Did your cab turn out better than you expected?

[eggedd2k]

gonna be starting my scratch defender cabinet within the next few weeks.

did anyone doubt their skills before starting and then end up building a better cab than expected?

[missioncontrol]

so far it's looking great....

I just need to finish it.....

 

[Clonedsheep]

You know I was thinking that same thing. I am @ the half way point.....Let me change that I have been @ the half way point in my project for some time.

[TurboC--]

gonna be starting my scratch defender cabinet within the next few weeks.

did anyone doubt their skills before starting and then end up building a better cab than expected?

It's taking much LOOOOOOOONNNGGGEEERR than expected! 

But I'm surprised my control panel patch came out so well on the first attempt with inadequate tools.  And that my Pac art was uncovered reasonably well.  I am heading out now to get some "hidden bolts" for my joystick and then I will try to get back, carefully adhere my CPO and hopefully finish out the CP today.  Woo.

[M3talhead]

My 2nd mame cab took just under 6 months. Granted, I didn't have to build it, but going with a restoration over scratch built saved a ton of money/time/space.

It came out 10x better than I thought.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=32169.0

[MameJunkie]

How come the last lap seems longer than the rest?

I'm still trying to finish up my cab.
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=41641.0

I've made some minor mistakes; but overall, I think its better than I expected.
The only woodworking skill I have is 7 grade woodshop class 

One think about woodworking comparing to software is you cant go back and correct your mistakes easily.  So like what everyone says, "Measure Twice, Cut Once".  Luckly, I had space wood.

[Stingray]

Turned out about as well as I expected. Given the benefit of hindsight, I may have done some things differently.

-S

[Lilwolf]

Nope... because I see someone elses cab before I finish any project and want to do that next....

Also, function of looks always... So I have a bunch of parts that I should cleanup just for cosmentic reasons.

but my hotswappable control panels are pretty freaken cool still.  I have to setup a website to show them.  Every time I swap them without plugs, screws or anything and they work, gives me goosebumps...

Of course I really need to get my frontend working with joysticks so I can actually use most of my control panels to control...the...frontend...

[eggedd2k]

i've been a bit like that - got my videomaster jamma cab a fews months ago coz i couldnt wait - i was gonna make one. now i've had the videomaster a while i want to make a  dedicated cab (defender). the only difference is that it's gonna have 6 buttons - i might make two cp's so i've got a defender lookalike cp.

just something though about generic cabs that make them second best to dedicated cabs

[DaveMMR]

Although I just built an empty frame so far, it's far exceeded my expectations.  I can't cut or measure properly, I'm spastic beyond belief, and I've been known to complete abandon projects, but the little I have is something I never thought would look half as good as it did.  Of course I should stop gloating - it's only three pieces of wood screwed in together so far.  I'll let you know if I have the same sentiments further on down the road.

[Bones]

I still have a long way to go on my cab but my control panel turned out better than I expected.

[webgeek]

My carpentry skills are terrible and it just seems to be something that I can't really improve much at. For that reason, no, my cab is barely begun and I'm already disappointed with the quality of its construction. I plan on simply making sure everything else works great (front-end, sound system, bling, etc) that I can live with the amount of wood putty it will take to make it look good. Good luck on your project!

[JCL]

My carpentry skills are terrible and it just seems to be something that I can't really improve much at. For that reason, no, my cab is barely begun and I'm already disappointed with the quality of its construction. I plan on simply making sure everything else works great (front-end, sound system, bling, etc) that I can live with the amount of wood putty it will take to make it look good. Good luck on your project!

If it is basically square and even (ie. angles are about right, pieces that should be the same look the same, etc) then the end result can be good even if it looks lousy today.

It might take putty, lots of sanding and extra coats of primer and paint, butt don't get too discouraged over minor dings, screw/nail holes, gouges, etc.

[webgeek]

Thanks for the pick-me-up. I'm not discouraged with the project so much as irritated with my quality. I always picture it in my mind better then I ever make it. Just practice and patience I guess. I'll get there eventually

[AllisterFiend]

gonna be starting my scratch defender cabinet within the next few weeks.

did anyone doubt their skills before starting and then end up building a better cab than expected?

I had no idea mine would turn out as good as it did.

When I started my project I had virtually no skills in carpentry.

Now, when I look at it in my house, I am still amazed at how good it came out.

So if you are having second doubts, don't, start building!, you might surprise yourself.

Allister Fiend

pictures of cabinet down below.

[muttonchop]

i had ZERO wood working skill and ZERO painting skills, and its looking pretty good if you ask me.  my paint looked aweful so i sprayed a very very little bit of this imitation stone texture stuff and its looking amazing =)
not to mention half my wood is acctually wood filler....  its still hard for me to believe.

[vputz]

Well, I wasn't NEARLY as ambitious as y'all and just made a nice two-player CP (with trackball, spinner, and (probably overkill) 7 buttons per player).  It fit nicely into a trunk I had for storage, and reused some Pergo flooring for a nice and VERY durable woodgrain finish.  Turned out a heck of a lot better than I had expected (and a ton of fun to boot!).

-->VPutz

[Bones]

(and a ton of fun to boot!).

Ahhh, and that there is at long last, the most important thing!

[RTSDaddy2]

One word - YES!! 

When we started, I had no idea that I would develop the skills to make it look like it does now.  It's a beaut, even if (for the moment) it is still unfinished (lacks side art, marquee...I need to add the pics of the door and bezel).

My wife (who is good with tools) and my father left me to it once the sides were on, and so 90 percent or so (give or take) I did with no help at all.  I had - HAD - no woodworking skills at all until this.  So yes, very surprised!!

[rdagger]

Agree with all the zero wood working skill posts.  You learn a great deal about wood working (and many other skill) building a cab.  It takes a ton of time, research and it can get expensive, but anyone can do it.  After a year, I was very satisfied with my cab and I've become very handy with a router.