I want to build a cab but have no skills

[RT]

So I want to build a MAME cabinet. Problem is that my abilities are all in the electronics side of things. I've never done any woodworking and my tools pretty much consist of a screwdriver.

I saw in another post that places like Home Depot will only make simple straight cuts. Are there places that would do all the cutting for you? Could I rent the required tools from somewhere and hope for the best?


Thanks

[AX]

Only way to learn is to just do it.  If you can start picking up the needed tools.  Biggest one would be a circ saw and jig saw.   prob gonna need a straight edge,  tsquare,  tape measure also.  optional would be a rotozip and a router.  Download lusid's plans thats where we started.  Trace out the plan onto your MDf and cut the suker.  If you screw up learn form it.  Any assembly instructions or tweaks can be found here and other websites.  READ all you can before starting.  

If your not handy or are still unsure try and find an already made kit OR ask at your local arcade and see if they can hook you up with an empty shell.

[CitznFish]

A lot of people with no prior woodworking skills have built their own cabinets.  I bet you could do a much better job than you think. You can rent tools from Home Depot, or another cheap alternative is to buy tools from a pawn shop.  

I have no wood working skills aside from high school woodshop and I am about to take the plunge and build my first cabinet. The fun is in the chalenge and the road to completion.

[SNAAAKE]

A lot of people with no prior woodworking skills have built their own cabinets.  I bet you could do a much better job than you think.
I have no wood working skills aside from high school woodshop and I am about to take the plunge and build my first cabinet. The fun is in the chalenge and the road to completion.

Just visit the examples page and see how others do it..I really(hoenst) dont have much wood working skills but you learn by doin stuff.
Visit my site lately?I never even took any wood working courses at high school but still managed to finish 2 cabinets.Again,visit the examples page.  

About tools,get a jigsaw and a drill and you could do a cabinet with just those(might need a router as well).

[PCC]

So you're interested in a MAME cabinet, but are you really interested in woodworking?  Consider the cost of buying or renting tools, and what about your time?  However, if building a cabinet is appealing to you, you will get much satisfaction in building one yourself (and it can be less expensive depending on how you do it).

If you want a cabinet without having to build one - consider converting an existing one; it's easier than building one from scratch.  There are also new cabinets that you can purchase; some are complete with monitors and control panels, while others are just the cabinet (like this one from Hanaho).

Something like this would leave you with a control panel project, which might be easier for you to get started with; I'd also replace the marquee with something custom that matches the side art theme better.  Afterward, you might decide to build your next project from scratch.

Don't rely on Home Depot to cut your wood; it's almost never accurate.  You've come to the right place; there's some good advice on this board.  I converted an existing cabinet, but what you decide to do will depend on your interests, skills, shop space, time, and budget.  Have fun!

[Ghoul]

Basically if you have a friend who has the tools and is willing to let you use them you're set.

Building a cab is simple. I had never used power tools and with my dad keeping an eye on my progress and checking measurements I was able to measure and cut out the skeleton of my cab in about an hour.

In general cab building isn't that hard because it's almost all lines. There's no fancy woodworking stuff.

[AX]

man im doing something wrong.  I have too much fancy woodworking going on.  And i suck at it too.

[CitznFish]

man im doing something wrong.  I have too much fancy woodworking going on.  And i suck at it too.

You can't say that and NOT post pics.  

[hyiu]

want to play Mame and no wood working skills ??...

maybe lower your expectations a little bit in the beginning...

there are 1 player sticks out there... like x-arcade...
or there is another place who have a wood kit available...
you basically just need screwdriver and put it together....
and price is around $100.... (I would say... acceptable... since it would really require no woodworking skill whatsoever... and you don't need to buy any tools at all....)

then you can move on to the big thing....
1 step at a time....

does it sound logical ??

[rhoelsch]

Most materials can be relatively inexpensive...test on small pieces first, then move on to the real thing. I have no skills either, but the more I try, the more I find that I can do it, and it's not so intimidating.

Do your research.  Read posts and look at examples 'til you're blue in the face.  Learn from others' mistakes.  Let your research build your confidence, and you just might be taking on things you thought were crazy a few months before.

I'm glad I decided to build my own-- in this case, it's been a great journey, and the destination's even better...

[pocketz]

practice by making a crude single player joystick box. buy a joystick and some buttons from happcontrols then hack a gamepad or buy an ipac to interface it with the computer.

you will learn lots just by building a small single player joystick box. and if you screw up a little at least it wont be a huge cabinet.

-pocketz