| Main > Main Forum |
| Should I buy or build a cabinet? (first time project) |
| << < (2/2) |
| 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). |
| Navigation |
| Message Index |
| Previous page |