paint selection..

[PixelPaul]

I'm curious as to what the best paint for arcade cabinets is? Flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, gloss? I would think the the outside surfaces should have something with some sheen to it, but flat black would be better for the inside? In regards to black paint for most projects in the past I have just picked up a quart can of rustoleum, but I think that would be to glossy for this purpose. Can the paint counter at Home Depot mix black paint like they do the other colors? I guess I've never noticed black swatches in the paint aisle.

[Slippyblade]

Yes, Home Depot will mix black for ya.

[michelevit]

My paint of choice has been oil based satin black by rustoleum. Comes in a can for about 10 bucks. I thin it with acetone or laquer thinner and spray it with a hvlp gun. Lays down great and provides a durable oem looking finish. Available at home depot, lowes or osh. I also use this paint for the backside of the bezel.

[RabidRabit]

My paint of choice has been oil based satin black by rustoleum. Comes in a can for about 10 bucks. I thin it with acetone or laquer thinner and spray it with a hvlp gun. Lays down great and provides a durable oem looking finish. Available at home depot, lowes or osh. I also use this paint for the backside of the bezel.

When you say the "backside of the bezel" are you talking about the glass that your monitor sits behind?  The reason I ask is because I bought that exact paint (Rustoleum Satin Black) to paint my kickplate and was wondering if it would do well for the bezel glass as well.

[michelevit]

My paint of choice has been oil based satin black by rustoleum. Comes in a can for about 10 bucks. I thin it with acetone or laquer thinner and spray it with a hvlp gun. Lays down great and provides a durable oem looking finish. Available at home depot, lowes or osh. I also use this paint for the backside of the bezel.

When you say the "backside of the bezel" are you talking about the glass that your monitor sits behind?  The reason I ask is because I bought that exact paint (Rustoleum Satin Black) to paint my kickplate and was wondering if it would do well for the bezel glass as well.

yes. i use the same paint (rustoleum satin black) to paint the back of the monitor bezel. I also use it to paint the actual monitor frame itself.
Here is a pic...

Its not actually glass but plexiglass from tap plastic. The painted side sits facing the monitor. I mask with blue painters tape cut with a new sharp razor.

[michelevit]

here is a pic of the monitor being masked and painted.

[BadMouth]

If you're painting a cab red use dark primer, not white.
I didn't learn about that until after it took 10 coats to get the color even.

I've read that black paint mixed at the store won't be as dark as special order black paint.
I've only used the mixed stuff and am satisfied with it.  It was either semi-gloss or satin, don't recall which.

Had both the Neo Geo red and black mixed at Lowes.

[Kier]

My paint of choice has been oil based satin black by rustoleum. Comes in a can for about 10 bucks. I thin it with acetone or laquer thinner and spray it with a hvlp gun. Lays down great and provides a durable oem looking finish. Available at home depot, lowes or osh. I also use this paint for the backside of the bezel.

This. Rustoleum black satin. Great finish.

[FNwoz]

I read somewhere this is a really good paint to go with. I am about to paint my cab and I was going to start with this to see how it looks. Any thoughts compared to the satin?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Oleum-Painter-s-Touch-32-oz-Semi-Gloss-Black-General-Purpose-Paint-1974502/100208855