Attaching Plexiglass To Wood Project?

[kmmcrafts]

I'm thinking about attaching plexiglass to the front of this project to keep dust out but not sure how to go about attaching the plexiglass? My original intention was to use a pendulum in this but with the size the finished project is coming out to be I don't think it'll work, so I made a wood pendulum and will glue it on the back side of the front piece so it'll set back about 3/4".. Thought maybe sealing that area off so during dusting / cleaning someone won't break off the wood pendulum. 

If I was to glue the plexiglass I don't really want to glue to show.. Other thought is to re-do the torso and not have the hollowed out spot for the pendulum and just glue my wood Pendulum to the front.. Thoughts or suggestions?

[new2woodwrk]

Where exactly do you want the plexiglass? - In front of the bottom open area?

If so, I suggest Upholstery tacks - you can get all sorts of different types/designs - put one in each corner

 

Edited March 15, 2023 by new2woodwrk

[oldhudson]

I've had problems with that both is staying glued and the mess.  As you can see the scrolled bird silhouettes are outside year round.  I think for your project the be best way would be to drill very small holes. maybe 1/32, and use small brass nails.  Should be fast and easy.

 

[Roberta Moreton]

Brass screws. Put in a same sized steel screw first, then the brass. 

[Bill WIlson]

Can you mount the plexiglass on the inside of the front piece?

[kmmcrafts]

4 hours ago, Bill WIlson said:

Can you mount the plexiglass on the inside of the front piece?

I might be able to sort of cut to the exact shape as the opening and glue it in. Would be a lot of shaping to get exact fit but yeah I could do that, not sure how I would fasten it that way though. Here is some pictures of the torso and what I’ve got going on with it. Maybe someone has a better idea. 
 

My wife says I need to just leave it open as is as she said she thought it’d look better that way. But if I can find a great way to cover this to keep dust out I may not listen to her. I’ll just say I didn’t hear her. That’ll probably get me another appointment to the hearing doctor again. 

[Dan]

Hope this makes sense...cut a slice out of the front of the pendulum piece (yellow, not so straight line in the photo), route a rabbit in the inside (above the yellow line) deep enough to place the plexiglass, then glue the front back on. 

Another alternative would be to fill the cavity with clear epoxy. I wouldn't do this but it could be done.

[MarieC]

5 minutes ago, Dan said:

Another alternative would be to fill the cavity with clear epoxy. I wouldn't do this but it could be done.

That is what I was thinking of...clear epoxy...not sure which brand would work...you would need to make sure it wouldn't leak out anywhere though...I love being able to see the pendulum on the inside.  This project is so cool!

[OCtoolguy]

23 minutes ago, Dan said:

Hope this makes sense...cut a slice out of the front of the pendulum piece (yellow, not so straight line in the photo), route a rabbit in the inside (above the yellow line) deep enough to place the plexiglass, then glue the front back on. 

Another alternative would be to fill the cavity with clear epoxy. I wouldn't do this but it could be done.

That's what I was going to suggest. Either that or sandwich the plexi between the two layers and just darken the exposed edge with something like a felt pen or plexi dye.

 

[Sycamore67]

I would use round head brass screws.  They would hold the Plexiglas and be decorative.  Just need to be careful with them not to break or crack the Plexiglas.

[kmmcrafts]

1 hour ago, Dan said:

Hope this makes sense...cut a slice out of the front of the pendulum piece (yellow, not so straight line in the photo), route a rabbit in the inside (above the yellow line) deep enough to place the plexiglass, then glue the front back on. 

Another alternative would be to fill the cavity with clear epoxy. I wouldn't do this but it could be done.

Well, why didn't I think of that, LOL.. Probably because I don't use a router much, only have a small palm router but that would probably work.. If not then like Ray suggested to just cut it and sandwich the plexi in. I was thinking if I added plexiglass that the torso would end up being wider than the rest of the project as I used 3 layers and glued it all together. Sandwiching 1/8" plexi in there would allow me to "cut away" pretty close to the thickness of the plexi.. Hmmm.. Might have to think this over if I'll add the plexi or not. I just see it being hard to clean back in that cavity once everything it glued all together etc. Anyway, thanks for all the suggestions.. now to decide what I want to do.

[kmmcrafts]

Could almost put some LED lights inside to make it double as a nightlight, LOL..

[jollyred]

A different idea is to glue the pendulum to the back of the frame, with spacers to hold it out.  Then the acrylic could be nailed or screwed to the back of the front frame.  Would also look more realistic.

Tom