I really cannot decide if I should build my own bartop arcade or buy a finished one from eBay.
Being used to nice modern consumer products, is it really possible to build an arcade yourself and not feeling like sitting at a DIY bench stuffed with hardware?
I'd like to hear your thoughts on this, and your background with woodworking. Myself, I have a good catalogue of power tools
, and have been fixing up my own house for years now, but still, I cannot decide if my woodworking skills still will be adequate for the finish of a consumer product vs. the finish of rough woodworking.
The cons of buying an eBay bartop is the price and also that the design is very much fixed.
I'd also like to hear your opinions on my plans for a DIY arcade, should I choose to go in this direction..:
* Bartop arcade made from 15mm MDF
* T molds from arcadeworlduk, and a slot cutter like this:
http://www.arcadewinkel.nl/accessoires/gereedschap/schijffrees-slot-cutter-t-molding would this be an OK slot cutter blade?
* I want the cabinet to be white and black, with plexiglass on the control panel and in front of the screen. What about the seem between these two?
* White and black: better to do with PVC foil or spray paint? I don't have good experience with spray paint, doesn't it always look very DIY'ish?
* I'm on top of my joystick/button/speakers/screen situation, and it will fit both a DIY or an eBay kit.
Wow, really a lot of questions here
I hope you have some input, and I really look forward to hearing if you've got experience with the eBay kits or your own build, have any regrets or recommendations, or similar input. Thanks!