ok, i have just built a pretty nice box for my truck! i have one more side to close up and its done! i plan on using plexiglass for this, and the reason is so i can put some neon inside and show off the Polk MOMOs baskets! the rear seat lift is in and the wires are all strung but, i don't know how to seal the plexiglass side! i want it to look clean and professional so that when i turn on the lights, you won't see caulk or anything else all over the inside of the box! the inside box will be painted, so if anyone has any suggestions im all ears!

i guess! i could ask anyone if that set up would work or should i close up the box with another panel of .75 inch MDF board?

bigNAnative

 

You can use clear silicone, just make it look neat.
How big is that last panel? If it is too big tht plexi will flex quite bit and give you some unwanted distortion, noise.

 

Have you thought about inlaying the plexiglass into a piece of the MDF? You'd have to make an MDF panel then cut a smaller opening in this panel. Then on the inside, use a router or similar to route out a lip that the plexiglass will seal to. Then mount this panel to the box. In this way you will properly seal the box and hide the plexiglass mounting surface.

Hope that made sense! :o

 

the plexi window idea is much easier/cheaper than the whole side in plexi. you can use a smaller piece of thinner plexi if you go with a window and just flush mount it or mount it behind the wood. the plexi wont flex if it is of sufficient thickness for its size. just remember that overkill = good.

 

I'd use clear silicone. If the panel is too large you will probably get some distortion from the plexi flexing. You can try it. I just like sound better than looks. It would look cool though.

 

Well guys, the inlaying the plexiglass is a great idea! i never thought of that! my plexiglass wouldn't have to be that big and it would decrease the flexing! it would make a cleaner box and i would be able to use the lip of the MDF to hide my neon lights! thanks for the tips and suggestions, you have made my job a little more cleaner and easier!

bigNAnative!

 

MEK. Methyl Ethyl Keytone. That's what plexi pro's use to fuse the plastic together. In practically melts the seams upon contact. But unless you have ruined a few pieces of plexi experimenting, I don't recommend using it. Stick to the RTV and tape off the part you want to keep clean near your seams.

Also, RTV is more forgiving on less than straight surfaces. If there are gaps between the surfaces because you used a jigsaw instead of a laser aligned table or mitre saw to cut with, the MEK won't fill them like the RTV will.