What advice would you give someone who's just about to start their first cab?

[SmartBomb]

I'm just about to complete my first cab, after about 3 months work, on and off.  Before this, I was a total newbie - my woodworking skills extended to assembling IKEA furniture.  My goals in this project were to end up with something really cool that I'd love to play, and learn some woodworking and handyman skills along the way.

Here are some "lessons learned" during the project:

• If you're like me, and you tend to sweat a lot during exertion, get a fan for your work area!  A floor fan or large standing fan would be great.
• If you're less an expert with imperial measurements ("Hmm...3/16th...that's, erm, 6/64", so if I have this 1/8" drill bit....") a cheapo pocket calculator comes in handy.
• Definitely take pictures - a cheap digital camera, in a baggie or carrying case, will work wonders.  Your friends will be interested to see your construction pics.  Don't forget to document your failures as well as your successes, as a warning to others!
• Get a couple of air cans - the kind you use to blow dust out of your computer.  It may seem decadent, but they're great for blowing away wood shaving, dust etc.  It gets tedious to always have to do it yourself, and even worse if you keep having to take your mask off to do it.
• If you're not an experienced woodworker, mock everything up before you cut.  Use foam board, cardboard, or just lay stuff out on the wood and draw around it - but dry fit everything to make sure you don't get any unpleasant surprises.
• A good, powerful work light really helps, especially during painting.
• Don't make your cab playable until your project is complete, otherwise you will forever have a cabinet that's 85% complete 
• Don't forget to provide yourself with music while you work - it can be relaxing (as long as it doesn't distract you). 
• Most tools and jobs are less intimidating than they might seem, as long as you take it slow and read instructions.  Before this project I'd never used a router, circular saw, jigsaw or even painted anything.
• Set yourself a timeline for the project - otherwise it'll never get done - but don't beat yourself up if you overshoot.  This is meant to be fun, remember!
• Create yourself a spreadsheet, logging your expenses and how many hours you spend on your project. (you might want to password protect it so your spouse can't open it...)
• Have a broad plan, but attack the project iteratively.  e.g., build a control panel first...start building the cab, dry fit stuff, and correct mid-course if necessary.  Even with really good plans, things rarely go according to plan.
• Have a memorable codename for your project.  This may sound silly, but it really helps when referring to it for discussing with others.
• And of course, buy at least two copies of Saint's book!

[Quarters]

I'm also just finishing my first cab. "Don't make your cab playable until your project is complete"  I can vouch for that one.

Tips to avoid my dumbass mistakes:

• Make a list of all the parts you need to order before ordering the first item. I wasted shipping $$ by ordering from two vendors twice.
• If building a cocktail, get the glass before cutting the tabletop. I have an extra tabletop out on the deck

[Dexter]

Just the one bit of advice, PLAN PLAN PLAN. Next cab I'm building I'll build in half the time simply by knowing the correct order to do things in, and having the extra bits you don't think of to hand.

[Stu_C]

Hi Dexter,

What would you recommend as the correct order?

[bionicbadger]

If you are working with MDF, wear a dust mask, and if possible do any router work outside because MDF make a LOT of dust.

[Dexter]

Hi Dexter,
What would you recommend as the correct order?

Are you building a standup or cocktail cab??

[spystyle]

.

[LeedsFan]

I've just finished my first cab which I began last September. When I started I didn't even know my Opti-Pacs from my J-Pacs or my leaf switches from micro-switches. In short.... I knew sod all!  But I've got there and It's turned out better than I first imagined.

This is by far the best forum for this hobby (I think so anyway) and it's just as important to read about peoples mistakes as it is to see all these beautiful ideas and creations coming to fruition. It's easy to get carried away when you see someone's project you really like and you want to incorporate some of their ideas into your own. But keep in mind that EVERYONE makes mistakes in their projects. For me it was two steps forward and one step back a lot of the time.

I'd second the comment above about planning. I spent a lot of time planning my panel to make sure my hands fell just right on the buttons and that my hands wouldn't "bump" into other controls while using trackball and spinner etc.

Just one bit of advice SmartBomb..... I'd change the title of this thread. At first glance in the forum list it comes over as just another complete nOOb topic (but we've all been there  ) and I very nearly didn't read it myself.

[Minwah]

[li]Don't make your cab playable until your project is complete, otherwise you will forever have a cabinet that's 85% complete  [/li]

This is the only important one really.  Although I'd break this rule again and again if I were to build more cabs 

[Hoagie_one]

keep your feet on the ground and head in the sky
  --Casey Kasum

[Thenasty]

READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ did I say READ READ READ READ READ , oh yea I did, I did...The more you READ, Bright ideas will come so you save yourself sometime and $$$$$$.
You don't want to do the same MISTAKE WE MADE......

[Sephroth57]

advice, dont make a cab if you're married and value your sanity, lol

[Chris]

Be careful on cheaping out on certain things.

[quarterback]

I documented what I think is the best order in a tut here : http://spystyle.arcadecontrols.com

This is a great tutorial BTW

[walls83]

Build the control panel last!!!!  I dont know how many of us fell into the:

I finished my control panel and I can play games so the cab can wait...

I know I did.