T-Molding Alternative

[Sardu]

Hi,

Finally, my Mame Cabinet is built and functional.   I've searched every kind of store(Home depot, lowes, cabinet makers, car detailers, game room stores, etc) and NO ONE sells the damn stuff.  No one even sells the t-molding cutter.

Most online vendors have a minimum order so I put off buying it for now.

So, I ended up getting adhesive matte black molding that is really thin. (was cheap too) It looks ok for now but the adhesive is constantly coming out the side and I have to wipe it off.


Since I know I'll never get around to buying slot cutter and t-molding, aren't there alternatives?  I was looking for aluminum countertop edging online(of course no local stores sell that either  ) that you tack in every 6 inches and it looks pretty sweet.  I've seen it at diners.

Anyone know where to get some that you don't have to order 250 feet of?


AND, if I ever decide to use actual t-molding... is it a pain to cut the t-molding slots AFTER the cab is together?

[SirPeale]

http://letmegooglethatforyou.com/?q=T+Molding

(I kid, I kid)

The router bit is a bit harder, but cheap if you know where to look.

http://letmegooglethatforyou.com/?q=1%2F16%22+Slot+Cutter+

First link.

As for alternatives...some people just round the edges and paint them.  Some people use an iron-on edge.  But realistically, most people use real T molding.

[Games001]

GGG, no minimum order.. just one of many places to find T-Molding:

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=75&zenid=0ab77a4d1da42a7fc82bae7dd8063238

And then there's T-Molding.com (minimum of only 20 feet):
http://www.t-molding.com/store/home.php

As for the routing of the slot, that does tend to be harder, if only due to moving the cabinet around, than routing the parts seperate from one another.

[Sardu]

Thanks. haha. 
I know I can get the slot cutter online, I'm was just frustrated that no retail store sold it locally.  They sell every other bit known to man except that one.

[SirPeale]

MLCS IIRC has free shipping. 

But that's a lot of the frustration with special tools, you can't find them locally.  You would think a 1/16" slot cutter would be more common, but it isn't.

[beerbarrel]

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93371


Seems OK..

Tracy

[beerbarrel]

I went to Harbor freight last night and picked up the slot cutter set. It seems like a good set for light use. It costs 26.95 for the set of 6 bits w/arbor but you can normally print out a 20% off coupon from their website.

Tracy

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93371


Seems OK..

Tracy

[Sardu]

I went to Harbor freight last night and picked up the slot cutter set. It seems like a good set for light use. It costs 26.95 for the set of 6 bits w/arbor but you can normally print out a 20% off coupon from their website.

Tracy

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93371


Seems OK..

Tracy

Thanks Tracy

[web.geek]

Probably too late for the OP, but I will add this for the benefit of future visitors. In my first cab, I skipped the t-molding in favor of using my router with a 1/4" (or maybe 1/8") rounding bit. This gave the 5/8" MDF a nice rounded edge and eliminated any sharp corners. Then I just painted it the same color as the sides. Not as flashy as t-molding, but effective.

Having said that, I am going to use t-molding on my second cab 

[LLUncoolJ]

I also routed the edges on my jukebox. It is really easy with mdf.

I just completed a new control panel for my MAME cabinet. I stood the board on its edge and ran a 1/8" groove down it with a table saw. I filled the groove with liquid nail and applied the t-molding. I just did the first side last night and clamped it, I'll update later to how it works.

[ghettodish]

I bought my 1/8" slot cutter from Lowes hardware.