Posted by Clever Name on October 25, 1999 at 08:41:46:
I would like to share my experience with putting a clear coat on the side of my cabinet and get some input in return. I purchased a gutted asteroids cabinet in fairly good condition, but with several large scratches and a good number of nicks and small scratches on the sides. After using acrylic hobby paints to touch up and restore the side art to near-mint condition, I sprayed both sides with a semi-gloss clear acrylic sealer. I selected the acrylic because it was (and is) non-yellowing. What I have since learned, however, is that the acrylic looks great, but is not hard enough to stand up to even routine wear and tear. Like most of you, i'm sure, I move/turn machine to tinker with the insides regularly. The acrylic scratches very easily - too easily to look good years into the future, which was my intention. Has anyone used a really tough clear sealant on their cabinet? I was afraid to use polyurethane, because I thought it would have a yellowish tint - is this necessarily true? Does anyone know what will be the effect of applying another clear coat of a different type over the acrylic? As a last-resort, I have thought of encasing the sides of the cabinet in 1/8 inch plexi or lexan, but this will cost big $$$.