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Yet another... COCKTAIL - the quick, quiet, cheap, couth, cock cab

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xefned:
Another cocktail cab. I know, just what the world needs. But Saint's book recommends documenting builds for the benefit of the community, so I'll focus on the specific traits that characterize this project:

CHEAP - One income, three kids necessitates this point.
QUICK - Can't float a full time hobby.
COUTH - It must reside in a living space, and meet spousal approval. (No man cave here.) Relatively quiet would also be nice.
The laws of "fast, good, inexpensive, pick two" make this design technical impossible. So we'll see what gives.

Since I don't know diddley about Mame or Windows, I'll carefully document the computer setup for others wary of diving in without the prerequisite knowledge. That's probably the most valuable potential contribution I can make - cocktail builds otherwise being relatively run-of-the-mill.

When I first found this group (though bluemini's youtube videos,) I immediately noticed builds typically go over a grand and often stretch into several years. I cannot afford either. Also, I don't wanna be featured on crapmame. So what do you think? Am I attempting the impossible?

I'm starting with a $30 sheet of 4x8 plywood from menards (on sale!), and 20 ft. of T-molding from gamemolding.com.  I'll skip over the luxurious bling that makes the builds around here so impressive. (Not that I have those skills anyway.) So no ambient lighting, no light-up pushbuttons, no subwoofer, no side laminate, etc.

My first question, can I use this 3/4" birch plywood just sanded and stained? Or will that look like crap? The grain is nothing to write home about.

popsicle:
I like the sanded and stained wood look, and also used 3/4 birch ply.  No paint to mess with, and meet's spousal approval requirements.

The biggest expenses for my smallish cocktail were the 2 spinners ($75 each), then the monitor (HP LP2065 online for $100), then the custom tinted glass ($40).   $25 can get you a 2.1 pc speaker setup, which is plenty of oomph.   Add an encoder for another $30 or so, and then shop joysticks around what games will be played (4-way verticals?).  The wood and t-molding you already have, and I assume you already have a computer to gut.   Do you have access to a router w/slot cutting bit?

xefned:
OMG - Popsicle, that is fookin' gorgeous!  :applaud:  So glad I posted. I'll check out your thread.

You clearly have some skills that I do not, but I'd like to emulate that finish. That's exactly the look I'm picturing. I'll have to read up on wood finishing before I go any farther.

I like the shape too. If I hadn't borrowed my neighbor's circular saw this afternoon to make my first cut, I'd almost start over just to copy your design. The open top solves the stick height conundrum I'm dwelling on.

Do you know the Starlight Mints "Popsickle" by any chance? Hella catchy.
For power-pop fans:

popsicle:
Thanks, but I doubt if I am more skilled than you.  I cut the whole thing with a jigsaw, and only used a router for the slot cutting.  The wiring on the inside is a mess, and I did a lot of improvising while building the thing as far as mounting the monitor, sloping the sides, and using part of the t-molding to hold down the glass on top.  The initial idea was to keep the top of the joys low enough to add a flat top to the thing so it would double as a 2 player board game or card table (I haven't done this yet). 

Whatever you do, leave space for the players knees/legs, give a *slight* angle of the CP for comfort, and sit the players as close to the monitor as possible.  I think most people here will agree that a custom build should be centered around the size and shape of your monitor.

drventure:
+1 on popsicles comments. You can definitely build a 2 player cocktail for pretty cheap. the spinners and trackballs will get you, if you go that route. Also, if you want the most flexibility for sticks, it's hard to beat Ultimarc U360's, but they're not cheap.

You can get regular sticks, but then, you'll have to decide whether you want 4way or 8 way, or go with something like a magstick plus that you can switch by just rotating the stick knob.

And by the way, Popsicle, that build IS freakin' sweet! Nice job  :applaud:

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