to be a concern.  I guess I better start cutting, eh?   

How's that for the internet...3 completely workable solutions to the same problem...and only you will know the difference..all your friends will be drooling over your control panel (good thing you went with plexi) 

Rich

[eschmunk]

My origianl thoughts were to use 5/8" MDF to do my cp.  I decided to go ahead with the 3/4" inch because that is what I have laying around right now.  When I place my order for my t-molding I plan on ordering a little bit the the 7/8" t-molding just for the cp/plexi.  I figure that the money spent on the extra t-molding is cheaper than finding and buy a sheet of 5/8" MDF.  Also, I don't even know if I can find 5/8" MDF around my area, all I see is 1/2" adn 3/4".

[DrumAnBass]

Yah I am in the same boat.

I bought a piece of particle board from Lowes and the sign above it said 5/8". Didn't think twice about it, clamped my 1/8' lexan and template onto it and started cutting. it was only after I cut it out and drilled about half the holes that I decided to check the t-molding against the edge.

Sure enough; I had bought 3/4" particle board... Lesson learned; bring a ruler and double check...

My plan is to to rout a curved bevel into the bottom of the control panel so you won't notice any overhang; and I will paint it as well to match my cab. I will rout my slot for the t-molding 5/16 down in the board so it will line up with the top of my 1/8" lexan.

[ChicagoDave]

On my "Project Arcade", I used 5/8" MDF for the control panel and 1/8" Lexan.  The total height was then 3/4", the same as my T-Modling.  If you route the T-Molding from the bottom of the control panel it will come up centered and the Lexan will lie flush.

The first Home Depot I went to also did not have the 5/8" MDF.  I went to another  one and they did have it.  I had to buy a 4x8 sheet though.  Lots of scrap wood...

[rdmustang]

On my "Project Arcade", I used 5/8" MDF for the control panel and 1/8" Lexan.  The total height was then 3/4", the same as my T-Modling.  If you route the T-Molding from the bottom of the control panel it will come up centered and the Lexan will lie flush.

The first Home Depot I went to also did not have the 5/8" MDF.  I went to another  one and they did have it.  I had to buy a 4x8 sheet though.  Lots of scrap wood...

I did the same thing except I messed up my bezel and the extra "scrap wood" came in very useful  

[ChicagoDave]

On my "Project Arcade", I used 5/8" MDF for the control panel and 1/8" Lexan.  The total height was then 3/4", the same as my T-Modling.  If you route the T-Molding from the bottom of the control panel it will come up centered and the Lexan will lie flush.

The first Home Depot I went to also did not have the 5/8" MDF.  I went to another  one and they did have it.  I had to buy a 4x8 sheet though.  Lots of scrap wood...

I did the same thing except I messed up my bezel and the extra "scrap wood" came in very useful  

I used some of mine for the Back Bottom Panel that I miss measured.... 

[MikeDeuce]

re: HD and 3/4" MDF... check the moulding/trim section, look for shelves. They have 3/4" MDF shelves for a couple bucks a piece. These are unlaminated, with a full bullnose edge on one side and a nice flat square edge on the back. This is not to be confused with the melamine particle board shelving located outside of the lumber area (at least in my 2 local HDs, YMMV).

[WwonderLlama]

Wow, another simple but completely workable solution to my question, THANKS!  I like your CP with the atomic theme.  It looks like you used the Project Arcade plans too?

Right now I have three sheets of 3/4" 4X8 MDF and a sheet of 1/2" 4X8 MDF (for my sawboards) in my garage so space is beginning to be a concern.  I guess I better start cutting, eh?   

Thanks for the praise on my cp's theme.... I'm not sure where the idea came from, it just sorta happened.  (The background is from Digital Blasphemy, IIRC.)

I did use the Project Arcade book heavily, with a lot of inspiration from Arcade Paradise 3 (http://www.arcadeparadise.org/arcade/ap3/). AP3's creator is a really nice guy and actually responded to my emails bothering him about his layout/designs.

Good luck on your project, and 'May all your cuts be straight'.