LED lit Plexiglass - Install Light up Panels in your Car Audio Builds CarAudioFabrication

[@aplusdesigners]

It's great to see these older videos and compare them to the newer videos to see where you started with the older tables and the smaller router table, then to today's really nice shop, large working surfaces, router lifts ,etc. Love your videos Mark. Keep up the great work.

[@kapriece]

I used plexiglass in a door panel. Underneath the plexiglass we used a stretch fabric against the back side instead of sanding. We also cover the wood on the bottom with aluminum foil to spread/break-up the light. It makes the light-source look centered and seem brighter.

[@CarAudioFabrication]

You have to really bolt the stuff down! Total pita! I hate using it for windows but the visual results def pay off. Thanks for watching and posting! You da man

[@CarAudioFabrication]

Yeah buddy! Thank you so much! Thats going to keep my channel alive! Its so much easier to make these videos knowing that Im not LOSING money on them!

[@CarAudioFabrication]

Thank you! I am glad you enjoyed it, spread the word to your people!

[@JonathanDFielding]

Hint! If you have ever taken apart an old monitor and gotten down to the back lit screen you will notice that the imperfections that they put in the plexiglass are more dense in the middle than on the outside. This causes the light that is bouncing back and forth inside the plexiglass to hit less of the outer imperfections, which caused the light to then reflect outward, and allows a more even amount of light to be distributed throughout the entire panel. If you noticed when he turned on the LEDs it was more intense around the outside edge and the light was not as intense in the middle. I think that if he did less sanding on the outer sides and more sanding in the middle then the light might look more uniform from outer to inner. Great job though!

[@CarAudioFabrication]

Thanks! They take a ton of work so I appreciate your thumbs and shares! Thanks!

[@CarAudioFabrication]

Thanks Mentalist! I appreciate your support!

[@oliverreiff777]

Glad I saw this video! It has given me a great idea for a customer's 1951 chevy fleetline that I'm building a custom interior for. I'd send you a few pix if I knew where to send them! THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR VIDEOS!

[@joelbaron1683]

awsome techniques and presentation. iv'e been installing for 20 + years and am impressed at your patient willingness to walk people through this skilled endless art....

[@WhitentonMike]

I've done a pair of polycarbonate light bars. The way I did it was way too complicated. I flush mounted the poly, built a light box behind the opening and mounted a computer LED light tube. I tried sanding the poly but couldn't workout the right grit so I took them back to clear with 2000 grit and used frosted glass paint like you'd use on a bathroom window. It would have been much easier if I'd known about the template techniques. My next box is going to be awesome! Thanks Mark!

[@clayteets6653]

I plan to use plexi today for the first time. I'm going to use it for my access hole in my first successfully built forth order sub enclosure. This is the 3rd enclosure that I have built but it is the first one that acctually sounds and looks good. between CarAudioFabrication and Steve Meade's youtube pages you guys keep me inspired. Thanks for the videos. Keep them coming.

[@thechevyKing1]

Im going to use this technique in my van that I am doing. Im going to do a video on youtube of the finished product in the near future so stay posted!

[@kimjorgensen24]

Once used plexi years ago on a sub box, actually with lighting. Watching your brilliant ideas and exceptional finish, I have to take my next project "to the next level" :-) Have a whole car to do from scratch. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@CarAudioFabrication]

Thank you! Did you have a chance to check out Patreon yet? Lots of great perks and will help me make future videos.

[@MeBeYours]

Sweet install man. Glad to see others are donating.

[@CarAudioFabrication]

Looks nice man, thanks for watching!

[@GimliTehDwarf]

SLAMMED THAT LIKE BUTTON SO HARD I THINK I BROKE IT...thats right all caps

[@93da9teg]

I used plexiglass on a few subwoofer boxes useing 1/4 inch 1/2 inch and 1 inch thick glass love watching all your videos mark keep them up !!👍👍👍👍😊

[@CarAudioFabrication]

No problem! Im glad they are helping you out! Check out Patreon and return the favor ;)

[@balleron24z]

man, what I'd give to have all of those tools! You did a killer job Mark, great design, and you make it look SO easy! Just about want to do this for a side of my enclosure so I can see the air movement inside my box!

[@xcalibercustoms]

I actually took plexi and cut out a hole to mount speaker then mounted the other end to wood ring and mounted less along the edge to light it up... Love your videos man... great work...

[@wal]

Super clean look, Mark! Just like my shiny bald head after a shave...LOL. I always wanted to do a sub box or portable stereo using plexi, just never did.

[@danwright2665]

Thank you for the informative video. I am starting a build on a vehicle that i inherited, wont go into detail on the situation behind the vehicle but I am former military and lost a brother in arms so this build is for WOUNDED WARRIOR AWARENESS.going to be putting plexi inserts into the door panels with the W.W. Logo in the center. I found this video and will be using your cool techniques to do this. Will post pics for you after they are done. Thank you for all the knowledgable videos that are going to help me with this build!

[@Troy_Audi0]

I enjoy using frosted acrylic as a base for amp racks.. Add a trim of Aluminum and paint or black acrylic all polished up I love it!

[@EdgarRodguez67]

More plexiglass techniques!!! I've used it on a sub box I made for my truck

[@CarAudioFabrication]

If it was thick enough to support yes, if you re just using it as an accent then you could have holes through it and a piece of wood hidden behind it.

[@CarAudioFabrication]

Are you wanting to use plexiglass on a future install? How about some back lit? Watch this video and learn how you can integrate it into a panel within your install. kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2ncdZxup7h8nsU

[@BenTvHowman]

I would love to use this technique to highlight a merch table at a music gig :)

[@agrijag7536]

I'm planning on building a 4th order bandpass box for two RF 12" P2's. I want to get a piece of plexiglass to put onto the front of the sealed portion of the box, and am planning on getting an etched-style logo to stick onto the plexiglass portion, then I want to light it from the edges so that the logo lights up, but no other parts (except for the very edges) do.

[@kylevad9943]

+CarAudioFabrication I've used plexi for a bandpass sub box for a 12" kicker comp

[@KDD8]

+CarAudioFabrication 7:09 years of practice

[@sMASHsound]

hey, have u done, instead of sanding the transparent material, u route/etch a design onto its surface? I would expect the etching to catch the light, as the led light should permeate through the plexi like fiber optics.

[@RussLyman]

Came out fantastic Mark. I love you. The possibilities of this are endless. I have used some plexy glass before in some installs just as accent lights. I hope to use this technique towards making a nice display piece for my girls car and maybe something new for my door panels in my car.

[@Feelgoodie]

Mark. Another great , creative vid. Really nice to watch and learn in the process. Best regards from Poland.

[@JustEnufCustoms]

That was a really nice template and shape for the plexiglass back lit. I'm going to use something similar for my door panels to implement my car manufacture logo on it. Thx you showed me something new. keep up the good work Mark.

[@dsw_kat2693]

I've used Plexiglass to make trim plates around head units. Smoked plexi painted flat black on the backside shines like a mirror.

[@Grindtallic]

This is awesome great job, I signed up for your Patreon, its crazy all the perks you have over there! More people should do it!

[@mcharrison23]

The close up shots are nice, thanks.

[@CarAudioFabrication]

Well now if you do you know how you can back light it! Thanks for posting and answering the question! Now you are a true fabricator! Haha.

[@RYDENROAM72]

i have used plexiglass before on a sub box but not lighted. but watching this video i would want to use this technique on the bed of my truck with an RF and my Initials Logo in blue. Thanks mark for your channel and all of your vids. i have learned many things of fiber glassing, templates and just Mobile Audio fab.

[@Malomex13]

Once again an awesome video Mark.... I'm going to use this technique on door panels I'm starting on.. You gave me a lot of helpful tips... Thank you for the help and I'm looking forward to supporting you on PATREON...

[@randyhunt7585]

I have used plexiglass on a center console/sub box. I am planning to build a sub enclosure for my sons 2006 Tahoe that will consist of two 15" DC Audio level 4 subs. I want to incorporate a veiwing window with some sort of LED lighting. I have not began the project yet but I am starting to gather materials. At least things I know I will need. I'm in no hurry and I want to do a really good job. I enjoy your videos. You are very talented. Thanks for your videos.

[@joshdye5727]

My first custom fiberglass install was in my girlfriend's '94 Lumina. Did and etched plexi butterfly in the amp rack to match her tattoo... It actually worked out great. The relationship...not so much. Anyway, I agree with you on the plexi vs. acrylic or other medium. It chips off way too easily. Keep up the good stuff man.

[@Minotaurfrog]

I have used plexiglass on a few builds as a cool back to my sub boxes, where people can see the inner makings of the sub.

[@evokevisualart9128]

Thanks - really helpful. I looked at this to get some ideas as to how to backlight some art on plexiglass.

[@SeanMolby]

Yes, subwoofer enclosure. Love your videos, very well done. I wish we had something like this back in the 90's, we had to learn the hard way. Keep up the good work.

[@WattSmoke]

see thru sub boxes, console accents, door pod / kick accents, lit ipod / phone docks in a limo, Harley saddle bag radio accents..... the list goes on and on same with mirror backed or marbleized custom painted plexi accents. good work on the vid

[@gibfortune]

Can you please make a video explaining how to hook the led up to the vehicle's power supply or an amp?

[@CarAudioFabrication]

Thanks man, it turned out sick. I like it. Thanks for posting!

[@CarAudioFabrication]

Me too! It really helps me make future videos as you well know.

[@corygilbert5666]

Awesome panel, it reminds me a lot of the glowing panels in halo, they have the same 'bumps' and glow in a similar fashion, really cool man.

[@preciseaudio]

Very nice technique. Will definitely try this out. Thanks Mark!

[@89imp03]

I needed this video! I'm adding some back lit plexiglass to my door panels that I'm working on. Also used plexi on my sub box that I have now

[@CarAudioFabrication]

Nice! What will you be putting them in? Thanks for watching!

[@workaholic7600]

I used plexi glass in the floor board of my trunk. I installed my amplifiers in the spare tire slot on abs board and my meds are actually in groove slots on bottom side shining down on amplifiers and wiring as seeing through the plexi. Learned everything on this site & 5 star

[@gymmy972]

I used plexiglass to make tweeter mounting brackets in the stock location in the doors of my tacoma. Worked pretty well, but it plexi i used was really thin, so it kept cracking. Scoring it and snapping it worked better than trying to cut it with a jig saw.

[@Sandman1832]

I haven't used it yet myself, but my buddy cut flames in to the side pieces of his 34 chevy coupes hood and used plexiglass and l.e.d lighting for the flame patterns he cut in both sides. He won best in show at 4 car shows including Carlisle car show in P.A, it was pretty sic looking. On his next project he is using polycarbonate behind the pattern he is going to cut out on the hood of his 1937 chevy truck, that should look awesome as well.

[@Xpress_audio]

I think I am going to use this technique on my a pillars. Good shit Mark.

[@CarAudioFabrication]

Yup, but a different Russell. RussLymann to be exact, haha. But you can join my Patreon and I will call your name in the future, and love the support!

[@davidtemple1]

Mark - I use Acrylic or Plexi-glass all the time in my customers installs as well as my own. Great Vids as always

[@scottnuftul1840]

amazing video as usual. My system has gone from a clean basic to more advanced and with the lighting and fiberglass techniques... it is out of this world. I plan on edge lighting a "dark knight" bat symbol out of plexiglass with a vinyl wrapped wooden face and putting that over a pair of subs. I'd post a pic but I don't know how.....lol keep up the good work Mark. Video quality and editing have come a long way since you've started they are all awesome. ty again

[@48884BB]

I'm defenitely using your tutorials to make something great as soon as I got another car. not doing this in my crappy Fiat Punto xD

[@may03LT]

I haven't used plexi for any installs. I do plan on using it for my next rebuild. I've been thinking about mounting the amps under the enclosure like Meades tahoe, and having the rear of the amp "enclosure" have a plexi window so the amps can be seen with the liftgate open. After seeing this video there might be some LEDs in there as well!

[@Caliber747]

Used Polycarb on front of Sub Box and lit inside with Neon lights years ago. It was a three Mtx Blue Thunder 10 inch subs in a three chamber ported enclosure.

[@JLanc1982]

Looking back on this video,You came along way Mark! 😎

[@kyle3420]

Dude, you could make any install look amazing with this backlit panel. I see why you made a tutorial on it

[@jimg4521]

now were talking! thanks for the vids. will be looking forward to start my custom set ups in my 2 rides!

[@lion8354]

Good vid man! would love to see more videos with lighting!!!

[@CarAudioFabrication]

Thank you! What will you be using this on? Or have you used it in the past?

[@bigmacalacka]

Once again great video man. Great ideas and info every week

[@CarAudioFabrication]

Its some cheap little Ryobi set I got from Home depot lol, Im saving up for something better, but if you plan on only using it for a few installs it does the trick!

[@BeefaloBart]

I have used plexy only for viewing areas for amp racks and speakers. Been some time since I have done any higher end installs but used neon and small bulbs to add lighting to them. Also engraved names on painted plexy to fill unused dash areas and put symbols or names lit with LED.

[@CMatthews13652]

yet again another great video, always wanted to use plexiglass but have yet to do so

[@eystonaustin4988]

Awesome video man... Def learn a lot from your videos!!

[@tooldad8712]

going to build a cargo box for ATV and incorporate the bike's logo into the back light using plexiglass. Thanks for helping me take something boring into something awesome.

[@Kustomz1985]

I plan on using these methods very soon!!!

[@BowtieForLife420]

Planning on doing it differently than you did but itll be on my sub box.

[@CarAudioFabrication]

Nice! You totally should, what are your plans for your install?

[@CarAudioFabrication]

Thanks man! Put those skills to good use!

[@Wickstacular]

Awesome work as always, Sir! I have an acrylic window on the back of my sub box to let you see the motors from the trunk, along with some internal LEDs in the box and a mirrored bottom plate. Also BTW, if people don't want to sand the plexi to get the opaque effect, there is glass "Frosting Spray" which gives the same effect and isn't very expensive.

[@CarAudioFabrication]

Use polycarbonate next time, I find it much easier to work with. It is a little more expensive, but if it doesnt crack when I put screws through, I will take it.

[@913los913]

I have before I have tubbed out my trunk with 2 windows with plexi I did use a sand blaster to etch in the some letters in it and applied blue l.e.d light strips

[@loveaudio1236]

They inspire me too, these videos are freaking awesome man! A +++++

[@balleron24z]

Didn't take that into consideration, next paycheck I believe I'll join his paetron. Thanks for the tip sir.

[@gustavosalazar732]

That's bad ass u just taught me something that I've been wanting to know for quite some time

[@mevana81]

looks awsome ... again :D i just used plexglass on computerprojects to enlight selfmade engravings... its quite similar, but the glass is only engraved and not sanded. i used once 2 layer to become a two colord engraving, but therefore i had to use thicker glass and put the leds directly into the border in a drill hole.

[@edoubleist]

I am in for more plexi glass vids!

[@MrYosefi09]

Thanks for this video there isn’t any other videos showing how to cut led lights and make a run channel to install them cause I always wondered how led lights was ran in the consoles and speaker box door pods etc. now I can complete the project that I started 🙏 thanks

[@wiredkustomsmotorsports]

Great job Mark. Badass

[@smokesdad]

I have used a 3/4in peice in a sub box I built and used mirror vinyl on the inside of the enclosure to give the illusion that there were more subwoofers

[@CarAudioFabrication]

Thanks I got it, it looks awesome!

[@CarAudioFabrication]

I didnt really mention it in the video but if you are just lighting it, you can use thin stuff, like an 1/8". Obviously if you are using it for a viewing window into a sub box it has to be thicker. But thats a different tutorial.

[@dragon5269]

I used two pieces of 1/2 inch plexi, and engraved both pieces with a club logo, glued the two pieces together to make one 1 inch thick panel, drilled hundreds of tiny holes and placed green LEDs in the holes, and it brought. Out the logo in green and it was used as a window to the back of a box still in there from what I understand

[@Chorrias328]

Thanks bro and also thanks for all your videos they help alot

[@CarAudioFabrication]

You have the right idea, taking the time to do something like this can reallyput an install over the edge. What are you running system wise? Just curious. Thank you for watching!

[@226coreyb]

nice video man!!! i plan on giving something like this a try in the near future

[@AccordBass12]

Yeah I would love to see a video for a panel like that or just how to build custom panels for a trunk!

[@dubproductionsla]

this will be perfect for a rear deck lid

[@CarAudioFabrication]

Thanks! I appreciate the view!

[@jasonothberg8728]

I am planning on using this technique with a custom enclosure for my floor board of my trunk where my spare tire goes.

[@CarAudioFabrication]

No problem Mike, thanks for watching as always! Be sure to share pics with me, you have been watching my videos forever, you should be a pro by now!

[@CarAudioFabrication]

That would be sweet. I plan on doing an "Edge Lit" Tutorial in the future. That would be nice for under some amps

[@GameTheNerd]

i have used it in my computer/gaming moding before but it was very remedial, i do plan on using it in exactly the way this video shows and in a box as a window. i know its a older video but oohwell.

[@CarAudioFabrication]

I see that! Thank you soo much, this really helps me get the materials for projects, I will get you added to the contributors list asap and add you to the credits of the video wen it comes out. Thanks again!