show off your cocktail cabinet

[missioncontrol]

alright... looking back in memory lane I had realized that my cocktail cabinet project has been on the back burner for quite some time (started it before even becoming a member here). Time to take it to the next level and finish something.... Back then I think I had all the answers on how I was going to complete it, but have forgotten what they were after throwing my attention in all other directions....


basically what I have is a cocktail cabinet I built from Mike's plans I've got the T-moliding somewhere for the table top itself somewhere in all my clutter, I plan on using a 17 or 19 inch PC monitor... It's only going to have 2 buttons per player for just the oldschool games....

now, what I'm trying to figure out is the best way to mount the monitor, so that it doesn't look like a monitor....

So what I'm asking is show of your cocktail and how you have the monitor mounted, or give me some suggestions....

yeah, I expect the asshat crew to stop by and give me some grief for actually thinking of doing stuff, but some useful advice is also appreciated....


Edit: oh here is a picture of said cocktail... sadly it's currently an endtable to my desk

[javeryh]

Check out HERE.  I'm sure my monitor mount is explained in detail somewhere - what a pain that was!  (EDIT: or  not... hmmm... I never posted the pics there - oops!).  I'll post pics here later if I find the time - I'm getting slammed at work right now...

[spacies]

Good timimng.

I was just working on a cocktail so I went back out and took some pics.

This is how I do mine.

A slot is routered on the inside of the cabinet prior to assembly:



Shelf is cut to suit monitor/tube that is going to be installed and is also cut to fit into slot:



Shelf installed:



Nice and simple.
The shelf isn't glued or screwed in place so it can be easily removed if need be.

Finished machine:

[javeryh]

Good god.  That is easily the coolest way to install a monitor in one of these things I've ever seen.  If I ever build another I'm totally stealing that idea!   

[Crowquill]

Spacies- do you have to remove the monitor to access the electronics and wiring? While not something you will do much once complete, there's always that "tweaking" phase of every project.

I'm probably overly paranoid about this. That's why the cocktail I'm building now will just have the PC monitor supported by some cross-beams to hold it in place. The monitor won't be bolted in and can be removed for service or transportation. The electronics are going to be accessible through a pull-out drawer in the bottom.

[theendisnye]

I am in the process of creating my cabinet but I have gone for a side by side design. Rather than mounting the monitor over the PC electronics I have moved the electronics to one side and centered the screen so that I get a unit that is the height of the inverted monitor . Steve

[spacies]

Good god.  That is easily the coolest way to install a monitor in one of these things I've ever seen.  If I ever build another I'm totally stealing that idea!   

Cheers.
I guess you could run a 1 x 1" timber around the inside of the cabinet but this looks a lot tidier.

Spacies- do you have to remove the monitor to access the electronics and wiring? While not something you will do much once complete, there's always that "tweaking" phase of every project.

I'm probably overly paranoid about this. That's why the cocktail I'm building now will just have the PC monitor supported by some cross-beams to hold it in place. The monitor won't be bolted in and can be removed for service or transportation. The electronics are going to be accessible through a pull-out drawer in the bottom.

One step ahead of you mate:



Hows that?

 

[philby85]

Spacies,

Your work is amazing! Do you come up with the designs yourself or does your CNC router guy offer you advice on what would work best?

 

cheers  mate love your work to bad your not an aussie

philby

[missioncontrol]

Spacies,


how did you make the area between the monitor and wood look? At least with an upright you can use a bezel

[bfauska]

In the pic with the top flipped open you can barely see that he has a bezel in there.

[missioncontrol]

ah, your right...... he probably uses an arcade monitor then....

maybe if I decase the computer monitor that I plan to use I can fabricate something....

[spacies]

Yeah,

You can just make out the plastic bezel in the pic.

If I use a PC monitor then I just grind and file it to suit.

 

[Nannuu]

Nice and simple.
The shelf isn't glued or screwed in place so it can be easily removed if need be.

I think I'm missing something.  Wouldn't the slot need to be extended to the edges on both sides for it to be easily removed?

That looks extremely cool otherwise.

[spacies]

I had thought about cutting it like that but decided not to do it so I could have the mortise and tenin joints going up as far as possible.

That was to stop the cabinet from flexing side to side (player to player), as that slot fits into the back door/top on the piano hinge.

The shelf is made from MDF and it flexes enough to get it out of there without too much effort.
And realistically, how many time would that shelf need to come out?

Good spotting though