Dry rot around bottom of cab? How to cure?

[battlecat]

Hi:

On my new arcade cab (Atari - Joust/Defender) I see that along the bottom left and right side there is some dry rot damage to the wood. Now I do not know if this goes all the way through, I dont think it does, but I do not want to replace the whole left and right side of the cab just to get it to look nice.

I plan on re-painting it acrylic white with baby blue t-molding but I do not want the bottom of the cab to look like crap while the top half looks bright and smooth as a piece of marble.

I had considered placing laminate over the whole of the left and right side but I am against that as it both changes the dimensions of the required t-molding and the look. I really like the idea of an enamel-acrylic white for the room it is destined for.

Any suggestions or sites for this type of issue?

Thanks!
rich

PS here are photos of the cab.

[Ed_McCarron]

Have you seen this thread?

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=49927.0

[battlecat]

Hi:

No I had not seen that thread. Thank you for posting the link. I read it over and it is what I had considered doing but for one thing I would have to do it with not one but 3 of the cabs sides. This according to my little carpentry would be a structural issue.

Any other ideas or posts?

I am considering placing brass kick plates around the exterior of the machine. This might look nice and cover up the exterior rot.

What do you guys think?

Thanks
Rich

[garnerb350]

I 'd say bondo and sand that beyotch...then maybe find or buy some corner protecters to help that corner...The back of my Mr Do cab has the top layer of the plywood peeling off...I went and tore off what was hanging and filled the gaps with wood filler and sanded it smooth...

With the bottom being in that condition, I would use bondo or wood filler and lay it thick and sand smooth... if you can get away with it...maybe also drill some flat screws to hold that wood to the cab...then bondo over it...also when you paint it..the paint will hide the inperfections...

Another thing also...is that only you will know where the inperfections are...unless you have anal friends who come over and say "Hey that bottom looks rough!"

** just saw the post from Ed**

If it major ...i would follow the thread...

Now I do not know if this goes all the way through, I dont think it does,

Now from the photos, it looks cosmetic...you might can get away with just the bondo/wood filler
You probley dont want to do this....( the cab is like your child)..but take a screwdriver and lightly stab where you think its rotten...if the wood is bad...use that thread....

[Beretta]

question.. i bet the cab has no feet huh? the wood could be damaged from peopel moving it around without feet..

in which case what ever is left there is probably good.. i think the bondo/filler idea is probably a good way to go about it.

now if it's flimsy (water damage) then you'll have to cut the bottom off like that thread suggests..

i have similar situation on my project cab i have'nt gotten around ot actually doing anything about it yet though.

[battlecat]

Hi:

I think you are partly right about the damage being from people sliding the machine over the 27 years of its lifetime.

It seems to me after I did the screwdriver test suggested that only the top layer of the cabs wood is really damaged. I will also need to get some nice corner protectors as well since the one corner looks like hell.

Any other thoughts?

Thanks
rich

[garnerb350]

Go to Lowes or home depot and buy two pairs of 3 inch coasters...they can hold alot of weight... Take em and mount them under the cab... That way you or anybody can easliy move the cab around and also you wont be tearing up the bottom....

[mvsfan]

Hi:

No I had not seen that thread. Thank you for posting the link. I read it over and it is what I had considered doing but for one thing I would have to do it with not one but 3 of the cabs sides. This according to my little carpentry would be a structural issue.

Any other ideas or posts?

I am considering placing brass kick plates around the exterior of the machine. This might look nice and cover up the exterior rot.

What do you guys think?

Thanks
Rich

when its rotten like that on the bottom thats a good excuse to build yourself a frame out of 2 x 4s that will fit in the cabinet above where everything else should be cut off.

then you get a reason to use the circular saw as well as a reason to build a new base to raise the cabinet up to the proper height for you. Cover the new base with vinyl up to slightly above your cutoff line, and enjoy.

worked for me. and nobody ever notices that 16 inches on the bottom is covered in vinyl.