Should I buy or build a cabinet? (first time project)

[sofakng]

I've heard of MAME for a long time now and just recently I decided to check it out.  WOW.  It's amazing.

So after researching a bit more I saw that a lot of people were putting computers (with MAME) into arcade cabinets and loading it up with games.  What an amazing idea!

I'm not great with woodworking but my father however throughly enjoys it and would be able to help if I built a cabinet from scratch. My other option is to buy used arcade machine and replace parts, etc.  I have done lots of (basic) soldering and very basic electronics (splicing wires, building SNES-to-LPT cable converters, etc), so I'm comfortable with wiring and I'm willing to learn the rest.

Basically I want my cabinet to look like a standard arcade cabinet with all the arcade joysticks/buttons.  It would also be nice to have a working coin box with lights (sorry if I'm using the wrong terms), but that is the least important by far.

So, what is my best option?

My main concern is money, but if I do this I want to do it the right way so I don't end up with a complete junk.  I also already have all the computer parts (excluding the monitor) needed.

Thanks,
John Klimek  (I'm from Scranton, PA, in case anybody is wondering)

[Hoagie_one]

my first is in a centipede cabinet, I am in teh process of refurbishing it, repainting etc.  New CP though.  It's easy to just use an existing cab for me, but if you have a wood worker, designing your own is the best, because it's perfect to your specs.

[F|end]

Go to the cabinets section on this site a read it carefully!

I guess after reading it, you'll get a better idea of what you want!


It also depends in what you got!  


Clear?

[DeathMonk]

If money is the issue, I would say try and find a cheap arcade cabinet and mame it.  The up side to buidling from scratch is that you get to make the cabinet exactly the way you want it (and a little more satisfaction, if you ask me!).  

[AlanS17]

I personally feel that no matter how well you build a cabinet on your own it still would never feel like a real arcade machine. I rebuilt a Bad Dudes machine and I'm very happy with it. Some say that building your own is cheaper, but it's easier to get deals on full machines with a monitor included than it would be to find a lone monitor out in the arcade wild. I would venture to say that the monitor can be the single most expensive part of the whole thing (unless you have a really nice PC). So if you can find a cheap machine with a working monitor it will probably end up costing less. Plus you know they're built sturdy to begin with. It's all a matter of personal preference.

[paigeoliver]

Buying is incredibly cheaper than building, AND it usually results in a much better looking machine.

The few handbuilt machines I have seen that actually look as good as a factory cabinet usually had a cost sheet associated with them that ran close to $1000.

I just finished cleaning up a 1976 Bally/Midway Amazing Maze cabinet and it came out great. Cabinet was free, then I sold the monitor and boards for $100, I spent $20 on assorted paints and woods (had to repaint the back, interior, and top, and make a new base for it), and $75 on a 21" Kiosk monitor. Much cheaper than building, and it has a great look, full sideart, front art, and bezel art.

My other Mame cabinet was also equally free, and looks awesome. I simply could not build something so nice without putting out a major amount of cash.

[IceCold]

I'd say buy.  I paid $25 for an old astron belt cabinet.  It even ended up having a working coin door!  I could have easily spent $25 just on a coin door.  I think buying is easier, and cheaper.  You can get your cabinet working quicker too if you buy(since there's not all the time in building)

[meta87]

If you enjoy woodworking I'd build! For me it's been more fun building the cab then playing it.

If your dad has all the tools neccesary (circle saw, jig saw, router etc.) it won't cost much.

Can't figure out what is expensive about building a cabinet? Wood, screws, laminate? All cheap.

The monitor is really the only expensive part.

[AlanS17]

There are lots of little things that go into building a cabinet that will nickle and dime away at your budget. Angle Iron for mounting the monitor, marquee retainer, wheels, etc. If you want to make it like a REAL cabinet then there are lots of lilttle things involved. Now if you wanna build a glorified sealed entertainment center with shelves on the inside and no coin door that would be cheaper... and it would look like it too.

I paid $50 for my machine and all I had to do was drop a monitor in it (and of course touch up the paint job and lil stuff).