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I have seen plexi that is backlit by neon and the design etched in it glows but the rest of the panel does not. Is there a way for me to do this myself? What do I have to do with the plexi on the backside? I was thinking about using a dremel with a burr bit and just roughing the plexi to create the design. Any help?
Also, can this be lit by hidden lights. I have a video that shows putting flashlight reflectors into the center but this will not work for me since I want the design in the middle covering my amprack. Is this possible to do? I wanted to use neon for the glow look.
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when you light a piece of plexi from the edge it glows, it's kinda like fiberoptics, but for the point that fiberoptics wont emit light out the casing. where ever there's a scratch (or etching) it will glow more. picture the neon light as a flow of water moving through the glass, if you put something in front of it, the water will back up and raise against it. so where you etch it will glow will show better. the deeper you cut the better it should show, to a point. the dremel idea would work, but you would have to be very consistent and very good working with that damn dremel (there a bitch, make damn sure your using a shaft extension to get better control)
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Thanks Specter. So I can edge light it with neon then. One on each side of the logo should do the trick right? Anyone ever done different colors of neon? IE blue on one side and red on the other. Would that just make purple or could you see the color transition? That would look pretty darn cool!
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If you take it to a glass shop, they can sandblast or acid etch it for you, and it shouldn't cost too much. You will prolly want to edge light each of the 4 sides to get a really good effect...
------------------ Sometimes the majority only means that all the fools are on the same side.
Use your ears to judge components, NOT your wallet! K.I.S.S.
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I would take it to a trophy maker/engraver. they can computer engrave anything you want into the glass at a consistant depth. that is what i plan to do when i am ready.. the better engravers can take your design and scan it into the computer and send it to the engraving machine. my old showcar had a Chevy Bowtie emblem engraved into the fan shroud.then filled it in with paint. looked really tight.i had it done by the engraving shop..less than 20 bucks.. good luck!! steve
------------------ If the #2 pencil is so popular..Why is it still #2??
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there ya go, way better than trying to dremel it (dremels are all fun and games till you slice your hand open with a cutoff wheel ) and ya, edge lighting it all around will make it look alot better, especialy if it's a big piece. you could try like two blue neons (one top, one left) & two reds (one bottom, one right) whatever. depending on the size of the piece (if a single neon won't light all the way across) then you'll get a decent color transition. blue one corner towards center, red other side towards center, and where the two reach each other they should create a decent purple (thoretically)
When you are adding light it is different than adding pigments.
I seem to remember a demo in highschool where they took a yellow, a red, and a blue spotlight and when they were converged, the result was WHITE light...
I'm going to try to look into this...
------------------ Blow your mind - PORT your box!
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touche, i forgot that the color of light is different than color. i still think blue and read make purple though. you know what would be interesting, defracting some light through a prism across a mirror or some chrome. is done right that could give an interesting rainbow effect.
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the base colors for light are different than that of paint and stuff. light's base colors are red green, and blue red and green make magenta red and blue make purple green and blue make yellow magenta and blue make white purple and green make white yellow and red make white theres some good mixin for ya. have fun w/ ur neons..
------------------ It aint bass till your dash falls in your lap.
red and green make yellow red and blue make magenta green and blue make cyan yellow and blue make white magenta and green make white cyan and red make white
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yeah.. i must've been awake in physics class that day.. who woulda that stuff would come in handy.. somethin w/ lasers and mirrors would be pretty fly too. just somethin nifty and new.. *smacks himself* i should be keeping these to myself.. but hey. by the time i get a good car setup i will have forgotten these already or someone else will have thought of them.
------------------ It aint bass till your dash falls in your lap.
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