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How much money do you have in your project?
georgemcfly:
I cant' justify buying a 27" monitor, nor can I spend 2500$ on a toy. At least not on my first build. Like I've said from the get go, if I figure out this is what i want to do, later i can build one the way I want. If its not, I'm not out 2500$ on something I don't use or enjoy.
javeryh:
--- Quote from: georgemcfly on August 14, 2008, 09:00:46 am ---I cant' justify buying a 27" monitor, nor can I spend 2500$ on a toy. At least not on my first build. Like I've said from the get go, if I figure out this is what i want to do, later i can build one the way I want. If its not, I'm not out 2500$ on something I don't use or enjoy.
--- End quote ---
I think 99% of the people on this board know for a fact they will use and enjoy the finished cabinet - it's a little crazy to build these things to begin with otherwise. That said, $2,500 on one cab is at least $1,000 more than I'd probably spend... unless I had the money to burn. ;D
Everyone's economic position is different and everyone's definition of what is good enough to have on display in their home is different. I have a wife and two kids to support so money is tight but my wife wants "professional looking" craftsmanship if it is going to be in the house so there's a balance to strike for sure.
leapinlew:
--- Quote from: georgemcfly on August 14, 2008, 09:00:46 am ---I cant' justify buying a 27" monitor, nor can I spend 2500$ on a toy. At least not on my first build. Like I've said from the get go, if I figure out this is what i want to do, later i can build one the way I want. If its not, I'm not out 2500$ on something I don't use or enjoy.
--- End quote ---
Who are you trying to convince? You or us?
You said
--- Quote ---I can cheaply build this for about 175$ my cost. If I buy the software or spend more somewhere else I'll still stay around 250$.
--- End quote ---
The $175 number seems totally off base. Tally it all up, and let us know where you end up.
Zeno:
Lets see, for my first MAME...
Empty NBA Jam Cabinet - $50
Wood for CP - ~$25
New 24" TV - $125
Computer - Free (old one)
Joys, PBs, Encoder, etc from Ultimarc - ~$200
T-Molding - $20
Bezel - $2 (thank you BYOAC forum)
Laminate - $80
Tools from Lowes - $50
--------------------------------------
TOTAL ~$550
I have also found a knack for parting out, flipping and trading to re-coup some costs.
For example... I picked up a 4 player cabinet for $175 with D&D II board installed. I sold the D&D board on Ebay for $250 to some guy in France. Thank you weak dollar!
I also picked up a lowboy arcade with Pooyan installed for $100. I sold the Pooyan PCB for $85.
Stuff like that to get my costs down. When it comes to the boss lady, I found that the key is to be modest about purchases and to toot my horn every time I sell one for a profit.
shmokes:
Tools was big for me. I basically had none. In the process of building mine, especially in the beginning I purchased a router, jigsaw, jigsaw blades, circular saw, staight edge, clamps, squares, tape measures, level, router bits, calipers, pens, pencils, dust masks, eye protection, drill bits, a mallet, chisels, wire strippers, a big tool box, saw horses, a file, a wet/dry vacuum, electric sander (which I'd gone orbital), utility knife, work light, extension cord, and other things which currently escape me. I'm easily $500+ into my project on tools alone.
Of course, the tools have been used in countless non-arcade-related situations since I got them, so it's probably not fair to count them explicitly as costs of my arcade cabinet. Also, I am more of a man since I got all those tools, so it was really quite a bargain. ;D
But I'm well over $1000 on materials too (my PC was free). Off the top of my head I have (all purchased new):
Joysticks x 7
Mounting plate for Ms. Pac joystic x 1
Act Labs TV light guns x 2
Buttons x 35-40
Coin door x 1
Monitor bezel x 1
Marquee retainer x 1
Fluorescent marquee lamp x 1
Logitech MOMO Force wheel and pedals x 1
Act Labs shifter x 1
Cabinet handles x 2
Fans x 2
27" tube TV x 1
4'x8' 3/4" Melamine (prelaminated MDF) x 4
4'x8' 3/4" Plywood x 1
4'x8' 1/4" Masonite x 1
Laminate (a sheet of metal laminate was over $100 by itself!)
Replacement coin reject buttons x 2
3" Happ trackball x 1
Trackball mounting plate x1
2" generic PC trackball x 1
Aluminum t-molding x I don't remember -- enough to cover all my edges
7-port USB hub x 1
Quick disconnects x 200
Button wrench x 1
Smartstrip power strip x 1
And, of course, countless screws, bolts, lights, hinges, brackets, casters, wood glue, contact cement, epoxy, brushes, dowels, heat shrink tubing.
Good lord, listing it all out like that makes it seem pretty obscene. Thank god I got it all years ago when I didn't have a kid and wasn't in school and had expendable income. There's no way I could spend even a small fraction of that to build a cabinet today! :)