The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls
Main => Woodworking => Topic started by: Donkbaca on June 02, 2011, 11:47:37 am
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So I have the plexi on my cp, and if it lays flat, its a perfect match for the t-molding, the problem is, the front of the plexi is rising up off my cp top by like 1/16 of an inch, and popping above the CP. The plexi is being held to the cp with the buttons only. How do I get the plexi to lay down?
thanks
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drill holes through your plexi/cp and bolt it down?
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Nah, don't want to do that. Don't like the bolts on plexi look
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I can't find the thread, but someone else had a similar problem. IIRC it was due to the plexi holes being slightly off so the buttons were pushing inward (binding) the plexi and caused it to raise up in the middle. I forget if it required just loosening the buttons and adjusting position to spread it and make it lay flat, or if there was more required. Effectiveness would probably depend strongly on CP layout and button positions.
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Here's that thread. (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=111153.0)
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Yeah I read that thread. Its a different problem. My button holes are spot on, and I don't have bunching in the middle, I have the plexi rising at the edge. It does this even without the buttons in.
I am thinking about laying a very fine line of super glue at the edge and clamping it down, it doesn't take much pressure to make it lay flat. I am worried about how this will look though.
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You will probably be able to see the super glue under the plexi on top of the wood. You might try putting the glue on the edge of the plexi to glue it to the t-molding. (This may have been what you were suggesting)
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Hey that is a better idea! I was thinking super thin layer on a super thin line along the edge where it meets the wood. Gluing it to the t-molding will probably work better, i can apply the glue to the t-molding and then clamp the plex down. Just need to make sure I don't get any on the top/bottom of plexi....
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Easier to peel your t mold back, clamp or weight the plexi down tight, then apply superglue to the inside of the t mold where it will contact the plexi, and tap it back in.
You only get one shot at this, by the way . . .
maybe also some gentle heating and clamp to try to "set" it? Not sure if the properties of the plexi allow that.
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try gently tapping your t-molding in a little further. The lip of the t-molding edge should be enough to hold down the plexi along the edges.
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What thickness are we talking about here? Just curious
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about 1/8 an inch
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Try heating it! Shouldn't take much to bend it back. I wouldn't go mad with the heat in case it distorts the plexi. Any chance it could be the MDF CP having creep? So its the actual MDF thats curved and not your plexi?
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I don't have a proper heat gun, and I am not going to get one for this issue. I am going to try and clamp it down and maybe glue the sides to the t-molding I think...
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Do you have a blow dryer? You could take off the plexi, place it over a small spacer that runs parallel to the front of the CP, in about the the center, front to back. Heat with the blow dryer and press the front and back edges down while it cools. Just a very thin (1/8'?) spacer should be enough.
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So I have the plexi on my cp, and if it lays flat, its a perfect match for the t-molding, the problem is, the front of the plexi is rising up off my cp top by like 1/16 of an inch, and popping above the CP. The plexi is being held to the cp with the buttons only. How do I get the plexi to lay down?
thanks
My CP is made up of 5/8" MDF and 1/8" lezan. I used a T-Moulding that has a lip on the top and bottom, which holds the edges down nicely. The moulding was more like E-Moulding, where the top and bottom of the moulding fit snuggly against the top and bottom of the CP. It provides a very nice clean look too.