Some advice please for new cab project...

[GameBase]

I'd like to build a cab, but have no woodowrking/carpentry/joining skills at all.  Could anyone reccommend any good sites that explain the *very basics* of woodworking/carpentry/joining?

I'd like to make a cab out of pine (as my lounge furniture is all pine) but the trouble is, I have to build it in my cellar, which has a small door... so it needs to be able to be assembled and disassembled at will.

Am I in over my head?

Any advice appreciated!

[Nailz]

Ugh, I wouldn't recommend building a cab that needs to be assembled/disassembled if at all possible.  Why not make a bartop cab or a cocktail instead?

[Nightmare03]

Why not cut it all wherever ur gonna, then take it to where u want it and assemble it there.... disassembling it will make it Alot weaker so i also dont recommend it !

Do as i did, build a arcade in a box that plugs straight into ur tv and then PLAY!!

Shame i disassembled it today tho eh?

[GameBase]

I currently live in a flat where the stairway is quite narrow.  If we move home in a year or two, I won't be able to get it out of the building unless it comes apart - hence the assmebling/disassembling bit

[hulkster]

well dude, when i started on mine, i dont think i had ever used a jigsaw or circular saw in my life, so i was in the dark big time.  but i just asked my friends on how to use stuff (like basic stuff) and then ask arcade building related questions on this site and went from there.  there really isnt one site that gives you everything you need.  some woodworking sites will recommend certain tools and the way to use them, but there usually is a arcade building specific way or better way to use the tools to your advantage.  like, tricks of the trade so to speak.  so your best bet would be to ask people around your home or area or family or whatever, about how to use tools and the very basics, and then when you get to the part like "how to cut lexan/plexi" or "what bit do i need to use for the t-molding"...ask the people on the board, or better yet, do a search on your questions first, then ask (cuz people get all pissy when you ask questions that have been on the board many times )  your family and friends may know how to use a router or circular saw, but if you need to make sure that your router can cut the correct depth for your t-molding, those people will be like "what's t-molding?".  so there you go, hope that helps....if not, disregard and wait for another more inteligent response

[Shieldwolf]

do you live in CA? if so I can recommend a great guy who can build you a heavy duty cab.

[GameBase]

Nah, I'm in the UK.

[hyiu]

ok..... if you want a cab that assembles.. and you can take it apart.... if budget allows... maybe you can look into slikstick's cab.... I don't have it... but its designed that way.... (well.... to me, price is kinda steep... and if you keep on putting it together and taking it apart... after a few times... I donno how well it'll hold up....) but nevertheless, a choice for you...

ok... back to if your bedget doesn't allow you to buy a pre-made cab...

wood working skills.... you'll need to use a jigsaw, and a drill... learn to use them is not hard... just always be careful, wear saftey googles... and probably earplugs...
get some scrap pieces of wood and try drilling / cutting them.... remember... measure twice... cut once... and cut slow... if you have any "handy friend"... ask them to demo how to use... and then you try....

if you want to use pine... (my wood knowledge is limited...) but does pine wood comes in big pieces ??... In where I live... (NYC), I can only get pine max width like 12-13 inches...) not wide enough to make a cab....

also... its much harder to make a cab that is sturdy and can taken back into pieces easily... (because you don't just want screws.... ) you also want glues to help keep the pieces together... but glues means its permanent...

maybe measure carefully how wide the cab can be to be moved out.... (if scratched when moving.. touching up is no big deal...) make a 1:1 sample by cardbox and try moving it in and out....

I think that will be easier to do.....
if you have a lot of turns and narrow stairs.... wheels under the acb will help also... some thinks 2 piece cab will help also....

1 last thing... if you're making a 1:1 full size cardboard cab to try moving, and you plan to make it so that it can JUST move out with very little room.... make sure you also count the thickness of the wood.... 3/4 in wood on each side will make the cab like 1.5 in thicker.... keep that in mind...

hope it helps...  

[steve_pss]

Nut up, by twice the lumber you need, assume twice the costs you assume and get to it. Most everyone on this board was a arcade buff 1st, non-woodworker 2nd.

Youll surprise yourself how quickly the woodoworking comes to you. Not rocket science, just need practice.

BE SAFE!

[Rawker]

it's pretty easy to make a cabinet that can disassemble, i'll explian how mine works (i'm not finished yet, just waiting for paint to dry...).

First piece is the base which supports everything so it's construction needs to be pretty decent, put some casters on it so the cab can move easily, a few support pieces but you don't need to frame it or anything crazy because that's just going to add more weight and well it's overkill. mine has 3 shelves, the top that the tv sits on, a middle shelf for the computer and a bottom shelf which is basically there to support the casters (wheels) but it's where i'll put my dreamcast. i put 2x4's on the sides of the bottom shelf because the weight of the whole cabinet will be on the casters so this way weight is spread out. i didn't frame it or anything, just used them on the sides because i used MDF which is sturdy enough and won't warp if weight is on it like soft wood (ex: pine). i used off cuts of mdf, ripped them down and put them under the sides of the other 2 shelves to add support.

then there is the control pannel which is removeable, it had to be because it's setup for 4 players and fairly wide when it's on the cab. it basically sits on the base, has a couple of pieces on the bottom that fit inside the base to sort of lock it in, nothing special.

then there is the top piece which is sort of a hat for the tv, those really goofy looking winter hats with flaps. it fits over the base piece and has 2 supports pieces screwed on the inside so that it'll rest on the base and since it overlaps the base piece i put a few screws in it and black caps on the screws.

i figure it would take me about 10 min to take apart, basically 4 screws to remove, 4 wires with quick connects/disconnects to separate, 2 db25 disconnects and everything is apart and ready to move. everyting fits through a standard doorway easily and can be caried by 2 people.

as far as wood working skills go i'm one of the lucky ones, my dads a carpenter and i've worked with him since i was like 11 so i have pretty much every tool at my disposel. you shouldn't have too many problems with wood working, just make sure you understand how and what needs support.

[DrewKaree]

...Most everyone on this board was a arcade buff 1st, non-woodworker 2nd.

Actually, I think the non-woodworker part would technically be first.  Kinda like saying "I'm a bilingual illiterate".  You can't be a "non" something second, as you were BORN with "non" skills  For instance, as of this very moment, I am a non-airplane pilot, and do not have plans to become a "non non" one anytime soon.  I also am a non-Indy car driver, a non-astronaut, non-nuclear physicist, et al.

To answer your question about how to work with wood stuff, every woodworking site will offer "general" knowledge info.  Click the links I've given to see some basic stuff.

Wood Magazine
Woodworker's Journal
Woodworking.com
Fine Woodworking
The ULTIMATE reference library

If you can't get anything out of those sites, then you may wish to re-think your desire to build your own cabinet, but I think you'll find what you are looking for.  I personally subscribe to two of those magazines, and if they can help a dolt like me, you should find gold there.  

As far as making an "easily disassembled cabinet", either go the two piece cabinet route, the showcase cabinet route, bartop cabinet route, or the mini-cabinet route.  All those options will be in some thread here, with varying degrees of discussion on the merits/techniques of each.

Around this site are numerous and varied cabinet building threads, so try a few phrases to narrow down your search for help/ideas.  

If you aren't familiar with a power tool, DON'T even put the plug/battery in the thing.  Read the friggen manual.  Use the proper safety equipment, and lastly, wherever you're doing the work, make sure you have a clear view of anyone coming towards you.  I had a guy lose a finger two days ago at home because his wife tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention while he was sawing something.  Long story short, if he was building a cab, he'd have to reach a little longer to press ANY button on it.  Don't be a "dood" and guess your way through how a tool works.  

[Teknique]

If you are adventurous and live by the motto "Nothing is ever easy", then you are born to be a do-it-yourselfer.  My mantra on most everything is that the proper tools make up 70% of the know how.  Your skill level contributes the other 30%.  Anyone can tackle this project with the proper tools and be quite successful (expect the occassional do-overs because truely 'nothing is ever easy').   By the way, the physical construction of the cab is the most fun and probably the easiest part of the project.

As far as a cab that breaks down, look into the Ultimate Arcade Cab.- the top seperates from the bottom.  You can buy plans and full-size template layouts for around 70-80 bucks.  Just be perepared to make many modifications to the plans as they are a bit hazy in sections.  their website is mameroom.com.

Good Luck!



 

[GameBase]

Thanks for all your help!  

[abrannan]

A few adages to remember:

Safety First!  Read the manuals, wear goggles, dust mask, hearing protection, etc.
Plan to throw one away, because you will.
Measure twice, then measure again, then cut once.
You can always cut more off, it's a lot harder to glue back on.
Practice, practice practice.   An extra sheet of wood isn't that expensive.



And for the non-cliche advice:  If you can take a look at real cabs, and I mean from the inside to see how they're put together, you can get a good feel for what will work joining-wise.  From there, you can start to re-design a modular cabinet that you'll be able to take apart.  I recommend looking at a NARC cabinet if you can, it's basically a multi-prt cabinet design that would probably work well for you.

[Rawker]

don't buy plans, i can give you dimensions for it as mine is based on it.