Need your help with cabinet repair.

[Shape D.]

So I picked up a centipede cabinet for free yesterday, coin door included. Its in fairly good shape except for the wood near the contol panel. so what I'm wondering is whats the best way to repair this? my thought is to cut of the chipped part and stick a new piece of wood there. but is there anything that would work better?  and how do I remove this ugly black paint without screwing up the artwork underneath? (assuming the artwork is in good condition)

Thanks.

[Kremmit]

3m Safest Stripper is hard to find, but has been known to remove paint and leave decals.  I think Paige used it on a Millipede?  I finally got a store to special order me a can, nobody around here carries it.

[Lilwolf]

I didn't have any real good luck with safest stripper.  I'm not sure if I've found anyone who had good enought results to feel like it was worth it.  Anyone use it and happy with the end results? 

But with that amount of damage, you are going to need some SERIOUS wood filler or cut a section off and replace it.  Either way you will need to paint over an pretty big area.  I think cutting the wood section will probably be your best solution.   Wood filler for something that big will be a huge annoyance.

btw, are you planning on keeping the original control panel?  Or build it out?  You might consider it since the wood is pretty much toast in the area.  You might want to just cut a chunk out of each side, and build a slightly bigger box.  Anyway, if you considering it... nows the time.

Other then that.  I would first fix the sides (which ever way...) then paint everything one color.  Get it good and smooth... then buy some side art.  Or be happy with the color.  Or go for something completely different then sideart... but basically you want to fix everything, paint everything till your happy... then do artwork. 

Good luck

[Shape D.]

I actually like the art and style of the centipede cab so I was planning on restoring it as best I can. If the artwork is screwed I'll end up stripping it completley and repainting it and purchasing new centipede artwork.

as for the cp It didn't come with one, so I still have to figure out where to a 2 player cp for it.

[Shape D.]

So if I plan on cutting a new piece of wood for this now I have a couple other questions.

1) what type of wood joint should I use for this? I don't want it to fall off easily but I don't want it to look like crap either. (I'll be using particleboard for the new piece, because thats what the rest of the cab is made out of.

2) anyone know if theres any kind of a template for one of these style cabs? I want to try and get it to look like the original version but I don't have the full piece on there to trace it.

[Kremmit]

re: Safest Stripper:

Haven't used mine yet.

So many projects, so little time...

[BUCKETHEAD]

Use bondo !

Stuff works great for filling in missing chunks.

There is a thread somewhere on the board about cabinet repair.

I will see if i can find it?

[BUCKETHEAD]

Credit to TAILGUNNER.    Here's the thread ...

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,12414.0.html

[paigeoliver]

I have successfully gotten the artwork back on a Millipede and a Stargate. BUT, Centipede artwork is available to purchase, and that one needs serious wood repair, so I suggest skipping trying to get the art back and fixing the wood issues and then putting on new artwork.

[Kev-in DFW]

I just went through the same pains with my Street Fighter II cab that I am converting with the broken wood near the CP.  Bondo worked great for the rough fill in.  The nice thing about Bondo is that it sets up QUICK and you can rough in the shape very easily while it is still pliable.  Once it sets up completely it is tough as nails and can be sanded to the correct shape.  I used wood filler to do the final fill and touch ups.

Good luck!

Kev~

[Shape D.]

Would bondo actually work for this though? The dark spot on the left side of this pic is actually a hole that goes through the wood.

[cbmeeks]

I wouldn't bondo that much.

What I would do is get a square piece of wood about that size and trace around it and then cut it with a jigsaw.  hopefully you could find a piece thin enough so that it would match.

I would also counter-sink some wood screws and glue to hold it on.

cbmeeks

[Avery]

I'd cut the whole CP wing off (with a nice straight edge) make a replacement and attach an internal support - say a piece of 1x4 to both the wing and the cabinet.  You'd only have a seam to putty that way, though you'd have to route the grove for the T-track in the new wing.

I'm not sure how much the CP catches would interfere with this plan.  You might have to re-engineer them.

[Kev-in DFW]

Surprisingly enough, Bondo WILL work for that much missing cab.   Just leave the t-molding in place and fill it in.  When it turns kinda "rubbery" lightly rub the surfage with some 60 grit sandpaper and rough it to near flush with the height of the t-molding.  Leave enough there so that when it sets up overnight, you can sand it smooth and do a final fill.

You can also do exactly what others have mentioned and just cut it off completely and reattach new wood using biscuits or dowels. 

I have a Space Duel cab with PERFECT side art that has lost this exact corner.  I will be doing the above mentioned procedure to it and then try to patch a piece of white vinyl to it to cover the base color.  That way, the only seam is on the vinyl and not the structure below...

Good luck, let me know if I can help in any way!

Kev~