Sit back and watch the comedy (My 1st cab)

[plasma2002]

Howdy everyone 

The name's Brian. Im a long time lurker, first time poster. Yes, my first post is about my first project.
Anyways, you may have already heard of me and not even know it. I made the Emergency Party Button and the Blender Defender. Two very popular projects that have been making a few waves out there on the net. Check it out if ya want. ( http://www.plasma2002.com/epb  and http://www.plasma2002.com/blenderdefender )


There. Now that the introduction is out of the way, lets get to my cabinet 

What's with the title, you ask? Simple: i have no idea what im doing!  
Im a programmer by trade, and an electronics junkie by hobby. NOT a builder, haha.

What you will be witnessing in this thread is my attempt to make a yet-to-be-named arcade cabinet.

I decided to start this thread mainly for one thing: input. From browsing the boards for quite some time now, I know that many of you have amazing ideas and thoughts on the entire process. So at any time throughout my build, PLEASE feel free to chime in with any recommendations or thoughts. Heck, even if you think I did something wrong, please let me know. You guys know way better than I do

The Cabinet Base
It took a while for me to decide what i wanted the main look of the cabinet to be. I'll spare you the long boring details of why and how I came to the conclusion, but I ultimately decided on going for a slim look. Therefor, I am going to use the design that oh-so-many other have used; Knievel's Arcade Mania / Woody. (An amazing design from an amazingly talented guy)

Instead of tracing the design right onto the wood, I decided to use some drop paper. I traced out my measurements onto the paper and cut it out to see how it sized up.



(Click for larger image)

Theres a few things to note in the picture. First is that you can probably tell that I expanded Knievel's design to be a few inches deeper. The second is, yes... this is in a furniture store. It the family's business.


After a few minor edits and tweaks of things like the angles and the height of a few things, I went and bought the nice $50 sheet of wood and traced the paper onto one side of the wood.

After cutting the shape out, we then flipped it over and traced IT back onto the wood. We decided to do this instead of trace the paper twice just in case we screwed something up on the first cut, we wouldn't have two different shapes.

I say we because my mother, the furniture store owner, was helping me with the major wood-working aspects of this. (Im man enough to admit that my mother is way better at this than myself)


After having both shapes cut out, we clamped them together and started sanding the edges together to get them cleaned up and matching.




That image was taken last night. It started to drizzle a little (We are in Southern California fyi), so we had to stop working and save it for another day.


Guys! Dont let me butcher Knievel's design! Chime in with anything you got

More posts to follow as the project unfolds.

[drventure]

Love those other projects of yours. Welcome aboard. You should fit right in here (good build skills and the right sense of humor  )

And you've picked a good base to start from. Kneivel's work is spot on!

[Franco B]

Hi Brian, welcome to the forum

I checked out your other projects and they are awesome. Completely pointless in a sense but amazing at the same time!  I can imagine you coming up with some crazy things for this build

It looks like you are off to a great start. Knievels cabs are a great design to base your build off.

You may want to see if you can buy or borrow a router. They are a very versitle tool and you will find many uses for it. For example you could have used one with a flush trim bit to trim both sides perfectly flush.

Have you got any ideas about what controls etc you are using?

[saleem]

cant you get a router,it will help an hell of a lot for tmolding groove,finishing edges etc,better than your mam with a rotary sander (is it)

yes,i gotta agree on the humour side,i love cats being a cat lover myself but,my cat would not like me if i did something like that,shes old and dont learn new tricks well,she gos into a huff.

but,yes,you got ideas man.
 

[plasma2002]

I do have a router.... just no bits, haha.

Ive already planned on buying a couple bits... mainly a regular one and the slot cutter for the t-molding. Do you guys think I should still get a flush bit even though i already cut the main piece?

...with a rotary sander (is it)...

Nah, just the classic electric block sander type. Other choices were the smaller mighty-mouse and other finishing sanders. We needed to take off up to a quarter inch of wood at one point, so we needed something with proven power

[Franco B]

A flush trim bit is ever so useful. I cut most of my pieces with a jigsaw leaving 3mm or so on and then use a straight edge (or template for non straight edges) and use a flush trim bit to finish it off.

If I was you I would get a 1/2" diameter by 1" cutting length bit. That will do most of your work. I use a 1/4" diameter bit mainly when cutting plastics or jobs with a smaller radius than the 1/2" bit.

Pattern bits are useful when cutting recess's and a round over bit is great for finishing edges off.

[ammitz]

I say we because my mother, the furniture store owner, was helping me with the major wood-working aspects of this.

Your mom rocks!

First time I'we seen a Mom building a cab for her son 

[drventure]

Here, Here!

Go Mom 

[plasma2002]

haha, i'll deliver the message for ya guys



i got a question....
I was just now reading a few more people's builds and i noticed something - some people dont SCREW the wood together, but rather just GLUE it.

I was planning on screwing all this together, but is there something Im overlooking here? Wouldnt just gluing it not be solid enough?

Have I mentioned Im not a wood-worker? heh

[ammitz]

I do both: predrill for the screws and use glue

Btw have you seen this page www.wickedretarded.com/~crapmame/, so you won't make any mistakes

[monkey puzzle]

I tend to use glue, but with screws to hold it together. I have finnished most of the woodwork on my cab and havn't put a single screw in through the sides (I dont like visible screw heads, or using filler to hide holes). I like to glue the strips of wood to the inside, and screw through the strips into the side panels with short screws that will not go all the way through. Use enough screws and you will find this is easily strong enough. Check out my build, it is similar to yours. http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=90472.msg949443#msg949443

[Franco B]

I only screw things. I would hate to glue something up and then find something needs changing or modifying at a later date. I think its just my engineering mentality.

You will probably be fine using glue or screws and glue but its not for me in most cases.

[Epyx]

Welcome and keep the updates coming!

I only screw things. I would hate to glue something up and then find something needs changing or modifying at a later date. I think its just my engineering mentality.

Lol ya...I love the strength of glue and use it a lot but it has stung me a few times...with screws you can do a facepalm after a mistake, unscrew, filler and sand and you are good to go...with glue you make a mistake and you start from scratch

[Nogginboink]

I only screw things. I would hate to glue something up and then find something needs changing or modifying at a later date. I think its just my engineering mentality.

You will probably be fine using glue or screws and glue but its not for me in most cases.

A proper glue joint is probably stronger than screws. (At least it is on wood. I'm not sure about MDF.)

[Ond]

Welcome Brian,  I won't get into the Glue or Screw debate there's plenty of advice here already.  Looking forward to following your progress 

[Franco B]

I only screw things. I would hate to glue something up and then find something needs changing or modifying at a later date. I think its just my engineering mentality.

You will probably be fine using glue or screws and glue but its not for me in most cases.

A proper glue joint is probably stronger than screws. (At least it is on wood. I'm not sure about MDF.)

Yes I know it is. I just don't like using glue for the reasons I mentioned. If a part was under that much stress/strain that It could possibly break the screws then I would use another method completely.

Would glue + batons hold a 45kg monitor? More than likely, yes. Would I use glue and batons? I'll leave you to answer that one.

[jmike]

   Yes welcome to the forum Plasma. As you can see everyone is very helpful and willing to give great tips.

And congrats on having such a cool Mom. Not only does she help with the build but she even let you put it on top of one of her tables. Careful not to scratch up the merchandise or she'll  to you and your project.

 

[Ryglore]

Welcome! Don't worry about making mistakes or asking dumb questions. If there is anything I've learned since I started my 1st cab in June, it's these guys will almost always point you in the right direction or give out plenty of constructive criticism.

[Shortbus]

I do both: predrill for the screws and use glue

Btw have you seen this page www.wickedretarded.com/~crapmame/, so you won't make any mistakes

i don't care how many times i go through the crapmame site, it's always hilarious....thanks for providing me a much needed laugh.....

[Shortbus]

Howdy everyone  

The name's Brian. Im a long time lurker, first time poster. Yes, my first post is about my first project.
Anyways, you may have already heard of me and not even know it. I made the Emergency Party Button and the Blender Defender. Two very popular projects that have been making a few waves out there on the net. Check it out if ya want. ( http://www.plasma2002.com/epb  and http://www.plasma2002.com/blenderdefender )

cool, good to have your project on here. Your Emergency party button is cool, Holy intricate project, but must be very cool to press. Reminds me of my aunt that likes to snoop in peoples medicine cabinets, prior to her coming over one year i put 77 golf balls carefully inside the cabinet, ready to fall upon opening. She was in there within 30 mins during a visit for a family get together, used the restroom and all we heard was a loud series of clinks and clanks, followed by a rather blushing aunt Kathy coming out of the bathroom asking if we had any aspirin (yah right, whatever).  I clued everyone else in on the prank, worked like a charm, she doesn't come over much these days, but taught here a lesson she'll never forget. lol  

project is sure to be great, if you can make those other things, this will be fine, and as far as the woodworking, i didn't know anything either when i first started, you'll pick it up (measure at least twice and cut once).., thanks for sharing, can't get enough pictures round here.

take it easy...

shortbus.  

[ammitz]

Reminds me of my aunt that likes to snoop in peoples medicine cabinets, prior to her coming over one year i put 77 golf balls carefully inside the cabinet, ready to fall upon opening. She was in there within 30 mins during a visit for a family get together, used the restroom and all we heard was a loud series of clinks and clanks, followed by a rather blushing aunt Kathy coming out of the bathroom asking if we had any aspirin (yah right, whatever).  I clued everyone else in on the prank, worked like a charm, she doesn't come over much these days, but taught here a lesson she'll never forget. lol  

What a nice joke