To build or not to build.....

[tyson171]

Okay so i want to do my first mame cabinet, and i decided to try to find an old cab and convert it to mame with a 27inch monitor and build my own controls ect, but i cannot find a decent cab to convert (been looking for weeks now, i live on the boarder of wv, pa, md, and va if anyone has one!!) Now the reason i first decieded to look for a cab to convert is because I don't have hardly any woodworking tools, (only have a dewalt corded drill), so should i just be patient and keep looking for a cab to convert....or break down and buy some tools, materials, and get to work? I've never done any woodwork, thats why i was hesitant on investing so much money into everything.....what do i do.......what do i do?

[mrclean]

PA has tons of Cabs search craigslist.org

try PA Gameroom warehouse

PA TNT Amusements

ebay

[ghettodish]

Make your own!

Home Depot can make your straight cuts on MDF for a buck a cut, so you can get by without a table saw. Buy a cheap jigsaw from Harbor Freight for any detail work. A router can be rented...you should only have to use it about 10 minutes.

Here is a great guide to check out:
http://spystyle.arcadecontrols.com/98/index1.htm

If you decide to buy an old cab to fix up make sure it's wide enough for the 27" monitor you want to use. My cab is 28.5" wide and has a 27" monitor.