Budget Arcade- first build -complete with video demo- $250

[thomas_surles]

I am on a small budget and can only afford a few parts at a time until I get a new job.
so it is not as cool as the others i have seen.

so here we go...

[thomas_surles]

I know what your thinking, 1/4 inch plywood? well it was the cheapest at lowes. But on the plus side it is very light, but I can't put t molding on it

[thomas_surles]

The cp.

[thomas_surles]

some progress.

[thomas_surles]

and the rest of what I have so far.

[Slippyblade]

I feel the budget crunch man.  Good progress so far though, keep it up!

 

[ChanceKJ]

.

[matt4949]

what do you plan on running on the inside a pc? a console? looking good so far.

[Slippyblade]

what do you plan on running on the inside a pc? a console? looking good so far.

Gerbils.  Lots and lots of gerbils.

[thomas_surles]

how is yours any less cool as mine, or any of the other ones on this site for that matter?

This is a brilliant start to something you're gonna love because you built it, t-molding or no t-molding.


I'd be proud to say I built that. For all I know mine will cause grey hair and mysteriously implode before its done......   

Thanks that makes me feel better.

[thomas_surles]

what do you plan on running on the inside a pc? a console? looking good so far.

I have a laptop with a broken screen that im using right now. its a newish Hp with 8gb of ram and some huge hard drive.
believe it or not I found it beside a dumpster. Was it stolen? I dont know, could be, or they just threw it out because of the broken screen.

Either way, In the dumpster/by the dumpster, thats fair game right?

[matt4949]

not everything in the dumpster is up for grabs

[thomas_surles]

Depends on who is around. 

[PL1]

not everything in the dumpster is up for grabs

Somebody threw away a perfectly good white girl.   






Scott

[skjerk]

Way to go!

You know, I've been "working" on mine for the last 5 years, and you are already ahead of me 

Will be following you! - Keep it up 

[Louis Tully]

.

[thomas_surles]

I am considering getting a used trackball mouse rather than an actual trackball.
Has anyone ever tried that?

Something like this.

[ChanceKJ]

.

[thomas_surles]

Most of those old trackballs  have removable balls, and very poor rolling resistance. You take one swing with that thing in golden tee and you'll either drive 5 yards with a power swing or skip the ball through your display.

Here:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/4-5-cm-of-Diameter-Round-Connector-PC-Trackball-mouse-for-arcade-machine-accessories-game-machine/1251402061.html

Or here:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2-pcs-of-4-5-cm-of-Diameter-Purple-ball-track-ball-For-Arcade-Game-Machine/921897743.html

Or just go here and shop around:
http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?SearchText=Trackball+arcade&catId=&initiative_id=SB_20131102095851

Wow those are nicer and cheaper than the mouse.

[thomas_surles]

Did a little more work today.

A combination of wood filler and plaster. Im going to let that harden so I can sand it all down and make the wood smoother.

[PL1]

Wow those are nicer and cheaper than the mouse.

You may also want to consider the Sparkfun trackball here.


Scott

[thomas_surles]

Wow those are nicer and cheaper than the mouse.

You may also want to consider the Sparkfun trackball here.


Scott

I like that. I might get one if I decide to add a trackball

[thomas_surles]

some more sanding and priming.

[severdhed]

That looks good, you should be proud of that.

Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk 2

[LeedsFan]

I personally find plywood to be much nicer to work with than MDF. It's lighter too. It all depends on what grade of plywood is available to buy. I live in the UK and I usually get my wood from B&Q (large DIY superstore). For my most recent project I got plywood from there and they had three grades available. The cheapest was pretty poor. It was very rough on both sides and wasn't suitable for what I wanted to do. But for just £10 extra I was able to get the mid range stuff which is smooth on both sides. Though in some areas it was slightly rough but I could live with it or avoid those small areas. For £another £30 over the cheapest stuff (so double price) they had a cabinet grade ply. This was excellent stuff but I decided to go with the mid to save a little cash.

And why can't you use TMolding? I'm planning on fitting it to my project and I've done it before with plywood with no problems.

[thomas_surles]

I cant use t molding because it is the thinnest plywood. Its 1/4 inch

[thomas_surles]

I jusy got a new job so I am about to up the budget a bit.

[thomas_surles]

I have not disappeared.

[thomas_surles]

I ended up just using a whole 32 oz of woid filler on each side of the cab and sanding it down. It worked very well.

[thomas_surles]

Added some usb ports to the front. I just made to holes with a chisel and glued in some female usb extentions.

[thomas_surles]

Attached the speaker panel.

[thomas_surles]

Another look at the front with 2 new buttons.

[thomas_surles]

Also cut a new c p because I screwed up the last one.

[thomas_surles]

Stll got a lot of sanding to go.

[gabrielmtl]

Looking very good, especially considering your limited budget.

Good luck with the rest

[eds1275]

You keep saying 1/4, and I keep thinking... that can't be any thinner than 1/2"... in any case, you can get some pretty amazingly sticky pinstriping for cars in both of those thicknesses that will be a great substitute for t-molding, unless you and your friends constantly pull at the edges. Around here you can get it in your standard rainbow plus chrome, white, and black.

[thomas_surles]

You keep saying 1/4, and I keep thinking... that can't be any thinner than 1/2"... in any case, you can get some pretty amazingly sticky pinstriping for cars in both of those thicknesses that will be a great substitute for t-molding, unless you and your friends constantly pull at the edges. Around here you can get it in your standard rainbow plus chrome, white, and black.

Thats actually a really good idea. I was considering painting the trim of it red then taping it off while I do the rest black.

[thomas_surles]

Got my conrollers. 2 usb n64 and 2 usb generic ps3 controllers.
The ps3 controllers are for ps1, ps2, gamecube, and most of my pc games.

[thomas_surles]

Also cut out some slots for my door hinges so it will mount better.

[gabrielmtl]

You keep saying 1/4, and I keep thinking... that can't be any thinner than 1/2"... in any case, you can get some pretty amazingly sticky pinstriping for cars in both of those thicknesses that will be a great substitute for t-molding, unless you and your friends constantly pull at the edges. Around here you can get it in your standard rainbow plus chrome, white, and black.

+1 on the thickness. Gotta be more than 1/4