question about metal I picked up for a CP

[Violineb]

I was looking around for sheet metal for a CP and my Dad told me the best bet would be in a dumpster or junkyard, not a store. I find a dumpster on my block and what is in it? A nice heavy sheet of steel about 2x2.5 feet (I'll measure it later) From the looks of it, it seems very similar to the kind of metal a washing machine is made of since it has a white enamel coating on one side, it isn't really a sheet but almost a metal box as it has 2-3 inch sides :p So my question is how difficult will it be to use this for a metal CP after cleaning, painting, polishing and is it worth my time? Second question is, how exactly do you go about making a metal CP? BTW I got my KeyWiz today, can't wait to build a temp CP and test it out

[Stingray]

Should work fine. You'll need a sheet metal brake or access to one to bend it.

-S

[Snarbald]

you could make a brake out of some heavy duty hinges, some angle iron, and a couple of c-clamps. Not very pretty but it'll work if its the best you've got and your metal isn't too heavy.

[Violineb]

Alright I get the idea I'm supposed to bend the metal for some reason or another and since  we have some roofers doing a job on the house, I have access to a metal brake. Now my question is....what should I do with the metal to utilize it into a CPanel? Are there any detailed plans on what it should look like or do I have to use my imagination? Also do I just bend the two ends on the left and right? I'm so utterly confused Oh well, I keep telling myself it will all pay off in the end when I have my cabinet all finished.

[Minwah]

Alright I get the idea I'm supposed to bend the metal for some reason or another and since  we have some roofers doing a job on the house, I have access to a metal brake. Now my question is....what should I do with the metal to utilize it into a CPanel? Are there any detailed plans on what it should look like or do I have to use my imagination? Also do I just bend the two ends on the left and right? I'm so utterly confused Oh well, I keep telling myself it will all pay off in the end when I have my cabinet all finished.

Use your imagination

Take a look at some examples (real cabs are good, as many use metal panels).  Most have a bend at the front (& sometimes rear), rather than left/right.  This will give the panel strength across the width.

If you haven't already I suggest you build your cabinet first, this will give you the size etc. to start with, the rest should come into place.

[Stingray]

Sorry, I guess I may have made an invalid assumption. I assumed you already had a cab or CP box on which you were intending to use this sheet metal. If you do then how you cut the metal and where you put the bends should be obvious. If you don't then as Minwah said you should probably go ahead and build or aquire a cab then build your CP to suit.

-S

[Violineb]

ALright I really appreciate the input First the cabinet, just great, there might be a few too many cabinet plans on BYOAC to find what I want I'm looking for something similar to a CPS2 machine like MvsC (then again I'm sure that's what everyone builds so it shouldn't be hard to find) I'm expecting that I'll have to build it because I don't know of any arcades in the Baltimore area and even if I did I'd have no idea how to get a cabinet from one I'm so hopeless. But if searching on Google doesn't turn up any arcades then I'm sure either someone here knows of some or I'll just use some plans for the cabinet from BYOAC, no biggie

[mahuti]

If you are going to build a cabinet, just make a wood control panel, unless you REALLY want metal. It's good for somethings, but harder to work / experiment with.