Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Project Announcements => Topic started by: menace on February 15, 2017, 04:48:30 pm
-
So a guy asked me to build him a standard 4-player cabinet--after some back and forth we settled on a traditional shape and size and something that had plans available (I had no interest in creating a new set of drawings). I also wanted to (for once) keep track of all my time and materials and see how long a build actually takes/costs.
So far to date:
emails exchanged, plans downloaded and dimensioned (from classicarcadecabinets.com) - 1hr+/- $0 cost
Trip to home depot to buy 1 x 5/8" 4'x8' black melamine particle board
2 x 5/8" 4'x'8' MDF
1x2x8 spruce (for blocking) 2hrs $130
Paper to transfer plans to wood $12
Transfer plans, cut 2 sides and 4 interior pieces 5hrs
Progress pic:
(http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo327/menace6983/20170215_163550_zpsop8gpwi8.jpg)
-
You're gonna find out why those 'professional shops' with their teams of 'we' charge $2,500 for these things PDQ.
-
I look forward to seeing how this thing breaks down time and money wise because I don't have the balls to add up the costs of my own projects. :cheers:
-
Ran a report in Microsoft Money to see what I spent on my small TMNT cab build last year. Came up to about $1400 (not including the stand I built for it)! That does include my replacement CRT monitor though.
Interested to see what your cabinet runs to.
-
-Redesign control panel--based on Jarrett's Space paranoids (but did away with "aircraft carrier") 2hrs
-Finish cutting out pieces, cut t-molding slots, ripped down 48 feet of 3/4" square blocking from 1x2's,
glued on blocking to front, base and back pieces, started rough assembly to see how my cuts turned out 2.5 hrs
(http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo327/menace6983/20170216_135531_zpsglhbmyy5.jpg)
-
looks great so far. This is a project I'd like to do over the summer, so the cost is something I would be interested in.
-
Painted exposed edges of side panels, cut speaker panels 1hr
Bought a rattle can of gloss black $7.50
-
Your time has value. You need to incorporate that into the cost.
-
Yeah--I'm being paid for my efforts--I'm keeping track to see what it all works out to per hr in the end. If I make less than minimum wage--i'll never build another again lol
-
I keep track of my builds finance too. The biggest money savings can be done on the electronics by getting parts from dollar stores, craigslist, and ebay China. Will keep an eye on this one!
-
You are already like 14 hours in. At this pace you will have to charge at least 500 dollars for labor to make minimum wage when all is said and done.
You also need to account for time and mileage for trips back and forth to the home improvement store. ;D
-
I don't even bother trying to figure out how much stuff costs. I just tell my wife whatever I think won't make her mad. :cheers:
-
Got a good solid hr in today, finalizing some panels and getting the big beast assembled--its starting to look like something! 1hr
(http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo327/menace6983/20170222_122220_zpspyfw7qv6.jpg)
(http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo327/menace6983/20170222_122201_zpswfzojxoe.jpg)
Then my brad nailer died so I had to switch gears to get that fixed--Ten years with no maintenance--not bad for a no-name nailer...
-
Got the control panel laid out, cut and built today--It doesn't look like a machine until you get a big 'ole panel hanging off it! about 4 hrs (give or take)
I'm building 2 at once so its hard to keep track of how much time exactly for each...
(http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo327/menace6983/20170302_144758_zpszywwr7ij.jpg)
-
Project tally to this point: 18.5 hrs planning, building, cutting and assembling
$150 in parts (wood and paint)
-
The time consuming part is coming up: sanding, painting, wiring everything, finish work, FE configuration. :-)
-
On the bright side--the side is getting full adhesive sideart--so no sanding, painting etc. to be done--but yes, wiring, monitor mounting (guy asked for a CRT-so I have to figure how to mount the big SOB) control panel, marquee, bezel etc..
-
At this pace you are looking at 1000+ dollars in labor by the time its done. I hope this guy knows what kind of cash he is going to have to fork over.
-
Cut out control panel (including printing out cad drawings, transferring to wood, cutting it out etc.) 3hrs +/-
-
The guy asked for (and supplied) a new 29" multisync monitor so yesterday was the day to get it mounted--ugh what a heavy beast! I had to build a custom frame for it (routing out channels for the metal chassis surrounding the monitor). So after much trial and error it went in. I then had to cut the bezel to fit and get that mounted as well,
all told, monitor mounting 4hrs or so
Control panel modified to line up with new bezel, piano hinge installed, trackball hole cut, back door cut and modified to accept monitor (had to build a little box out the back) 3hrs
(http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo327/menace6983/20170309_102036_zpsftudubjr.jpg)
-
Bought some plexi for the front and marque area $40
Bought the wiring and related for the switched power supply $20
Built the home-made "bits-strip" type power supply 1/2hr
Bought some speakers from the local value village $15
Speaker covers $8
-
I hope this is the guy you are building for.
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=149895.0;attach=357415;image)
-
Quick suggestion on showing costs, make a Google Spreadsheet that's publicly viewable. That would make it more useful, easier for you to keep a running tally and everyone could easily see a complete line item listing.
Below is an example, cost list for my first Mame build:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kRynC0fVOIUEqreYt6jTGKVKkK6rU0tZlDejHpZDFIQ/edit?usp=sharing