Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Woodworking => Topic started by: Rocco on June 01, 2008, 01:08:27 am

Title: Just cut cabinet sides and they don't match exactly - need suggestions on a fix
Post by: Rocco on June 01, 2008, 01:08:27 am

Hi all,

I've been lurking here for awhile and tonight finally got started on my first MAME cab.  I cut both cabinet sides out of 3/4" MDF.  They came out pretty good (for a Noob), but don't match up exactly.  When I place the two pieces together, there are a few places where they are off by 1/16" or so, and one or two cuts are off by less than 1/8".  I thought I would clamp the two together and sand them until they are flush, but now I'm considering using a router with a pattern bit or flush trimming bit to get them to line up perfectly.  Does this sound like a better idea?  What do you guys recommend?

I appreciate any advice!  :cheers:

- Rocco

Title: Re: Just cut cabinet sides and they don't match exactly - need suggestions on a
Post by: Crazy Cooter on June 01, 2008, 02:35:02 am

Quote from: Rocco on June 01, 2008, 01:08:27 am

What do you guys recommend?

Quote from: Rocco on June 01, 2008, 01:08:27 am

a router with a pattern bit or flush trimming bit to get them to line up perfectly.

 ;)

Title: Re: Just cut cabinet sides and they don't match exactly - need suggestions on a
Post by: shiftybill on June 01, 2008, 08:29:14 pm

you should have clamped them while you were cutting them, but yeah clamp and sand them back

Title: Re: Just cut cabinet sides and they don't match exactly - need suggestions on a fix
Post by: Rocco on June 01, 2008, 09:42:05 pm

I didn't think of clamping the two sheets together and cutting them at the same time...that would've saved  a lot of time.  Will the router method not work?  If I need to sand, I know I'll go through a lot of sand paper and it'll take some time to get everything perfect.  If that's the safest bet, what grit should I use? 80? And finish it up with 120?  I was hoping I could use a router and not have to sand for days...

Title: Re: Just cut cabinet sides and they don't match exactly - need suggestions on a
Post by: Doctor Ugs on June 02, 2008, 12:32:55 am

flush trim bit is your best bet.

Title: Re: Just cut cabinet sides and they don't match exactly - need suggestions on a fix
Post by: Franco B on June 02, 2008, 08:07:14 am

Yeah either a flush or pattern bit will work a treat.

Im guessing that one panel will be both bigger in some places and smaller in places than the other and vice versa. To end up with two sides exactly the same, clamp both sides together with the base and back of the cab sides flush and run your router around the profile. Then swap the two sides over (put the one on the bottom on the top) and run the router round again.

Jobs a good'en (http://www.ftooc.org/phpbb/images/smiles/fing34.gif)

Title: Re: Just cut cabinet sides and they don't match exactly - need suggestions on a fix
Post by: JC on June 05, 2008, 04:27:59 am

Quote from: Franco B on June 02, 2008, 08:07:14 am

Yeah either a flush or pattern bit will work a treat.

Im guessing that one panel will be both bigger in some places and smaller in places than the other and vice versa. To end up with two sides exactly the same, clamp both sides together with the base and back of the cab sides flush and run your router around the profile. Then swap the two sides over (put the one on the bottom on the top) and run the router round again.

Jobs a good'en (http://www.ftooc.org/phpbb/images/smiles/fing34.gif)

That worked amazingly well. Thanks everyone for your advice.

Cheers,
JC

Title: Re: Just cut cabinet sides and they don't match exactly - need suggestions on a fix
Post by: Rocco on June 06, 2008, 01:53:16 am

It sure did! Except for where I let the router base come off the wood when working one of the corners, the pattern bit worked great!  I'll be a woodworking pro when I'm done!