How to protect your control panel on an arcade cabinet

[evil_puck]

Hi what is a good solution to protect your control panel from scratches. I see some people use plexiglass (which also seems to get scratches really fast), any other idea?
The plan is have the front of the arcade painted (basically a look in honor of the old pong machines, with wood on the side of the arcade). But I doubt the paint will keep up to long time use.

[MartyKong]

You want to have your control panel artwork printed with a polycarbonate lamination on top. This will have a matte finish which will keep fingerprints to a minimum. I used Lucian045 to print my artwork. He can be found in the retail vendors section - does great work.

[Elaphe666]

There's a transparent laminate which has texture and is thicker than normal laminate. It's used to protect stickers such as those that are applied on the floor and need to resist a lot of damage (people steping on them, for instance). That material is really durable and will protect the surface of your control panel or the prints you apply to your control panel.

[mixlplex]

I was thinking of doing a black stain with poly (since it's all one step) for the outside of the cabinet, and for the control panel throw down some small bits of artwork from games (printed and cut out) then cover it with a bar top epoxy finish. I'm hoping that drilling holes in it after the fact won't be a problem (and hopefully will be easier than drilling into plexiglass/acrylic). Then I saw this thread. The thick laminate sounds interesting (and a lot less hassle), but wouldn't it have a tendency to peel at the edges? (Note: My control panel is half of an octagon, it's a four player layout, so there's a couple of corners I will have to deal with.)

Thanks.

[NoMoUserNames]

for the control panel throw down some small bits of artwork from games (printed and cut out) then cover it with a bar top epoxy finish. I'm hoping that drilling holes in it after the fact won't be a problem

Bar top epoxy can absolutely crack just like plexi when you drill into it. Only if it does, your whole panel is kind of ruined. A plexi/polycarb sheet is a lot cheaper and easier to re-do if it comes to it.

The thick laminate sounds interesting (and a lot less hassle), but wouldn't it have a tendency to peel at the edges?

I am not 100% sure which product Elaphe666 is referring to. Whether it peels at the edges probably has more to do with the adhesive used and whether there is some kind of molding keeping things from catching though. You always have the option of something like this: https://www.t-molding.com/u-trim-edging-flexible.html

[RandyT]

Bar top epoxy can absolutely crack just like plexi when you drill into it. Only if it does, your whole panel is kind of ruined. A plexi/polycarb sheet is a lot cheaper and easier to re-do if it comes to it.

Not only that, but poured epoxy has a tendency to lift if not perfectly adhered to the substrate.  It's not uncommon to see unsightly airgaps between the coating and substrate  where it has been drilled, and they can grow and collect ick over time.

I am not 100% sure which product Elaphe666 is referring to. Whether it peels at the edges probably has more to do with the adhesive used and whether there is some kind of molding keeping things from catching though. You always have the option of something like this: https://www.t-molding.com/u-trim-edging-flexible.html

I have just such a material on a 20+ year old panel and it's holding up perfectly.  That stated, you are absolutely correct that catching at the edges needs to be considered to prevent lifting.  So long as it is trimmed flush to the board edge, and the molding edge is above the surface there very probably won't be a problem, even with normal T-molding.

[mixlplex]

Great info! Thanks!