Removing Cabinet Parts

[Richardgregory]

I think I found a way to lower the control panel, and it involves removing a block of wood that is used to hold it up.  I'm not sure what tool should I need to remove it. 

The picture here shows what I'm referring to.  The block is attached to the side and front panel somehow and I marked it in red.

In the picture, I drew a red line as well.....I need to cut out a piece of this horizontal rail so that I can lower the control panel to.  Again, I'm not sure what tool I need to do a cut into this slab of wooden rail to lower it.

Help please?   

Thanks

[jdbailey1206]

How thick is the actual piece itself?

[Richardgregory]

Here's another angle of it.  It's a blocky piece.

As noted above, I need to cut out a portion of the wood shown by the red line.  Also, I noted by the dotted red marks - I"m not sure how then I would separate the cut piece off from the main attached piece.

Thanks

[Drnick]

From the 1st picture I would cut it using a floorboard saw and then hit it with a hammer and chisel to pop it out. If you haven't got access to a floorboard saw then a decent quality hacksaw should be able to get in there.

If the bit inside the red on 2nd pic is what you need to cut out then unless you have access to a reciprocating saw (Which is a pretty brutal tool in the wrong hands, IE mine). then I would drill a hole and use a  hacksaw blade.

[jdbailey1206]

What I would do (AND DO NOT TAKE THIS AT FACE VALUE) if I understand from your picture is drill a hole from behind the monitor into where your red line is on the picture as a start point for a jig saw.  Match the jig saw blade to the size of the drill bit so you have less to fill in later with wood filler.  Pencil a straight line across to follow to the end of the cut, insert the jig saw and follow your pencil line to the opposite side, and as Dr. Nick (HI EVERYBODY!) mentioned, use a chisel (flat side of the chisel against the piece you want to keep and hammer it in at points all along the wood and VERY LIGHTLY put pressure on it until it gives way.  If it is glued chances are you will have to sand the area flat again.  You may also want to pencil a straight line across where you want to cut and use a dremel with a wood cutting bit but if you have to make more than one pass it will make the cut very uneven.  Use the dremel as a last ditch effort.  They are convenient but can sometimes cause you more trouble in the end.

Hope this helps.  And remember to take your time.  Measure twice and cut once.  If you're like me the simplest little flaw will bother you every time you play your arcade.

Please repost pics to show how it came out. 

[kahlid74]

Drnick and jdbailey have the right ideas.  You're basically going to use a cutting tool (Jigsaw/Dremel/Hack Saw) and cut as close to the side as you can.  For the top join you can do the same OR you can take a Chisel/Screw driver, wedge it in with a hammer and keep going until you separate the pieces.  It's a slow process and it works but be patient.

SIDE NOTE.  Those pieces were originally used to support the arcade monitor in there.  If you remove them be very careful what stress you put in that middle piece of wood.  It may not be as strong as it was with those in there.

[jdbailey1206]

SIDE NOTE.  Those pieces were originally used to support the arcade monitor in there.  If you remove them be very careful what stress you put in that middle piece of wood.  It may not be as strong as it was with those in there.

+1

[mgb]

Pieces like that Are most likely stapled (from the side panel in) and glued.

After removing it, you may wanna also get some bracing to keep the cabinet sturdy

[Richardgregory]

THANK YOU all who took the time to respond - appreciate it.  There's not much space in there to work with, so I'm thinking that I might need to use more of the chisel and hammer approach.  Also, a Dremel tool can be used to cut wood nicely?  In that regard, I can use it for both the removal of the block and the 'carving' out of some of the wood on the top joint?


THanks again.

[Richardgregory]

I forgot to ask:  what if the end block pieces have a screw in it and is securing it?  Not sure how I can take a hacksaw to it since there might not be enough room for me to angle the blade in.

[Drnick]

Remove the screw first    No seriously, if you can get at the screw remove it.  (THIS WILL UNDOUBTEDLY AFFECT STABILITY SOMEWHERE) Looking at one of the pictures it looks like an LCD screen in there, If that is the case then I don't think that it will all fly apart on you.  The LCD will weigh about 5% if that of what the original monitor would have weighed and most of the bracing would have been installed for the monitor.

If I am wrong about the LCD then feel free to ignore all of the above.

[jdbailey1206]

I agree.  If there are actual screws on the outside of the cabinet that can be pulled out to release that piece of wood, DO EET!  Make sure you pull the monitor out first.       Then pull out the piece of wood, cut and reinsert.  Also if you can try to get some more pics pulled away from the cabinet so we have a better idea of what we are looking at. 

[kahlid74]

Like I said in your other thread you can get blades that will rip through the wood and screws together but they are expensive and it makes more sense to just remove the screws first and then cut.

The dremel's cuts won't be pretty but you aren't looking for pretty, you're looking for "pretty close" to the joint where the two pieces are secured.  Remove the actual joint pieces would be done by the chisel/hammer approach.

[HanoiBoi]

Something like this might do the trick:
 http://www.harborfreight.com/oscillating-multifunction-power-tool-68861-8493.html

[Drnick]

With the Half moon Blade fitted the device above should cut through with very little issues   Handy little tool.

[CpCaveman]

+1 for the electric saw multi tool, it does all jobs, holes for the coin door, monitor surround, trimming perspex panels (marquee panels etc, clamped properly) , that little block of wood will be no problem nails and all   got mine from Argos (UK`ers ) does everything, made a couple of brackets holding the pieces in my hand, extremely useful for other non cab jobs too, and the blades are cheap (havent had to buy another yet but did look around incase ) but from your pics, you have enough room to take that out with a hacksaw. hell you could bang it out with a hammer

[mgb]

Have you tried simply prying out that wood block yet. Theres alot of talk of what cutting tools to use but have you determined there are screws holding it in.
from my experiences with commercial arcade cabinet, there are not many screws typically used and when they are used they are inserted from the inside of the cabinet, not from the outside.
you may just find its glued and stapled

[kahlid74]

Have you tried simply prying out that wood block yet. There is a lot of talk of what cutting tools to use but have you determined there are screws holding it in.
from my experiences with commercial arcade cabinet, there are not many screws typically used and when they are used they are inserted from the inside of the cabinet, not from the outside.
you may just find its glued and stapled

This.  Most of us in this thread assumed the pry out method with a chisel/hammer would be the first tried and then if any issuers were encountered, a cutting tool could be engaged.

[Richardgregory]

I've been made aware that an oscillating tool is the way to go, which would work I think  a straight vertical plunge cut on the sides, and cut it out like slicing a cake.