Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Everything Else => Topic started by: Driath on March 24, 2003, 03:42:15 am
-
hey i live in an apartment (3rd floor) in a college town and i was wondering where other apartment people get the space to work on their cabs? i can't find anywhere right now :-\
-
hey i live in an apartment (3rd floor) in a college town and i was wondering where other apartment people get the space to work on their cabs? i can't find anywhere right now :-\
I am currently suffering from same crisis :'( and I plan on building my new cabinet outside.. :P
then bring all the pieces and put em together.
I got a friend(actually my dad's friend) who has a table saw and will either cut there or just old school way right outside my apartment. :D
-
It all depends on the size of the apartment, now doesn't it. For the past half year my bedroom has been my arcade workshop while my livingroom has been my bedroom. It isn't practical nor comfortable but it works. One thing I had to watch out for was that the width of the cabinet didn't exceed the width of the doorway. Wouldn't want to leave it when I move :)
What's worse than the lack of space in an apartment is the presense of loud noise when woodworking. Sheesh, everytime I start that circular saw or sander I'm almost sure neighbours will start filing complaints. Well, so far so good and I'm about 80% done now with most of the woodworking behind me. Woop-de-doo :)
-
I just spent the last week making so much noise and dust in my apartment I was sure I'd get complaints, but nothing yet 8) I set it all up in my living room. Router's are the worst, I think - If you're looking for the maximum amount of noise and fine sawdust to vaccuum up for the least amount of work, a router is the way to go.
Mostly I just had to be careful to vacuum up the sawdust everyday or else it got tracked everywhere...and to lay sheets over the carpets when I painted. I would go insane if my apartment was like this for half a year (gotta be neat and clean), but everyone's different ;)
-
I'm currently in an apartment but was in condo when i did most my major work. (i.e. in the garage or in the basement)
I'd recommend doing as much as you can outside if possible on a warm weekend (with no chance for rain) and then (*gulp*) move it up 3 flights of stairs (actually if you did it in pieces and brought it up it wouldn't be so bad)
Have you considered getting an existing cabinet that was in decent shape and converting that? (the only trick being getting up the stairs) at least that'll minimize the scale/scope of the work you'll be doing...
*shrug* we finally had a warm weekend in the northeast and I took off my control panel and went out side to route out for t-molding and apply laminate n' stuff... no way I coulda used a router in the apartment - although I do occasionally drill/etc... inside.
rampy
-
I live in a 2nd floor apt now. It is a 200 yr old building with really small doors and staircases. I can barely get a 19 inch cab thru the doorway! Just dont ask about getting it up 2 flights o' stairs! :o
I am modifying a 19" cab so I dont have to do too much woodworking. I have little old ladies living all around me, so drilling and routing the control panel MUST be done at a friends.
This is all going on in my Dining room. We eat in the living room for the time being!
-
Im in an apartment, and my cab is being worked on in my dining room/kitchen. its working out very well, because it is all linoleum, and easy to clean up. Im modifing a 25" cab, and so the control panel is about the only thing that ive been maknig a lot of noise (and mess) with. So ive been working on that on my tiny little patio. painting is done in the apt with newspapers spread out.
-
I'm in apartment-ville as well. I am fortunate enough to have a friend who is allowing me to build in his garage. Try asking around. Someone may even be willing to rent you a space for a small fee. The major construction or refurbishing shouldn't take that long if it is well planned. Most of it could be done in a weekend. The wiring details, etc. can be pretty much taken care of where the cabinet will stand in your place. Good luck!
-
If you're concerned about getting it thru doorways, do what i did. Put most of the thing together using 2x2 furring strips in the corners and 1/4" machine bolts/nuts. I plan on having this in our extra room on the second floor, then once I get my own place (probably not for about 2 years) viola! I can take it apart and transport it easily. No muss, no fuss, no coconuts! It's great as long as you don't plan on moving it often.
-
I too live in an apartment. I find it impossible to do any of the work. I tried .... but it's just way too messy in a confined area. The paint smells the place up. Sawdust and paintdust gets all over the place. My attempts to construct a control panel at home were cut short VERY fast.
I ended up begging a friend to let me finish the project in her garage/basement.
-
I built my cabinet at my parents.
-
hey i live in an apartment (3rd floor) in a college town and i was wondering where other apartment people get the space to work on their cabs? i can't find anywhere right now :-\
I converted my cabinet in the living room and dining room of my apartment. For months my dining room table was covered in tools and parts for the cab. I had a small homemade "workbench" that was really nothing more than four 1"x4"s and a small piece of 3/4" plywood. I drilled on top of that to keep from drilling into the carpet. I cut my plexiglass outside on top of my air conditioner with a rotary tool.
It certainly wasn't as easy as if I had a garage, but it worked.
-
You say it's a college town. Go use the workshop at the college. Then you not only get space to build it, but more tools than you could ever need. If you're not in school just sign up for a continuing education class or something. Even if you never turn in any assignments it will give you access to what you need -- at a price, of course.
-
Yes, I am an apartment dweller as well. 3rd floor of course. Finished my cab in a friend's basement. He wasn't sure what was worse--sawdust everywhere or the fine red particles from the 20 year old paint job that we had to sand off to finish the thing right.
He's still my friend. His wife ain't too happy to see me however . . .
My advice for the 3rd floor crowd: appliance dolley. Go to U-Haul, cost you $10 + a deposit, get the big one they move refrigerators with. Works like a charm.