Ultimate Arcade: Plans Or Premade?

[Redfrick]

Would it be cheaper to purchase the premade kit or to just get the plans and buy my own wood?

Thank you

[TehJefe]

That depends. How complete of a workshop do you have currently?
The savings is lost after about 2 tool purchases.

[Redfrick]

I am no handyman that is for sure.  I will be drafting my tool happy and very handy brother in law to help out a lot.  So as far as tools go I should be ok.

[NiteWalker]

Build it definitely then. Use plywood rather than MDF or that abomination that is known as particleboard.

[clanggedin]

I built mine using only a Sabre Saw and a cordless drill. I even used particle board because I wanted something I could move around by myself. If you build it right with particle board it will hold up just as well as MDF and plywood.

[NiteWalker]

IIRC plywood is lighter than PP Board.
I call it PP board because it's made out of Piss and Paper.

[johnm160]

How do you avoid seeing the grain through the paint with Plywood?

[NiteWalker]

A few light coats of primer, sanding between, and a few topcoats, also sanding between.

[Gambit]

I used plywood.

I used the expensive S2S stuff. Painting left a very nice coat.

I uses regular indoor brush on primer, sanding between coats, then spray on the final paint with krylon or similar.  Makes for a very nice paint job.

I have an air compressor and paint gun, and tried it a couple times, but its just too messy.  Using krylon gets expensive but its easier.

[NiteWalker]

^ An excellent but expensive method. If I were painting I'd probably do it the same, but I'd get one of the wagner power painters.

When I build my cabinet though, plastic laminate all the way.

[AtomSmasher]

I used MDF and am very happy with my cab.  The complaint I've always heard about plywood is that its hard to find a perfectly straight piece, but you should be fine using either MDF or plywood.

[AtomSmasher]

Also, the ultimate arcade plans come on the cd-rom of the Project Arcade book, and its cheaper to buy the book then it is to buy the plans online, so I'd recommend buying the book.  Actually I'd recommend buying the book even if you already purchased the plans online because it will help you a lot.

[Gambit]

Also, the ultimate arcade plans come on the cd-rom of the Project Arcade book, and its cheaper to buy the book then it is to buy the plans online, so I'd recommend buying the book.  Actually I'd recommend buying the book even if you already purchased the plans online because it will help you a lot.

I thought the basic lucid plans were available free?

[AtomSmasher]

Also, the ultimate arcade plans come on the cd-rom of the Project Arcade book, and its cheaper to buy the book then it is to buy the plans online, so I'd recommend buying the book.  Actually I'd recommend buying the book even if you already purchased the plans online because it will help you a lot.

I thought the basic lucid plans were available free?

The lucid plans are free, the ultimate arcade plans are not.  they are two very different designs.