Opinion - cop out or inspired masterpiece? **UPDATES**

[Extreme8]

EDIT-
Created a new posting below with pics of latest revision.
C&C Please?

I had the guts of this juke sitting in a cardboard box with the monitor on a TV table for the longest time. Worked great, but not the most bullet proof setup.
The eventual plan was to build it into the carcass of an old 40's stlye upright console radio & completely conceal everything.
 
Some time ago we were having some people over and I was scrambling for something to hide & protect the electronics of this rig - just so I could leave it out and demonstrate my brilliance to the guests.
Toy chest?, nah. Bigger cardboard box?, nope.
Then I saw my cr@ppy old tool chest... and here's the result. 10 seconds with a cutting wheel and I had a hole in the back big enough to pull the cables through.

It was just done on a lark and I had no intention of leaving it this way, but it's starting to grow on me. It looks like some kind of automotive diagnostic equipment or something.
I'm including some other pics of the as yet incomplete man cave for context (still to get flooring, paint & wainscott & finish cab artwork).
Automotive equiment isn't really out of place here.
It also has drawers to keep my cab parts - the wireless keyboard & console controllers.

So whaddaya think - lazy mans cop out, or does it work in the room?
Am I trying to justify my lack of ambition by convincing myself that this looks OK?
Do I go ahead with the old radio conversion or tighten this theme up some?

Opinions are welcome and appreciated.
Well, opinions about the Juke anyway. You can keep your Nascar redneck jokes to yourselves - I've heard 'em all anyway.

[Barry Barcrest]

depends what software you are using as to my opinion lol  looks good...

[Extreme8]

Using an older version of Nordbeat from when it had 640x480 skins. That little 15" screen doesn't do higher rez very well, so I may have to look at something else.
I bet you have a recommendation for different software!

[kizer]

Not Barcrest. 

That wiki thing has several good ones thou.

Nice space you have there. Looks like you like your Nascar too.

[GadgetGeek]

Do you get any strange vibrations what with it being metal?  Have you thought about painting the monitor to match?
Fits the room theme.  Nicely done.  Thanks for shaing.

[Extreme8]

Do you get any strange vibrations what with it being metal?  Have you thought about painting the monitor to match?
Fits the room theme.  Nicely done.  Thanks for shaing.

No, I really haven't thought about doing anything with it yet. Until very recently I had just considered it a temporary setup, nothing more than a monitor stand with a convenient place to hide electronics really.
In fact, one of the drawers still has my torque wrench, Tap & Die set and pop riveter inside!
If I decide to keep this setup I could certainly paint the monitor, or even make some sort of cover/cowling out of metal - maybe diamond plate. The metal might be overkill though.

There isn't any vibration because right now the sub sits on the concrete floor. I have a feeling if I put the sub in this thing it would rattle like crazy. It's a really cheap cabinet.

[Chris]

Sorry, I'm going to go with "cop-out".  The problem isn't the cabinet; that works.  The problem is the monitor on top.  Either build it and the speakers into a brushed-aluminum box or get a smaller red tool chest, remove the drawers and mount it in there... something to make it look like it belongs in the man-cave with the other hardware.

[Extreme8]

Thats a thought.
If I can find a big enough toolbox on the cheap that would be great.

If not, how about this?
Remove the existing drawers, cut off the fronts and mount them just where they are now. That should give me a space inside big enough to install the monitor vertically.
Mabye cut a piece of diamond plate to cover the top and hinge it at the rear....

I'll have to take a look and see how much structural rigidity is added by the drawers. Might need some additional bracing.
A Snap-On it ain't. This is one incredibly cheezy tool chest, I guess that's why I'm so prepared to chop it to pieces.

[BobA]

I think a little bit of bling bling would help.  But if you like it go for it.  I am not sure why some people need to have the monitor encased in a shroud.   If you just had a monitor on the top of your bar it would be just as effective as a jukebox as anything built into a box.  If it works for you then its great.  If you have missgivngs then step it up a notch.

[mflint]

Looks pretty cool to me.
                                    Would look a little better if you could hide the monitor in to another tool chest sitting on top, but any way very nice job.

[Knievel]

Lovin' the Nascar theme you've got going on...need some JR in there though.

I think just painting that monitor black(or red)would make a world of difference..and it's a cheap fix.

[billf]

I think just painting that monitor black(or red)would make a world of difference..

I agree, but I lean more toward black than red.  Or go one step up from there - black and white checkered like a flag.

[Extreme8]

I guess I have an appointment with a couple of cans of Krylon Fusion and some masking tape this weekend.

[Extreme8]

OK,
For better or worse here is the latest and probably final revision on this thing.

I took some of the suggestions offered here and this is what I came up with.

The speakers are a Cambridge Soundworks sub/satellite setup and sound surprisingly good.
I cut the bottom out of the chest so the sub could sit on the floor and not shake every screw, rivet and weld in this cheapo thing to it's death.

I couldn't paint the lower portion of the monitor because it is full of buttons & indicator LED's as well as the legends for the adjustments. I cut a piece of aluminum and painted it red, then velcroed it to the front. It's semi-permanent but if I need to make an adjustment I can get to it with little fuss.
The silver on the front of the monitor will be replaced by brushed aluminum I think.

[billf]

I like it. 

[leapinlew]

It's a cop out.


But it works. good job.

[BobA]

Looks better now.