Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Woodworking => Topic started by: honkey on September 16, 2011, 11:10:04 am

Title: How much wood will I need?
Post by: honkey on September 16, 2011, 11:10:04 am
This is going to seem dumb, but I am wondering if I am over looking something. I have been looking at this page (http://pacfan69.tripod.com/cabinets/id5.html (http://pacfan69.tripod.com/cabinets/id5.html)) and kind of using it as a base to work from for when I build my cocktail table. If I am doing the math right, I could get one piece of 4x8 oak and build the cabinet and then a 2x4 piece and have enough wood for the control panels and still have a good amount left over. Does this sound about right to you guys? If so, I just can't justify to myself buying a 200-300$ kit + shipping, when I could do this for around 50$ plus labor.
Title: Re: How much wood will I need?
Post by: Donkbaca on September 16, 2011, 12:11:43 pm
That's probably right, as long as you make good cuts and don't have to redo everything.  I would get 2 pieces of ply, just to be on the safe side in case you have to redo everything.  Choose your wood carefully!  Make sure there is no warping and build it sooner rather than later so that the wood doesn't warp while its sitting around in your garage/shed
Title: Re: How much wood will I need?
Post by: honkey on September 16, 2011, 12:15:30 pm
Thank you! I live right down the street from Lowes, so I will probably start with one piece, I am just trying to figure out how much I need to budget with a ballpark figure. I need to build the cab and controls, so I think I am looking 250-300$ total.
Title: Re: How much wood will I need?
Post by: Donkbaca on September 16, 2011, 12:26:39 pm
What do you have lying around?  Do you have all the tools you need?  I spent most of my money on tools.  You can see my build in my sig.  I ended up using 2 sheets of ply for the whole thing, and have lots left over. 
Title: Re: How much wood will I need?
Post by: honkey on September 16, 2011, 03:21:47 pm
I am going to be borrowing my fiancee's father's tools for sawing. I have drills and basic tools. My big cost is the controls.
Title: Re: How much wood will I need?
Post by: BobA on September 25, 2011, 02:39:09 am
Lots of leeway in controls.

Joysticks from $8 to $60 each
Buttons from $1.50 to $8.00 each
Interface $25 to $60 each

Just depends on what you want and how many.