CRRRAAAAAAPPPPPP!!!!

[MYX]

Ok,  I just added up all my recipts in excel. My project is currently at $921. I have not yet purchased my 2 - GPwiz49 or my 2 49 way joys, or my Electric Ice or LED Wizs or bezel, marquee, CP top, Lexan, or, or , or.
I just added up what I have left (not counting stuff that always pops up) I have $761 to go. 

(in your best Marlon Brando) Da horruh... da horruh.

[SOAPboy]

Good god..

1 cab? seriously.. how..

[quarterback]

Repeat slowly after me:

NEVER.....  ADD..... UP.... THE.... RECEIPTS!!!!!


We'd never build these things if we really knew how much they were costing us!

[deadkenndys1105]

im almost done with the building mine and it isnt costing nearly as much as most people's.  I think I know why.  Im having a friend make my marqee,  I already had the computer and monitor.  Sofar im at 160.  I still need the pelixglass and the paint.

[Mark70]

The question really is.... How much of the intangible, semi associated costs do you include in the project price?

-The trip to the dump to get rid of scap wood?  +$25
-The new drill because the batteries on your old one crapped out during the project and it was cheaper to buy a whole new drill than a replacement battery? +$35
-The router that you bought specifically for the project and won't likely use for anything else?
-The five year old computer that you paid $2400 dollars for that was top of the line when you purchased it?
-The replacement ink cartrages for the print after you wasted about 40 sheets testing you marquee art and CP art before having printed large format +$25?

Those are what will really burn up your spreadsheet.   Thankfully those costs are easy to hide from the wife.

I figure I'm probably about $500 up front costs plus maybe $150.

None of this counting the computer which I'm trying get past the finance department (the one that wears the ring) to replace the one I want to move into the cabinet.

[Ghoward]

Cheap cab so far my two topped out at $2500 each!

Gary

[saint]

That's a lie, that's a vicious lie! I will use my router again, I will I will I will...

_{I don't know when or what for, but I will!}

* saint goes and hugs his shiny new used-once router.

-The router that you bought specifically for the project and won't likely use for anything else?

[wrench]

ditto for me,mine totaled to just under 2000,but that also included a few tools.

[JONTHEBOMB]

My cabinet has gone over budget too.  Having a lot of money and time are the only problems with this hobby.  Currently I have very little of each, but I should be able to finish my cabinet.

I wish I would just win the lottery already.

[markrvp]

Some things are better left un-figured. 

[MYX]

Good god..
1 cab? seriously.. how..

I am building my ulitmate cab. It will have every bell and whistle that I think is cool. I have spent several years on this site reading and more reciently have been a participant in the boards and I have become absorbed in it. Yeah, this is starting to sound more like an AA confession. I have been planing the basis for a long time (about 6 years). The timing has never been right and I never had a small stream of money that I could just devote to something like this. I sold my defender and am considering selling my Ms. Pacman to fund this.

I am including in the price anything that I needed to get the job done. So if I needed 24 in clamps, it got added in the cost. Every piece of sand paper to the last washer in going on the spread sheet. My hunch is that my next cab (please don't tell the wife. This has been enough of a strain) my next cab will be cheaper as yes now I have a router and more expensivly, bits. Now I have a new sander (my makita died  ).
I am going for luxury controls. I had initially planned to use the sticks and buttons out of my old CP. I built my old CP was built back in the age where hacking a keyboard was the norm. I ripped it apart for parts then changed my mind. Now I am going crazy as I could have been using it. I want to play games so bad right now. And quite frankly a keyboard just doesn't cut it.

RandyT is the eqivilant of taking a recovering drug addict to a Greatful Dead concert. He keeps coming up with new stuff causing me to constantly rethink everything. My only issue is that his stuff adds up quickly.

[nostrebor]

That's a lie, that's a vicious lie! I will use my router again, I will I will I will...

_{I don't know when or what for, but I will!}

* saint goes and hugs his shiny new used-once router.

-The router that you bought specifically for the project and won't likely use for anything else?

Take up woodworking. Next thing you know, you'll have 3 shiny new routers My worst is the bandsaw. I bugged my wife for better than a year, finally got one, and (12 weeks later) it is still not put together.

On the cabinet costs... I have yet to spend over $350 on a scratch-built cabinet. The current conversion project is under $250. I have a rule that says each hobby must be self-supporting after tool purchases. It keeps me REAL frugal when it comes to buying parts, because I have to raise the cash with building and horse trading.

[markrvp]

Take up woodworking. Next thing you know, you'll have 3 shiny new routers My worst is the bandsaw. I bugged my wife for better than a year, finally got one, and (12 weeks later) it is still not put together.

I can do you one better.  I have a Dremel Scroll Saw that my parents gave me for Christmas 3 YEARS AGO that is still in the box in their garage.  My mom asked me about it the other day and I told her that when I need the saw, I know exactly where it is. 

I also have a Radial Arm Saw (Craftsman) that I have had for 5 or 6 years, but I still haven't gotten it squared up right.  I have tried 3 times and it still won't make a straight cut. 

[ArtMAME]

...have become absorbed in it. Yeah, this is starting to sound more like an AA confession....

 ...WE...UNDERSTAND...  ...We are here for you...  ... take a deep breath  ......ahhhhh... ......that's better...

The first step is admitting that you are an addict...just take it one day at a time...

We are here for support...we believe in you...we think you are special...we..............

AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

OH WHAT THE HECK!!!
WHO ARE WE KIDDING!!!
WE ARE HOPELESS!!!.........HOPE---LESS I TELL YOU!!!
WE ARE NOTHING BUT A BUNCH OF NERDS PLAYING WITH JOYSTICKS AND TRACKBALLS!!!...
WE SPEND 6 HOURS A DAY ON THE BYOAC FORUM!!!
WE MUTILATE DEFENSELESS KEYBOARDS AND MICE AND JOYSTICKS...OH MY!!!
OUR SPOUSES THINK WE ARE CRAZY!!!
WE NEED HELP...NO...WE NEED MONEY FOR JOYSTICKS...

OH THE HUMANITY!!!

...there I said it.................................what was I talking about... ...

[whatzcrackn]

Man relax and keep 'DA EYE ON DA PRIZE' 

Nothing comes free and all that matters is the braggin rights!!!  When it comes down to it.. It will be 'YO BABY' and nothing will come between you and 'DA CAB'.  Look at this way..................

Once it is completed...........well You will want to build a new and better improved one, so suck it up and keep the good work up

[deadkenndys1105]

Try building your without a job and and out dated tools.  Im addicted to.  I spend about 5 hour a day playing roms and working on the game im making. I think they guy im working on the game with died tho I havnt hurd from him in some time.

[MYX]

Man relax and keep 'DA EYE ON DA PRIZE' 
well You will want to build a new and better improved one,

Yeah, I may wait for a couple months for the dust (saw) to settle.
I think I have to prove myself with the fam with this one. If I can get them playing then it will all be worth it. If not, well... I have a really expensive toy that blinks pretty colors.

[NoOne=NBA=]

I view my woodworking and arcade hobbies as completely separate.
That lets me justify spending more on tools and such because they are for woodworking.

My wife actually encourages me to buy more tools, so that isn't a real problem.
Her birthday present, last week, was a 12" sliding compound miter saw.
I don't know why SHE wanted it, but I wasn't going to argue with her when she asked for it a couple months ago.
She wanted a scroll saw a few years back, and a jigsaw a year or so after that, and I didn't argue with her either of those times either.

[Buddabing]

Dude, that is nothing. Be glad you don't have a hobby that costs real money, like golf.

If you need to, make a budget and only pay for your parts out of the budget.

You can always work on your software and your artwork if money is tight.

[AtomSmasher]

My last hobby was working on my car which makes this hobby look cheap.  As soon as I rationalized spending $6000 on a supercharger even though the car isn't paid off yet and already had plenty of power, I knew it was time to change hobbies.  I estimate my first cab cost around $800-900, but I didn't add up receipts so I really have no idea.  Luckily woodworking is becoming a permanent hobby of mine (I just finished building a coffee table) so all the tools I bought for building the cab aren't going to waste.

[DrewKaree]

I also have a Radial Arm Saw (Craftsman) that I have had for 5 or 6 years, but I still haven't gotten it squared up right.  I have tried 3 times and it still won't make a straight cut. 

Mark, mail that thing to me.  I'll square it up for you.  I can't promise it won't get lost in the mail on the return trip back to you

[mccoy178]

My first cabinet was around $1300 in materials and parts.  I was rather shocked by the cost of my jukebox project because so many of the costs in that one are upfront.  I have about a grand into it and I haven't even started the cabinet part.  I have one cabinet left in me, I have my 49 ways, my LED Wiz and some of the other components, but I am only making one more.  I've built five now for friends and family and I just don't have anything left in the tank.

[Tahnok]

Come on now, a router is great investment. I can't believe I built two cabinets without one. In less than 2 months, it has become my favorite tool. All you need are a few good straight bits, a pattern cutting bit and a round over bit and you will start to see places that you can use it. They can be used for a lot more than the t-molding slot!

Anyway, I haven't kept track of any of my cabinets other than ones that were built to be for sale. It's a hobby that I have fun with; I takes some of the fun away to know how much you spent on the thing.

[steptoe]

Brand new TV 5min out of box, sitting in cab, towards the front. Me in the back with battery drill, then


SMASH


Then down town for another new TV for $300, explaining it to the wifey,,,,PRICELESS

[Thargok]

Ok, let me see

Rescued Cabinet...free
Scrap Wood...free
Cheap computer speaker amp...free
Car speakers...salvaged from car I rolled over 2 years ago (free)
Computer...$200
19" computer monitor...$100 after shipping
HD...$20
Coin mech...$5
Buttons, joysticks, encoder...$110
Trackball...$30
Wire, disconnects, etc...$30
Paint...$10

So for a project I was aiming to be under $500 it is... $5 above.  Wow that is absolutely amazing, I could have sworn I dropped more into it.  I thought it was at least in the $800 range.  Of course I've added wheels, I've repainted.  I'm about to strip the body and repaint it again, and I have to clear coat it this time before I get around to using it again.  So I'm sure it still will suck at least $200 out of me still.

What's even better is we built a cocktail on the cheap for my bother for about $250 using old wood covered in veener, and various donated gifts.

[M3talhead]

[nostrebor]

Just how good is the quality control on 4 clamps from Target at $2 total The bright side is that you only have 374 clamps left to buy to become a full fledged woodworker.

[M3talhead]

Just how good is the quality control on 4 clamps from Target at $2 total The bright side is that you only have 374 clamps left to buy to become a full fledged woodworker.

Only reason I bought the damn things in the first place was cause I was having trouble pinning the artwork to the CP to mark the button holes. The fact that they were on sale had nothing to do with my decision.

[whatzcrackn]

Brand new TV 5min out of box, sitting in cab, towards the front. Me in the back with battery drill, then


SMASH


Then down town for another new TV for $300, explaining it to the wifey,,,,PRICELESS

WOW, lol.........  Could of had a v-8.....no no I meant could of had an arcade monitor, for $600

[shags]

my wife has no idea how much i have in my cab.... nor do i.

however if she did ..... d00d, I'd be single again.


honey, where did you put the receipts for my Mame cab..........

[NoOne=NBA=]

My wife's dad is a heavy-duty golfer.
Anytime she starts questioning my investments in hobbies I threaten to take up golf again, and she drops the discussion quick.

[MYX]

Come on now, a router is great investment. I can't believe I built two cabinets without one. In less than 2 months, it has become my favorite tool.

No Doubt!!! I love my router. I have used it in so many more ways than I ever thought while building this thing.

I view my woodworking and arcade hobbies as completely separate.

Luckily woodworking is becoming a permanent hobby of mine (I just finished building a coffee table) so all the tools I bought for building the cab aren't going to waste.

Me too. I am really enjoying wood working. Although I am not sure that MDF is really considered wood. I am thinking about an entertainment center when I am done. Although my wife would probably like me to finish the kitchen (I pulled down all the wall paper as it was fugly. I refinished and primed one half. And the other...well I am sure it will get done soon).

[eccs19]

I got lucky with my equipment.  My dad's into woodworking, so I got one of his hand me down routers.  It's not the greatest one in the world, but it did my t-molding cuts great, and best part it was free.  And for Christmas, I told everyone to get me gift certificates for Home Depot, and with what I collected, I had enough for their cheapest table saw.  I even had $0.15 cents left. (They wouldn't give me the 15 cents, they put it back on one of the gift cards.) I picked up a couple of cheap clamps at Princess Auto, and other misc. stuff, but all in all, I don't think I did to bad.  And for what it's worth, I wouldn't dare track by expenses that closely.  I'm sure I would give up the hobby in a hurry if I knew how much I really spent.  I'm just lucky I have a good wife.  She's actually encouraging me to pick up a Neo Geo Bust a Move at the next auction. How lucky is that?   

[MYX]

I am joking a little about my wife not knowing. she has been pretty cool about this, except when I get totally focused and forget that there are other people in the family too. She is actually going to this weekends auction with me. 

[quarterback]

she has been pretty cool about this
 She is actually going to this weekends auction with me.

You see that as "support", I see that as "running defense"

[deadkenndys1105]

you - ill give you my car for that cab
wife- even if you do get it how are you going to get it home.

[eccs19]

she has been pretty cool about this
 She is actually going to this weekends auction with me.

You see that as "support", I see that as "running defense"

I see it as having someone to help you load up that new machine!   

[MYX]

I see it as having someone to help you load up that new machine!   

yeeeeeaaaaaayyyyyyy! 

[Chris]

My first version of my cabinet was about $300; it was a conversion, and came with a lot of the expensive stuff like a fully-populated dual-fighter control panel, the bezel glass, coin door, etc.  I used junk computer parts from my closet (Athlon 600, 500MB hard drive, hacked keyboard, stuff that was NEVER gonna get used again, running on DOS).  Fully half the cost was buying a 19-inch PC monitor.  It worked well, life was good.

Many times since then I've wished I had quit while I was ahead.

But oddly enough, some cabinets are just never done.  First thing to start to go was the 2" PC trackball I had hacked in there.  So I replaced it with a 2-1/4" PC trackball, but it needed new mounting holes; trying to retrofit it broke the control panel.  So I rebuilt that.  Then I never liked the way the joys that came with it (Ultimates) felt, so I upgraded to Happ Supers.  Control response was sluggish, so I redid the keyboard hack.  Then the Act-Labs guns came out... had to re-do the cabinet with Windows.  But now the 600 wasn't sufficient (Can't play Area 51 or Maximum Force on it, and what point are the guns without those?), so in comes a new motherboard and CPU.  But the serial trackball doesn't like the new hardware, it's wearing out anyway, and darn if Happ's Golden Tee trackballs aren't on sale.  But that trackball won't fit, so now it's time for another control panel.  And hey, look at that cool sideart available on eBay!  Gotta have that!  My desktop monitor's failing, so I buy a Wells-Gardner for the cab and take the 19" out and put it on the desk.  Now transparent buttons are out... hey, look, a pair of Pole Position wheels on eBay...

I'm in about $1200 now, but I don't really feel like I have four times the functionality of that $300 cabinet.  If I could go back in time three years or so... nah, I'd spend the money anyway.  Who am I kidding?

--Chris

[rackoon]

I'm in about $700 and hope to finish the whole thing under $2000. Yet I'm a total perfectionist; I wont finish this thing unless I know its going to be the most bad ass cab I have ever seen. But to be honest, the amount of hours I have already spent on mock cardboard cutouts, drafting, planing, thinking, and research is pprobably worth more than $700. I mean, just add up the hours. How many vacations worth of time would it be in one lump sum.
                   BUT THE BRAGGING RIGHTS AT MY PARTYS WILL MAKE IT ALL WORTH IT. Me and all my friends are all in our mid thirties and as kids we spent many hours and all our lunch money in arcades.