Any ideas for a bartop cab table / stand ?

[Mamezilla]

After almost finishing my bartop cabinet (which is a Titan bartop cab from  BYOAC member Rick at http://www.gameroomdesigns.ca/), I'm now facing a dilemma.  The cabinet will be placed in the living/play room in our basement, where we do not currently have a table or a counter suitable for putting the cabinet on. 

Also, I used a foldable table when I worked on the cabinet, which is around 30 inches high.  When playing on the cab while on that table, I find that it is a bit too low.  I feel like it is missing around 5 to 7 inches in height, especially if I would like to eventually use a bar stool to sit on.

When I checked for some options in the "Project announcements" section, I saw in one of the topics (can't remember which one exactly) that somebody used a kitchen island/cart from Ikea like this one: http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/30240348/.  However, I do not like the looks of it.

I know some might say that I should have built a standard cab.  However, our basement isn't that big, and for practical reasons, I'd prefer to have something that could incorporate drawers and/or doors for storage

Anybody have any ideas or suggestions about this ?  What are you using ?  What should be the best height for it ?  Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[thomas_surles]

A simple night stand or end table maybe?
Or if your a drinker, a mini fridge would be great.

Or possibly just build a nice table to your desired dementions and add some drawers or shelves or something.

End table:
http://mobile.walmart.com/search-token/aHR0cDovL3d3dy53YWxtYXJ0LmNvbS9icm93c2UvaG9tZS9uaWdodC1zdGFuZHMvNDA0NF8xMDMxNTBfMTAyNTQ3XzkxODM4P3RhYl92YWx1ZT1BbGw%3A/home

Night stand:
http://mobile.walmart.com/search-token/aHR0cDovL3d3dy53YWxtYXJ0LmNvbS9icm93c2UvaG9tZS9uaWdodC1zdGFuZHMvNDA0NF8xMDMxNTBfMTAyNTQ3XzkxODM4P3RhYl92YWx1ZT1BbGw%3A/home

Kitchen island:
http://mobile.walmart.com/search-token/aHR0cDovL3d3dy53YWxtYXJ0LmNvbS9icm93c2UvaG9tZS9uaWdodC1zdGFuZHMvNDA0NF8xMDMxNTBfMTAyNTQ3XzkxODM4P3RhYl92YWx1ZT1BbGw%3A/home

Mini fridge:
http://mobile.walmart.com/search-token/aHR0cDovL3d3dy53YWxtYXJ0LmNvbS9icm93c2UvaG9tZS9uaWdodC1zdGFuZHMvNDA0NF8xMDMxNTBfMTAyNTQ3XzkxODM4P3RhYl92YWx1ZT1BbGw%3A/home


I am not suggesting getting them from Wal-Mart. Just some examples.

[j.fitzenr]

I wish I had a specific suggestion... I love the mini-fridge idea!

As for height, I'd say figure out your optimum height first (whether it's standing, on a stool, etc.) and work from there.  Stack the thing on some boards, books, whatever, and figure out what your optimal height is, and go from there.  No reason to sacrifice comfort!

[Nephasth]

A stand? ... For a bartop? 

[eds1275]

A stand? ... For a bartop? 

\Time to build that bar everyone wants

[Mamezilla]

A stand? ... For a bartop? 

\Time to build that bar everyone wants

Sometimes, to make the spouse happy, you have to do multiple steps to achieve your final goal...   

I know it sounds weird... Initially, the cab was meant for my computer / ham radio room also in the basement, but plans changed; the older son now wants his own bedroom, so I'll have to get the hell outta there for him.  So now, the only option left for the cab is the game/living room in the basement, which is quite small.  Guess I should have specified this in my initial post.

Maybe another option would be a small pub table with a bar stool.

[eds1275]

I would go with the fridge or cupboard underneath. Maybe have some console controllers in there and un a few more emulators. I find more and more my xbox one waits for me while I play my console emulator computer. Dino Crisis is a lot of fun, and that style of gameplay seems long forgotten.

[EMDB]

Strip the bartop, reuse all components, buy some would and build yourself a nice full size cabinet. There are some nice shallow designs on BYOAC if space is an issue.

[Rick]

After almost finishing my bartop cabinet (which is a Titan bartop cab from  BYOAC member Rick at http://www.gameroomdesigns.ca/), I'm now facing a dilemma.  The cabinet will be placed in the living/play room in our basement, where we do not currently have a table or a counter suitable for putting the cabinet on.

 

Strip the bartop, reuse all components, buy some would and build yourself a nice full size cabinet. There are some nice shallow designs on BYOAC if space is an issue.

Beg pardon?

[ark_ader]

Its obvious you need to build the other half of the cabinet, to store consoles, controllers and the like.  So go with a pedestal design and go from there.  I'm sure your supplier can come up with some compatible design that will lock the bartop in place.

[Rick]

I'm sure your supplier can come up with some compatible design that will lock the bartop in place.

I like the way you think!

[Generic Eric]

Mount it to a wall.  Start a wall-cade.  I had an idea, that if I ever built one bartop, that I might build another.  I thought about something that looked like a cross between a bar and a shelf.  It would have three shelves and hold the bartops in storage & display at the same time.

[DeLuSioNal29]

BYOAC forum user Unstupid build a brilliant design here for his bartop.  I absolutely LOVE this design:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,114435.0.html




So anything is possible if done the right way.   

DeLuSioNaL29

[nitrogen_widget]

Since an actual bar or a shelf at the right height running along the entire wall won't work I think the pub table is a decent idea.
I actually have an oak pub table with 4 barstools and It works great for cards or laptop LAN parties.
so i'm sure it will work for a bartop.

if not, how's the attic since your getting booted out of the basement?

[mgb]

You have a ham radio room??? Niiiice. You sir are part of a dying breed.
Why not just go with your idea of a pub stable (assuming you mean a tall round table of about 2' radius or so).
That sounds like a good solution based on the obstacles you had described.
Also the wall mounting idea can work well. Even if you just mount a small shelf to the wall to place it on.

[pbj]

Ah, thus is revealed the tragic failure of a bartop.  Just as expensive, takes up just as much room, and uncomfortable to play. 

Most of you will look back at these abominations with disgust once the years have given you time to reflect upon your crimes.

[Mamezilla]

Thanks guys for all your input. 

mgb:  in fact, ham radio is not dying as fast as I'd tought where I live.  Every winter, the local club is offering courses every saturday to get the basic license, and each year, we have around 15 to 20 students.  What people don't realise is that when an emergency or a natural disaster strikes, the 2 first things that goes down with it are internet and cell phones.  Also, a lot of the technologies that we are using now in our lives were experimented by ham radio operators.  Still a lot of fun.  Also, when I mentionned a pub table, I was indeed referring to a tall one with a 2 feet radius.  Because of the size of the Titan unit I have, I'd have to go for a square 28", since a round 24" would be tight or a little short.

nitrogen_widget:  Our attic is not suitable to have a living space in it (hope I said that right, since my native language is french).  The house only has a main floor and a basement.

DeLuSioNal29:  Nice find, I really like that !  Very neat indeed    I'll have to check wit Rick if he has plans for that kind of base for his cabs. 

Generic Eric:  Wall mounting could indeed be an option also.  I'd have to find a shelf that I can hook solidly on the wall to support the weight of the cabinet.

Lots of thinking in perspective...  Thanks again guys !

[mgb]

Sounds like that is a pretty large Bartop so the stand like delusional suggested sounds like the best option.

On a side note of the ham radio thing, that's great to hear that it seems to be living on in your area. I completely agree on its importance during emergencies and its contributions to technology.
I'm an electronics hobbyist and any ham radio guys I have known were very good with electronics so I always admired that.

[Generic Eric]

I can't take credit for the wall mount idea.  A member here has already done that.  I just don't have his link handy.

[yotsuya]

I wouldn't wall mount a traditional bartop. 2084 designed those things to be wall-mounted. He didn't just stick a bartop on the wall and call it good. 

[Generic Eric]

I wouldn't wall mount a traditional bartop. 2084 designed those things to be wall-mounted. He didn't just stick a bartop on the wall and call it good. 

I'll admit it is an odd reference without the picture.  Drew a blank on the name.   Thanks for the reminder.

 

https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=141265.0

[EMDB]

After almost finishing my bartop cabinet (which is a Titan bartop cab from  BYOAC member Rick at http://www.gameroomdesigns.ca/), I'm now facing a dilemma.  The cabinet will be placed in the living/play room in our basement, where we do not currently have a table or a counter suitable for putting the cabinet on.

 

Strip the bartop, reuse all components, buy some would and build yourself a nice full size cabinet. There are some nice shallow designs on BYOAC if space is an issue.

Beg pardon?

A bartop is no cabinet. I was serious...

[Mamezilla]

Sounds like that is a pretty large Bartop so the stand like delusional suggested sounds like the best option.

On a side note of the ham radio thing, that's great to hear that it seems to be living on in your area. I completely agree on its importance during emergencies and its contributions to technology.
I'm an electronics hobbyist and any ham radio guys I have known were very good with electronics so I always admired that.

The Titan bartop cab is about 18"deep by 21" wide, however if I measure diagonally from one corner to another, it's around 24 1/2".  So this is why I think a 24" radius round pub table would be tight or a little short.

Still on the side note of the ham radio thing, I'm also an electronic hobbyist.  The first diploma I got in high school 30+ years ago was as an electronic radio repairman (can't translate the exact term, but in french it's "Dépanneur d'appareils électroniques domestiques").  I'm also a bit active in our local ham radio club.

Thanks again guys for all of your inputs.

[HaRuMaN]

I made a pedestal for one of my customers & his widescreen bartop (note he hadn't put the T-molding on at the time of this picture):

[Rick]

I made a pedestal for one of my customers & his widescreen bartop (note he hadn't put the T-molding on at the time of this picture):

I like it. I can do something like that, for sure. Or something along the lines of the previous pedestal-style cabinet...

[mgb]

That pedestal looks great.
I'm not big on bartops. I like full size cabs and I tend to somewhat agree with the statement of bartops actually taking up more room than full size cabs but I'd think it would make sense for you Bartop Kit suppliers to offer pedestal kits as regular items and to that degree I'd think good ol' Cabaret and low boy styled cabinets would make plenty of sense.