Experiences with NorthCoast Custom Arcade cocktail 3 cab

[Cenobyte]

On february 2nd of 2011 I ordered the Ultimate Cocktail 3 cabinet from NorthCoast Custom Arcades.

Since I live in The Netherlands, I had to find a way to get the cab over here. Shipping from the seller was no option, since I had to pay more for shipping than the cab cost. I found a company that uses shipping containers to ship the package over to me for $50,-

It took the package about a month to get over here and after opening it, the first setback was visible: there was a crack in the upper side of the table top. The table top was still intact, only the surface was cracked, so I decided to use it upside down, since sending it back was no option because of the shipping distance. It did make me wonder about the strength of material...

Building the cab was a matter of 2 evenings work, no big deal. However, it should have been more clear that there were 2 different types of assembly cams and were to use which type, because I started using them in the wrong places and ended up having to remove a bunch of them. Since the particle boards are NOT very strong, I damaged some of them doing this...

My conclusions so far:

I have the cabinet kit finished (no electronics in yet and the glass table top is coming in next week) and the black cabinet with the red T-moldings is a very nice looker, it has a nice finish. But I am disappointed about the strength of the used particle boards. Not because of the crack in the top (that probably happened during transport) but because of the feel I got when building it. The assembly cams that hold everything together don't result in a very strong connection when they are imbedded in this particle board. The player controls are mounted by just four of these assembly cams and I fear that a very intense gaming session will result in separation of the controls...

Building the cab I cracked a few (unimportant) parts very easily which resulted in more doubt I have about the strength of this finished product. I am considering strengthening it in some places to avoid tearing it apart during an enthusiastic gaming session. 

Any more experiences with this product?

[VanillaGorilla]

Particle board is particle board. Its cheap and sucks. No long term value, eventually will fail, either by shipping, moving, water damage, children, etc, and more than likely earlier than other materials. Its use is simply a cost reduction measure (see IKEA for a furniture analog in construction similarity). No one would ever choose it as a preferred material, its always used as a compromise.

Its basically only good for shelving, and even then, its use is questionable.

[HaRuMaN]

I bought and assembled a 3 sided cocktail kit from North Coast Custom...

Yeah, it's melamine coated particle board, but once assembled, the thing is rock solid.  I have no worries about it lasting, provided it never gets wet, or someone takes a sledgehammer to it.

Also, the assembly manual is clear about the 2 different types of assembly cams, and where to put them.  It sounds like the OP didn't RTFM.

[Cenobyte]

Also, the assembly manual is clear about the 2 different types of assembly cams, and where to put them.  It sounds like the OP didn't RTFM.

I don't agree there. The 2 different cams are identified in the beginning of the manual, so you know there are 2 types. After that, the second type is mentioned to use on the side panels with 'C2' and an arrow next to it, but a few pages later in the manual (with the control panels, the cams holding them to the cab) this is forgotten. You'll find this out in the end, when you're short some of these and you can start pulling them out...

Not a big deal, but it could be a bit more clear 

[BobA]

I reviewed the manuals 2 and 3 and found that they always have info on what cams to drop in if you read the text at the top of the page.   They are lacking info in  the pictures but the description of where to use what cam is always there.  Perhaps you should send them a note and they could include the identification in the pictures as well. 

[HaRuMaN]

I reviewed the manuals 2 and 3 and found that they always have info on what cams to drop in if you read the text at the top of the page.   They are lacking info in  the pictures but the description of where to use what cam is always there.  Perhaps you should send them a note and they could include the identification in the pictures as well. 

Yup, info is in the text, not always on the diagrams.  Could be clearer, for sure, but the info is there.

[BobA]

We may be a bit harsh on Cenobyte since he had the cab shipped to the Netherlands it is probable that English may not be his first language.  Anyway a picture is worth a Thousand words so there could be improvement in West Coast Custom's manual.

[Cenobyte]

Well, I'm probably a picture guy and English isn't my first language 

What got me on the wrong foot is that the two types of cams were pointed out in one of the earlier pictures, so I relied on the fact that the other pictures would also clearly show the difference. The text did include a reference though 

The rest of the cab turned out very nice. Only one complaint is that the predrilled holes for the mounting screws of the joysticks did not align with the holes of my Mag Stik joysticks. They did line up with my X Arcade sticks, which had 8 holes instead of 4.

[BobA]

Mag sticks are a bit off as they do not use the more standard mounting holes.  There is an adapter plate that you can make up to fit them into the regular holes.

[Cenobyte]

I actually wanted to use one Mag Stick plus I ordered for my bartop on one head of the cocktail cab (to play the old upright games that also need 4 way sticks) but ended up using X Arcade sticks all around instead.

This is my progress so far:
http://gallery.me.com/cenobytez#100575

[BobA]

Looks like you are making good headway.  Looking good