16x9 Cocktail Table Project (Now With Video!!!)

[emphatic]

Looks great! 

[Yenome]

awesome build. I would like to request some pics of UMK3 or KI running. but yea i would of went with the same game as you for the first vertical run love the 1900's games.

[Shortbus]

Very cool, Happy Wife, Happy life,,,,,this thing is bad --I'm attempting to get by the auto-censor and should be beaten after I re-read the rules--, Nice man, really nice!
 

[Santoro]

Looking good! I like the concept.

[DNA Dan]

Where did you get the t-molding shown in post #63?

[jkdubb]

Where did you get the t-molding shown in post #63?

t-molding.com

You can order free samples off of their site.  they sent me a lot of different colors about the size of the ones in my post.


In other news.  I cut all of the t-slots in the 3 layers.  It was not quite as easy as I had hoped but all said and done it turned out pretty good.   I also filled all of the screw holes with wooden plugs and sanded.  I forgot my phone/camera so no pics of that part yet.  I'll update this weekend when I put the rest of the cab together and do a final patching and sanding job on it.  I hope to get the glass top on and install hinges as well.

[mavsprophecy]

Loving this build!

I am planning my first Mame build and wanted to do a cocktail machine as well.  Will definitely come back here to see the process and pics.

Keep it up!

[organizedPervert]

Howdy, I just signed up to the board after seeing your project. This is exactly what I have had in mind for a cocktail machine. The option to have it lift pneumatically gives it a nice dual function.

The questions I specifically had was, what is the make of the monitor you chose to use to provide a good viewing angle from the side and also could you show some more detailed pictures of the chamfer you created around the TV bezel as it looks very clean.

If the monitor were to die could you remove it relatively easily from the underside after the glass will be permanently adhered to the top?

Thank you.

[crashwg]

Have you considered making some of the bottom portion into storage somehow?  It looks as though you'll have a lot of wasted space.

[Yenome]

I would have to say if the monitor ever dies it would just be a simple task of unhooking the pistons.(remove the screws holding on side on) and then the top would open fully and could remove the TV easier then or just remove the whole top at the hinges.

[mavsprophecy]

What size of TV did you end up using?

[organizedPervert]

Your add-on side mounting ideas for this cocktail cabinet got me thinking as I'd want the same vertical and horizontal options. I'm from California but currently living in Tokyo and have been trawling all the arcades here looking for classic boxes to get inspiration for future projects. Here is a possibility to consider for side mounting a control panel for games in horizontal aspect ratio and to show that it really does work and looks great.

I'll only post one picture as I don't want to thread hijack but will link the public gallery for the rest. The other nice thing about this horizontal mounted control panel is that the speakers are embedded within so not only do you get sound close but also physical feedback when anything with any bass plays which I didn't realize how nice that was until I played it.


https://picasaweb.google.com/organizedpervert/MikadoArcade#5734538200614064130

[jkdubb]

First off.  Thanks to everyone that is enjoying this build.  Your posts keep me motivated and this project moving forward at a quick pace.

what is the make of the monitor you chose...

I am using a Westinghouse 32" 720 LED TV.  I picked it up at Bestbuy for $200 about a month back.  It is super thin and has plenty of inputs for hooking up multiple systems.

If the monitor were to die could you remove it relatively easily from the underside after the glass will be permanently adhered to the top?

Yes.  The TV is installed in a way that removing it can be done by removing two 1/2" screws.  It takes about 30 seconds and it slides right out.  I'll post a few pics of me removing it when I get a chance.  Also the glass is removable as well.  There will be 4 flat head bolts glued to the glass and then secured into the top piece of wood.

Have you considered making some of the bottom portion into storage somehow?

Yes.  I will end up keeping extra controllers and possibly a few other systems in the extra space.  I would like to see if I can get all of the major consoles running in it when I complete it.

Your add-on side mounting ideas for this cocktail cabinet got me thinking...

Ssshhhhh!!! We are not supposed to talk about that idea anymore.. 

On to updates!!!

I put in 2 full days of work on the cab this weekend and got a lot done despite a few setbacks.  I started off taking everything out back and sanding down all of the plugged screw holes and edges.







I then began drilling, countersinking, and screwing the whole thing together.





Piece of wood in the center is keeping the sides from bowing while I put in the screws.



My dad putting in a screw.  I am always learning something new from this master craftsman.



Then came the hinges.  I would love to say we installed them, no problem, super easy... But lets just say there was a bit of on the fly engineering that had to be done.  After screwing in the hinges and realizing that wood doesn't have the ability to move through its self, I took the hinges off and bought new ones.  (Thank you mcseforsale for the hinge inspiration)  The new hinges would have worked great if my cabinet did not have a 1/2" lip around the top, so I sat and sat and sat......

....blacked out and when I woke up....



Closed..



Opened..



So the idea was to put pneumatic pistons of some sort into the cab to open it and hold it in place.  I have put that on hold for the time being as I have found a nice simple solution to keeping it open.  I may upgrade to an auto opening device in the future but for now this is the setup.







All working and put together 



From the front.



Next up.  Attaching the glass and painting!

[kahlid74]

Looks fantastic man!  Can't wait to see the glass mounted.

[emphatic]

What color is it going to be?

[jkdubb]

What color is it going to be?

Black and white.  Nice and clean.

[emphatic]

What color is it going to be?

Black and white.  Nice and clean.

I know what you mean (see my build in sig). 

[jkdubb]

I saved the hardest and most unique task for last.   All cocktail tables should have a nice thick piece of glass to set your beer on and so mine does too.  However I want to be able to open my cabinet and play it in the open position as well for all of those games where wider is better (also xbox360 and ps3).  Most cabinets use glass clips or possibly glass bolts to hold the glass to the top but I wanted to keep my cabinet as clean as possible and decided to try something different.

I have glued the glass to 4 flat bolts and secured them to the top of the cabinet for easy removal.  This required very very strong adhesive.  I used a white light curing adhesive called Nano470.

First step was to shorten the bolts.


Measure out where to put them.


Drill..


Set the glass on the table and mark with tape.


Created a nice light rig for the curing time.


Flip the glass over and glue on the bolts. (15 minute white light cure time)


Done.


Then remove the extra adhesive with a razor blade flip the glass back over and set the whole thing in the cabinet.


Without the tape.


Sexy.




Now the scary part.  Will it hold.  It does!!!


I am currently stress testing this to make absolutely sure it doesn't fail.  The glass probably weighs about 40-45lbs.


Back.




Nice side shot.



With the TV.



All that's left is the paint.    I have a few good pictures of me putting in the TV that I will upload later as this post is a bit large.

[Nephasth]

Sexy.

  Yes it is!

[emphatic]

Wow! 

[Louis Tully]

.

[GregD]

Great idea.  I really like this build.  Your table will have a lot of versatility.

[crashwg]

You are a brave man.  You could show me the testing and back up claims with all the data in the world and there's no way I would trust a piece of glass that size to be glued in 4 1" diameter spots at that angle.

[Unstupid]

I'm curious about your order of operations...  You seem to do things only to have to undo everything you just did?  Like the glass top for example... Why did you attach it?  because now you are going to have to take it off and unmount the monitor and remove the hinges so that you can paint it then add t-molding then reattach the hinges then reattach the glass then reconnect the monitor...  If you painted it first, then installed the tmolding you would be done right now...  Not that there is anything wrong with assembling the box 4 or 5 times, but you probably would have been done a couple of weeks ago.... just sayin!  How many times did you attach the monitor?  

[Namco]

Looks awesome. But too bad the glass doesn't sit flush with the wood top. I knew about your idea to glue the bolts on the glass since the beginning, but for some reason I didn't forsee the gap. Anyway to countersink the bolts in the wood?

[not_so_handy]

wow its amazing that thing holds with just those 4 bolts glued.  Are you not worried that everytime you remove the glass that you will end up causing issues with that adhesive and loosen it over time?

[jkdubb]

You are a brave man.  You could show me the testing and back up claims with all the data in the world and there's no way I would trust a piece of glass that size to be glued in 4 1" diameter spots at that angle.

Hehe.  Yeah.  I'm not ready to sleep under it yet but here is a video showing off the strength of the adhesive. 

You seem to do things only to have to undo everything you just did?

The reason for building this cab to completion before undoing for paint is that I am not working off of a template.  I have had a rough idea of what I wanted but parts like the hinges and glass top had to be fitted and custom built.  If I got all of the parts and then painted the whole thing and then checked to see if the glass fit I would be in a bad place if it didn't.  Slow and steady is the way to go on a project like this.  Also it takes less than a minute to remove both the glass and the TV from the top of the cab.

Slides right in.

Anyway to countersink the bolts in the wood?

Yes. I can get rid of the gap if I decide too but it is pretty small and I like the separation.  I am thinking of making some swappable custom artwork that can be placed between the glass and top at some point.

Are you not worried that everytime you remove the glass that you will end up causing issues with that adhesive and loosen it over time?

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little worried about the long term strength of the adhesive.  I have the cabinet in the upright position right now and will be leaving it that way until I paint it in a week or so. I will always be cautious when opening and closing the cab and it will probably see more use as a cocktail cabinet in the long run because cocktail cabinets are awesome! 

Thanks for the comments.  The best part about this is pushing the limits of the design.  I'm glad you're liking it. 

[Le Chuck]

The best part about this is pushing the limits of the design

This.   

[kahlid74]

Very nice man!  I can also add that in many situations like this I also have to redo things, because sometimes you can't see how something really works until you rig it up.  So I know exactly what you're talking about.

[DaOld Man]

Very nice work. 

[PCMedics]

Do you notice much wash out of the picture on the TV when playing from an angle vs looking straight down at it? I built a small cocktail cab but i used a PC monitor and the picture looked bad from the side looking at it in the position you sat in in your pictures.

[jkdubb]

Do you notice much wash out of the picture on the TV when playing from an angle vs looking straight down at it?

The TV I am using has a very good viewing angle.  It is an LED TV.  When I bought it I just made sure I looked at it from all angles at the store and after testing it out in the cab everything was nice and crisp from the sides.

[dextercf]

MAN! 

[Uncle Monkey]

Man, this project is looking pretty sweet. I am dubious about mounting a CP on the side for horizontal play, I think you'd be too close to the screen for comfort. But I also think you'd lose some of the awesome factor by playing with gamepads. Me, I'd build a stand-alone CP that you could set out of the way when not in use, but that you could hook up and sit down at. Turn that bad boy into a sit-down showcase basically. It's kinda what I'm doing for players 3 & 4 on my upright. Whatever you decide, you should have tons of fun.....

[gavkiwi]

I have been a member here or lurking around for over 10 years, and this is one of the best builds I have seen on here lately, Most Impressive 

[jkdubb]

Thanks so much for the awesome comments!!!    It really is great to hear what people think about the cab.

Little update.  My new side buttons for the pinball flippers came in and they are perfect. 


Finding these things was a pain.  Seems like everyone was sold out of the clear ones.  I picked them up at Arcadeshop.de

I  have started painting a test piece of wood I had left over to make sure I don't screw anything up and everything is looking good.  I will start painting on the cab this Sat. if all goes according to plan.

[gavkiwi]

nice side buttons, anychance you could upload some videos to youtube of the machine running playing a vertical shooter / some pinball, maybe 2 player pac man or ms pac man ?  

when your finished of course

[PCMedics]

Certainly one of the best builds thread here very informative.

[jkdubb]

...any chance you could upload some videos to youtube of the machine running playing a vertical shooter / some pinball, maybe 2 player pac man or ms pac man ?

Yes.  I have a couple of videos of the test run but I am going to wait till after it is all put together and done to take a decent video.  Should be sooner rather than later.

Certainly one of the best builds thread here very informative.

Thanks! I do my best to document.

I took the whole cab apart for painting this weekend.  It takes about 10 -15 minutes total to disassemble everything.



Some work in progress.



After pics.



The top layer bevel.



Here is a little contrast test. 



I plan to sand this all down tonight with high grit paper and put layer 2 on.  If everything goes according to how my test paint job went, I should be done after 3 coats.  After that I will slap on the t-mold and put it all back together again.  I'm hoping to have the cabinet back at my apartment for final detailing this week. 

[emphatic]

Very nice progress!  Where do you plan on putting the seams in the t-mold (where both ends meet)? Under the glass right by the controls?