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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: rgecko on April 13, 2005, 02:24:56 pm

Title: what's the fastest time you've built a cabinet in?
Post by: rgecko on April 13, 2005, 02:24:56 pm
Hey,
I'm currently building my first cabinet, and diligently tracking my time and everything on this, but I'm NEW... so that means I waste a lot of time on dumb things, like the wrong blade on a jig saw or something. So any and all; so thee questions:
Title: Re: what's the fastest time you've built a cabinet in?
Post by: SirPeale on April 13, 2005, 02:26:55 pm
I suppose it all depends on whether you're retrofitting an old one, or building one from scratch.

Paige retrofitted one a while back in about three hours.  I've done the same in about six, just tossing parts together.  In a JAMMA cab, I can fit a J-PAC with a PC in about an hour, if I have the proper parts lying around.
Title: Re: what's the fastest time you've built a cabinet in?
Post by: rgecko on April 13, 2005, 02:40:15 pm
I was thinking along the lines of building, but forgot about retrofitting, which I may be doing sooner than I plan, if I find a nice cabinet at auction this weekend. I remember seeing a 24 hour cabinet at one point...
Title: Re: what's the fastest time you've built a cabinet in?
Post by: Jabba on April 13, 2005, 03:19:28 pm
One guy posted in the examples page built his from scratch in 24 hours
Title: Re: what's the fastest time you've built a cabinet in?
Post by: M3talhead on April 13, 2005, 03:46:03 pm
Quote from: rgecko on April 13, 2005, 02:24:56 pm
[li]....what's the fastest time you've built your cabinet in?[/li]



Its not about how fast you can build a cab.

Plan on taking your time and doing it right the first time.
Title: Re: what's the fastest time you've built a cabinet in?
Post by: Lilwolf on April 13, 2005, 03:46:53 pm
6 years?

No I guess I built my dreamcast cabinet in about a week...

But my mame cabinet hasn't ever been running without construction of some nature for 6 years.

If I finish it... I'm not sure what I would do with myself...
Title: Re: what's the fastest time you've built a cabinet in?
Post by: walls83 on April 13, 2005, 03:51:09 pm
I built a cab for a friend in a weekend.  Way more work then I would like to do in that amount of time.

Title: Re: what's the fastest time you've built a cabinet in?
Post by: jimmyjet on April 13, 2005, 03:55:00 pm
Back in November and December when I was turning out bartop Galaga's with the jakk's 5-in-1 joystick and 13" tv, I was able to build them in 5 hours from start to finish.
Title: Re: what's the fastest time you've built a cabinet in?
Post by: GGKoul on April 13, 2005, 04:18:48 pm
One week
Title: Re: what's the fastest time you've built a cabinet in?
Post by: oldsage on April 13, 2005, 05:17:48 pm
Quote from: jimmyjet on April 13, 2005, 03:55:00 pm
Back in November and December when I was turning out bartop Galaga's with the jakk's 5-in-1 joystick and 13" tv, I was able to build them in 5 hours from start to finish.
Title: Re: what's the fastest time you've built a cabinet in?
Post by: nostrebor on April 13, 2005, 07:49:47 pm
Calendar days = 18 months

Actual building hours = 16+/-

And this includes meticulous attention to the details. The problem with this hobby is the constant interruptions of things like work, family, sleep, and other pesky hobbies ;)
Title: Re: what's the fastest time you've built a cabinet in?
Post by: oldsage on April 13, 2005, 08:37:41 pm
Quote from: nostrebor on April 13, 2005, 07:49:47 pm
Calendar days = 18 months

Actual building hours = 16+/-

And this includes meticulous attention to the details. The problem with this hobby is the constant interruptions of things like work, family, sleep, and other pesky hobbies ;)
Lol... Tell me about it... I have been at work on my machine for more than 3 month, and the actual time I've spent building it is an hour or two... I could have built a whole arcade if i would have worked on it 8 hours a day...
(and a very big arcade at that!)
Title: Re: what's the fastest time you've built a cabinet in?
Post by: dema on April 14, 2005, 02:34:50 am
I'm still working on my first, and mine's taken about a year.

Beat that fellas!!!!

My Molassescade.
Title: Re: what's the fastest time you've built a cabinet in?
Post by: teef two on April 14, 2005, 03:57:51 am
You mean they're sometimes finished!
Title: Re: what's the fastest time you've built a cabinet in?
Post by: elvis on April 14, 2005, 04:35:51 am
My first one was probably 20 hours of actual work, spread over 4 months. (Started in late December over Christmas holidays, and finished around mid-April)

The second is looking to be even longer, thanks to real life interfering.

I'd love to have the free time to actually knock one up in a weekend.  But between the missus, the child, and clients, the chances of me having a weekend to myself are roughly akin to winning the lottery.

Actually... I'd be less surprised if I won the lottery. :)
Title: Re: what's the fastest time you've built a cabinet in?
Post by: amerish on April 14, 2005, 08:44:32 am
I built 2 ultimate II's in about 5 months start to finish, working 1 day a week on it for about 3 - 4 hourse each day worked.  Its not about the speed to get it done, its about doing it the best that you can.  Enjoy the construction, it will make the finished product that much sweeter.

Since it's your first cab, lets re-evaluate your frankenpanel..... LOL
Title: Re: what's the fastest time you've built a cabinet in?
Post by: Craig on April 14, 2005, 09:19:03 am
I started my cabinet about a year ago and it still is only half done. My other cabinet is coming soon and I have some parts ready to put in that.
If I had more money, these cabinets would be finished tomorrow!
Title: Re: what's the fastest time you've built a cabinet in?
Post by: SoundDoc on April 14, 2005, 09:39:02 am
11 months+ now....

Its 99.5% there, still fighting with a monitor issue I had from day one, or else it would have been done 8 months ago.
Things always come up, (a new kid kinda took a ton of time away from cabinet building as well) but I hope to finish it before summer.
I find in almost all my projects that the first 95% takes about 5% of the time. My cabinet went from salvaged find, to stripped, painted, modified, wired, and running within the first 2 months. Its the liittle things, like trying to get the monitor setup, or configuring the frontend & ini files for different EMU's, (or getting that last "neat" thing working) that take the other 95% of the time.

I don't think that my cab will ever be actually "finished". Theres always something else that you want to do to it, it may take 5 years until you do it though. I like to think of it as a evolving work of art....

Good luck on your cab! Looks good so far!
Title: Re: what's the fastest time you've built a cabinet in?
Post by: Stingray on April 14, 2005, 10:03:31 am
Quote from: teef two on April 14, 2005, 03:57:51 am
You mean they're sometimes finished!

HA HA HA! I was about to post the same. Considering that I'm constanly adding and changing things on mine I guess it's not done yet, nor will it ever be most likely.

-S
Title: Re: what's the fastest time you've built a cabinet in?
Post by: delta88 on April 14, 2005, 10:09:45 am
Retro fit a mspac over the weekend a while back.. say 2-3 yrs ago. dunno bout finished but if you have the parts it only a matter of hours to make it playable.

;) -d88
Title: Re: what's the fastest time you've built a cabinet in?
Post by: Lilwolf on April 14, 2005, 10:53:04 am
but delta...

How do you GET ANY WORK done with those things bouncing around?  Build a cabinet or just stare at your Avatar.....

Ahh... bouncy bouncy...  :o