Scratch build project-Is it so hard??

[Bones]

I visit or call an arcade vendor with simple questions regarding availability of parts and in every instance they regurgitate something like the following;

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[paigeoliver]

THe problem with scratchbuilt cabinets is that most of them come out quite inferior when compared to factory built cabinets, AND it costs about 6 times as much to build one as it does to buy a used one.

I have been doing arcade games, projects, mame cabinets, and such for years, and I have scratchbuilt ONE cabinet. Not counting tools, monitor or controls or ANYTHING, it still cost me about $120 to build it. And that is WAY CHEAP compared to what most people spend scratchbuilding (I used a skinny design to do it with 2 sheets of MDF instead of 3).

It came out looking pretty good. But not as good as if I had simply found myself a factory built cabinet and put the same effort into it.

[neuromancer]

There are two aspects to the scratch built project:

1) The cabinet, and 2) the controls.

The cabinet is just a woodworking project. If you have the tools and the knowhow, then you already know what's involved. It's not too bad. Then again, I bought a working game in a cabinet for $120 off Ebay. I could build a plywood box for less than $120, but I got a monitor, some leaf sticks and a coin door too.

The controls take a variety of skills, including either wood or metal working, electrical, conceptual, design, and general jack of all trades. It's kind of tedious work. I expect a lot of people get the parts, but just never get around to doing anything. Or they buy extra stuff, or they get stuff and change their minds about what they're going to make.

I've made three panels, and I'll make at least one more -- probably modular.

Bob

[DrewKaree]

I visit or call an arcade vendor with simple questions regarding availability of parts and in every instance they regurgitate something like the following;

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[dmsuchy]

I have a history of some wood working and when I came across this site I instantly wanted to build my own cabinet from scratch. I am now completeing my second cabinet for a friend. I mean all it is, is a box with a computer and monitor in it. MDF is cheap and you can buy a decent circular saw and jig saw pretty cheap from the local HD. My hardest part was designing the layout of how I wanted my cab to look like, I borrowed heavy from GXR Moviestars cab and I think it looks great. Wiring a control panel is straight forward if you get a decent keyboard encoder, I recommend an Ipac. My hardest part was programing the computer since I'm a complete computer IDIOT! If you already have some tools I say go for it and if you run into troubles post them here, this is the best forum for people who want to help!

[Bones]

Thanks for the replies.

Cost, cost, cost

[DrewKaree]

Hey, since you've said you're in AU, drop danny_galaga a PM.  He's already built one, and seems to be quite handy, although if he asks, I never said it, it's all lies    

While I don't know the exchange rate, that dollar amount seems as if it'd be WAY more than enough, and I think you'll find it easier to build a cab in your country than to buy.  

Another thing for you to check is www.therealbobroberts.com.  I think he sends stuff overseas, but I dunno if it'll end up being cheaper or the same, but he's dynamite, I've heard.  I know you said you don't want overseas parts, but he's got awesome prices!

If you're looking for a start, check out Jakobud's site for plans, and if you wanna know what they look like, match up the plans with the pics on www.klov.com to see if you'd like 'em.

Good luck, and get to mendin' man!

[Granger]

i'm way over spending, buying everthing new, building out of plywood rather then mdf, and new 3100 intel computer. only temporary concession is a tv rather than a arcade monitor. and my total(still estimated, though almost complete on expenditures) is $1200 us. you can do it much cheaper if you look around, and you can't have any less woodworkig experiance than i have. so heal up, get to it, and stat playing.

[LordDamo]

Hi Bones! Im from Australia too, and ive almost finished my first cab - should be done by next weekend.
If you are ok at wood working & and a bit of a "jack-of-all-trades", then go ahead and build. The budget you have set asside is gonna be way enough.

Do a lot of searching around http://www.ebay.com.au/ for computer parts an also second hand (& new) arcade parts.
Spend a day at Bunnings Warehouse, MDF is only about $40 a sheet.

Ive gotten a lot of the stuff for my cab from friends(Thanks Bomber for the sticks!) & family (my dad's old tv for example), so my project is coming out on the cheaper side, but the whole thing cost me about $250, not including paint, as thats still going on.

Order things from overseas, its a lot cheaper than a lot of places in Australia, as most things are imported anyway, then sellers profit is added on. So goto where they get it from. Try and support locals if there prices are reasonable though, if you want a few links or PH numbers, let me know.

Good luck, you can do it!

[tep0583]

There's really nothing that hard about it. A lot of the "trick" to this sort of project is attention to detail and an understanding that it's going to take some time to complete. Beyond that, basci electronics and woodworking skills wil get you by. (Although you might have to redo a couple of things)

Buying a non-working or stripped machine is a real time-saver, but you might not be able to locate a cab that fits your "vision" of what the finishd cab will look like. I personally went this route and it saved me a lot of time. I had to compromise a bit, but both of my current projects are comming out well. I'm quite happy with both.

Make no mistake, this is a big project and it will consume a decent amount of time and money, but it's all worth it, when you bring that machine in and fire it up. It was to me anyway.

BTW- Your budget should be fine. I'm not exectly sure what come to, with the exchange rate, but I'm sure you can build one hell of a machine with it. I'm well under $1000 on both of mine and one's close to finished and the other's about 33% done.

[SirPoonga]

THe problem with scratchbuilt cabinets is that most of them come out quite inferior when compared to factory built cabinets, AND it costs about 6 times as much to build one as it does to buy a used one.

That's the big reason.  I scratch built mine because I wanted features not available in generic cabinets.  To design mine all I did was take measurements from my double dragon II (dynamo) cab and mix them in with scott's unicade to get the ergonomics I wanted.  

[paigeoliver]

THe problem with scratchbuilt cabinets is that most of them come out quite inferior when compared to factory built cabinets, AND it costs about 6 times as much to build one as it does to buy a used one.

That's the big reason.  I scratch built mine because I wanted features not available in generic cabinets.  To design mine all I did was take measurements from my double dragon II (dynamo) cab and mix them in with scott's unicade to get the ergonomics I wanted.  

And I believe that is the best reason to scratchbuild, that is wanting something that isn't available otherwise.

[Bones]

Hey,

I have explored my options using an old cabinet and yep, the financial advantage was huge-enough for a slab of VB every week for a year. I had one guy offer me a real bargain at virtually the same cost as I will be paying for a new monitor alone. Very tempting but I had to remind myself of the real reason for wanting to build from scratch.

Having something unique and original does sound good but the challenge of designing and building my own is my real motivation for getting into this hobby. My little girl is also getting excited as she watches me constantly surfing for examples. (Her favorite is Supercade, she doesn't really understand you don't need one of those to play Jungle King or Pac Land.....!)

Towards the end of last year I built an office in 1/2 my garage. This was my first attempt at any woodworking and I made a stack of errors, but I also learned a lot. The end result is something I am pretty proud of. The truth is a tradesman would have quoted me 1/2 what I spent on that project but you just can't buy that feeling of satisfaction and pride with money. Along the way I purchased a lot of good tools which will get a reasonable workout when I (finally) begin this project.

I think the feedback I has received is awesome and it has confirmed my original thoughts on building from scratch. Also, even with everything I have previously read, I didn't realise there were so many Aussie BYOAC'ers out there! Thanks for the phone number & link offer LordDamo, I will probably get back to you on this when the time comes although I do already have a quite a collection of places I have found and contacted.

[walls83]

I would build my own if I were you... There are so many more options to work with..

Its not hard to do.

I saw this site 2 years ago and I have built 2 cabs. A jukebox and am in the process of designing a control panel that comes out of a coffee table for a friend.

Just go for it..

and

Good luck

[Gunstar Hero]

If you can use a saw, you're good to go.  

[Bones]

If you can use a saw, you're good to go.  

Man, if I could fire up a saw or router with my lips & toes, I would already be building!  

[danny_galaga]

Thanks for the replies.

Cost, cost, cost

[versapak]

I started my cab in Sept, and it is still sitting unfinished.


Alot of the problem, is that the cost in getting it done just kept becoming more and more. The little things, odds & ends here and there, and more tools to get the job done right, just ended up ballooning far beyond what I had initially (not) anticipated.

Also... It is "mostly" done, and playable. My control panel is completely built and painted, and the cabinet is completed except for cosmetic issues, so it is alot tougher motivating myself to get any further. I need to paint it, but I am not real keen about the idea of painting it inside, and I missed opportunity for reliably good summer weather.

I really enjoyed the learning experience that it has been, and I am actually in the process of finishing it slowly but surely. However... It did take considerably more time than I ever expected or wanted to, and I am quite sure any next cabinet that I embark on will be built from an old throw away, rather than from scratch.

[neuromancer]

Seems to be the reoccurring comment also by arcade dealers….

[big daddy]

just finishing my first scratch built cab.  I had ZERO woodworking skills before I started..the last woodworking project I had was in 7th grade and my clock was concave due to bad sanding 

Anyway, decided to try it and it's come out great so far. (all that's lacking is the CPO/marquee/artwork).  Everyone tells me it looks great and they're all impressed.  Not bad for someone who hadn't picked up a saw in 15 years!  The "Project Arcade" book is what I used as a basis and it walks you through everything. 

It was very expensive for me though as I didn't have any of the tools.  Even though I borrowed the saws/router/etc..there was still a lot of cost on things like rubber mallots, screws, level, sawhorses, and all these other $5-10 things that added up to quite a bit of money.

[DrewKaree]

It was very expensive for me though as I didn't have any of the tools. Even though I borrowed the saws/router/etc..there was still a lot of cost on things like rubber mallots, screws, level, sawhorses, and all these other $5-10 things that added up to quite a bit of money.

If you don't mind me asking, I understand the need for screws but I don't understand a rubber mallet, and I REALLY don't understand the level.  Was that for when you were all done and wanted to plug her in, or were you using that to make sure the monitor shelf was level? 

[versapak]

"If you don't mind me asking, I understand the need for screws  but I don't understand a rubber mallet, and I REALLY don't understand the level.  Was that for when you were all done and wanted to plug her in, or were you using that to make sure the monitor shelf was level?"


As much as these things way, and considering what is inside em, it is a very good thing to make sure you are putting it together level the entire way.

It may not matter so much in the short run, but especially if you are using MDF, you don't want any specific area to be taking any needless amounts of extra stress.

As for the rubber mallet...

It is what is used to tap the t-molding into place.

[DrewKaree]

Of all the cabinets and countless other storage units I've built, level was only a consideration after it was built and you didn't want it to rock forward, spilling all its contents.  I'd say it's FAR more important for the thing to be square, which is easily checked with a tape measure, and that level doesn't really come into play. Also, consider you are using a level to check your cab when it is resting on a surface that itself may not be level.

I've used a regular hammer and a scrap block of wood for t-molding, but to each his own.

I'm not saying purchasing those things are bad, but in an effort to save a few bucks here or there, I didn't see the "must have-ness" of these two things.

[captainpotato]

I'm also an Aussie, and I'm building my first cabinet (bartop). I haven't dared add up the receipts yet, but as I had all the computer hardware, it won't be so bad (and I'm not counting the tools I've bought as I shall have many other uses for them).

Aside from the fact that I don't have room for anything larger than a bartop, my primary motivation is the experience of making - the journey, so to speak. Apart from a bad plant pot holder in year 9 at school, I've never made anything with wood. Whilst my bartop isn't perfect, I've learnt a hell of a lot and I've had even more fun - and it's not finished yet (now that it's palyable, progress has slowed a lot).

For the size of your budget, you could get a pretty decent machine or two second-hand, but you won't have the fun of designing and building your own machine. For me this is the most important aspect. Sure, playing Ms Pac-Man may be fun, but it's the experience of building it that really matters - and I don't even have a carport, let alone a workshop, to leave my tools out and my work set up...

[seibu]

I've scratch built a cocktail, and I had nearly no woodworking skills or tools to begin with. I'm really happy with what I've made, and there's no way anything I could have bought factory-built would have fitted my needs so well.

I think the three most important things to bear in mind are:

1) Doing it right will take a long time.

2) It will probably cost a lot.

3) It's all worth it in the end  .

Don't think of it as a weekend job or get too obsessed about getting it finished. Take your time over it. This means more research, more time to find bargains and more chance to adjust the design. It also spreads out the cost and makes sure you end up with something worth having.

[SirPoonga]

If I was to do a cocktail I would not build from scratch.  I'd get a kit from arcade depot and modify it.  Check the holiday contest give-away prize sponsers

Actually, for All I'd want on a cocktail I could have them make the control panel.  In the future I plan on having a cocktail cabinet for the classic verts like 1942, pacman, etc...

[megashock5]

If you know anyone who has tools you could borrow, that would save quite a bit of money. One of the only reasons I started mine is that my father has just about any tool I would need - the only one I had to buy was the router bit, but even then I borrowed his router.

There is one reason for building from scratch that hasn't been mentioned yet (may not be that common)...

Unlike my dad, I'm not very handy. I want to be able to do stuff like finish my basement and other home improvement projects. Since I've never done any real building or word work, I thought I'd do this as a test project. I figured if it turned out it would be great, but if it didn't at least I hadn't damaged my home in any way.

so far so good, but I'm not very far along.

[Bones]

Since I've never done any real building or word work, I thought I'd do this as a test project. I figured if it turned out it would be great, but if it didn't at least I hadn't damaged my home in any way.

It's pretty ironic you say that. I have been thinking it would be a good idea to build some MDF cabinets and storage places for all my tools before I start. The way my tools are stored at the moment is going to cause a lot of frustration when I do start my cab, I can never find anything as it's so unorganized.

My previous garage/office project was all built with pine. Man that is frustrating stuff. You measure, check for the fitting, it's all good. Then next day when it comes time to assemble, everything has changed sizes!! I found the pine to be very unstable, a friend told me it hadn't been properly dried or cured.

So..... Building some MDF cabinets should hopefully give me a feel for the characteristics of this material although everything I have read says it's very stable as long as you don't get it wet.

[RayB]

You can buy a rubber mallet at your local discount/dollar store.

[versapak]

You can buy a rubber mallet at your local discount/dollar store.

Yep, it really wasn't all that much of a factor in the overall cost.


There is ALOT of little things though, that one may not initially consider in the initial excitement of building their own cab. All those little things do eventually add up. It would be fine to say... I don't really need this mallet, but when you need the other 90% of the items you might as well get it also.