Author Topic: Not so tall cabinet? (Read 2850 times)

DemonBrew · « **on:** January 17, 2005, 12:57:29 pm »

I'm looking to build my first cabinet. My plan was to copy the Project Arcade / Lusid's Arcade Flashback cab as my first, for simplicity. Turns out, the basement I plan to install this in has only 6' 4" ceiling height. I don't want to take off a foot off the bottom of the cab, thereby making the controls way too low. But, I also don't want to make a mini-cabinet that only kids could use. I'm also not interested in a bar-top or cocktail table design.

Anyone know of projects that have already addressed this problem?

RayB · « **Reply #1 on:** January 17, 2005, 01:27:55 pm »

Yeah, this site's full of examples. Just search for "mini" cabs, "caberet" cabs (or is it "cabaret"?), and "low boy" cabs.

Sephroth57 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 17, 2005, 01:29:19 pm »

i think a low boy would fit your situation well. theyre pretty cool lookin too, like ray said try a search for those key words

Hoagie_one · « **Reply #3 on:** January 17, 2005, 01:31:41 pm »

a low boy, a bar top or maybe the new thing people are talking about...the control panel withthe computer inside, just plug it into a TV or comp monitor and bamm.

Sephroth57 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 17, 2005, 01:33:18 pm »

yeah but he wants a "real" cabinet, not a mini or a bartop. i think the only other alternative is a lowboy really

Hoagie_one · « **Reply #5 on:** January 17, 2005, 01:34:14 pm »

arent those candy cabs short also?

Apollo · « **Reply #6 on:** January 17, 2005, 01:54:32 pm »

If you are interested I should have plans for this within a couple of weeks, just got to measure up when I get a chance.

oldsage · « **Reply #7 on:** January 17, 2005, 02:00:57 pm »

Quote from: DemonBrew on January 17, 2005, 12:57:29 pm

I'm looking to build my first cabinet. My plan was to copy the Project Arcade / Lusid's Arcade Flashback cab as my first, for simplicity. Turns out, the basement I plan to install this in has only 6' 4" ceiling height. I don't want to take off a foot off the bottom of the cab, thereby making the controls way too low. But, I also don't want to make a mini-cabinet that only kids could use. I'm also not interested in a bar-top or cocktail table design.

Anyone know of projects that have already addressed this problem?

You can just make little modification to an existing set of plans... (somehow)
There are a bunch of plans over at jakobuds site... Go check 'em out, maybe some of them are the size you need...

hbm*rais · « **Reply #8 on:** January 17, 2005, 02:57:19 pm »

Take a look at my cabinet:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,28763.0.html

It may give you some ideas. I built it to be small, but not a children's cab. The height of the CP is about 1m. Normal height.

You can make it deeper and wider to fit a bigger screen and CP. Or you can modify the plans to include a separated CP, as in Stuzza's project:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,28763.0.html

Other than that, you can wait for Apollo's plans. His cab look very nice indeed. And if you don't care for a lowboy at all, I'm sure a lot of the classic cabs would fit in your basement.

DemonBrew · « **Reply #9 on:** January 17, 2005, 04:52:04 pm »

Awesome. Thanks everyone for the quick replies. I was using the search feature, but was looking under "short" or "ceiling" or "small".

NoOne=NBA= · « **Reply #10 on:** January 17, 2005, 06:56:11 pm »

You could just modify Lusid's design a bit, to fit your own components.
He had alot of room around the monitor area that could be reduced, if you knew the dimensions you needed before starting.

Alternately, you could build a two piece cab, and assemble it once it was in the basement.
Oscar has plans on his site for his "Gotham" cab.

Flinkly · « **Reply #11 on:** January 17, 2005, 07:31:07 pm »

well, instead of looking for fresh new plans, you should really just modify something, or look around a bit. most cabs are around 6 feet tall, and i can't think of too many that are 6 and a half, so you should be able to find one to fit your tastes. but yeah, check out jakobuds site and browse through those, you should be able to find one up to spec.

RayB · « **Reply #12 on:** January 17, 2005, 08:55:25 pm »

Here's a weird suggestion:
Buy a small generic gutted cab for dirt cheap and then cut off the top... You should be able to modify it to look like a low-boy...

Crazy Cooter · « **Reply #13 on:** January 17, 2005, 10:09:28 pm »

Just use a taito cab (Jungle Hunt/Qix/etc). They're shorter.

Raven.. · « **Reply #14 on:** January 17, 2005, 11:27:52 pm »

Quote from: Crazy Cooter on January 17, 2005, 10:09:28 pm

Just use a taito cab (Jungle Hunt/Qix/etc).

paigeoliver · « **Reply #15 on:** January 18, 2005, 02:07:44 am »

Only original cabinet I can think of that would have a problem with a 6' ceiling would be Battlezone (6'3"), everything else will be fine.

I suggest a Pac-Man style cabinet.

Tailgunner · « **Reply #16 on:** January 18, 2005, 02:58:54 am »

Quote from: paigeoliver on January 18, 2005, 02:07:44 am

Only original cabinet I can think of that would have a problem with a 6' ceiling would be Battlezone (6'3"), everything else will be fine.

I suggest a Pac-Man style cabinet.

I doubt a Crossbow cab would fit in a room with a 6' ceiling. I'd imagine anything close could cause problems when you tried to stand it up off the dolly.

I've run into that a few times while trying to install large built in cabinets during home renovations.

paigeoliver · « **Reply #17 on:** January 18, 2005, 03:13:58 am »

That is why I suggested a Pac cab, that subtle curve at the top is just right for easing the cab upright.

Although this could also be a basement without a ceiling, in that case it is cake to stand up any cab because only the support beams are gonna be 6'3", you'll have an extra 6" in some spots to help get the machine vertical.

Rocky · « **Reply #18 on:** January 19, 2005, 08:13:08 am »

Q*bert is a full sized cab, but only about 5 1/2 feet tall.

RayB · « **Reply #19 on:** January 19, 2005, 12:05:50 pm »

Another short cab is "Rolling Thunder" by Atari.

Daniel270 · « **Reply #20 on:** January 19, 2005, 12:24:48 pm »

Why not use a gutted cabaret...or find the plans for one?


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