First attempt at a bartop. Take it easy on the n00b!

[Arcadenoober]

So let me start by saying how much fun I have had on this forum in the last 3 hours. I only wish I had found it sooner. I found it exactly two days after I started. This is a hobby I can get into. And by the way, outstanding work to EVERYONE on here.  I was bored and needed a project, and so it begins.

Let me start by saying I am not handy by any means, this was the first time I ever used a saw or attempted to make something.  I am hoping for any tips to make it easier and am basically keeping this stupid simple (no speakers, using the built in speakers from the 20" monitor.

Maybe I'm just hoping for someone to say "hey my first one sucked too" haha although I have a very encouraging wife who keeps saying "it looks great"

If nothing else, it's got me excited and thinking about what mistakes o have made that I won't make next time. The fact I'm already thinking about next time has me pretty pumped.

I already had an old Pi laying around so I needed something to do with it.


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As you can see, I don't have much room to work with.


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I wanted a better shape, but this is what having no experience, and no plans gets you.  I messed up the cut and basically tried to salvage what I could without starting over.  My mantra has been "I can make this look good"


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This kinda worked. Used a drill to start, jigsawed the heck out of it and finished with a dremel.


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The wife picked the color. Small price to pay for her letting me spend some scratch on this.


But that's where I'm at now and hope to chisel away on the weekends.  Slowly I will get better tools and better skills!

 Thanks for looking and try not to be too hard on me haha I will somehow make it look good. Half the fun is going to be knowing I made it (it's like a kid right? Even if it's ugly ya gotta love it!)

[PL1]

Welcome aboard, Arcadenoober.   

Don't know if anyone else is having the same problem, but your images aren't displaying. (Might be my security settings    )

Instead of this . . .

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[url=http://postimage.org/][img]http://s19.postimg.org/z9hxxabjn/image.jpg[/img][/url]
. . . try this instead.

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[img]http://s19.postimg.org/z9hxxabjn/image.jpg[/img]

Better yet, please consider uploading images either to this thread or the sticky thread here by using the "Attachments and other options" link below the text box when posting.

Also, the links you posted only lead to the postimage.org homepage, not the pics or your galleries.   

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Scott

[Phreakwars]

Well, I can see the images just fine... but anyways... "TAKE IT EASY ON A NOOB" in the title, tells me you would like some criticism, and I'd be more then happy to give you some.

Point 1. People's opinions... even mine... don't mean $#@T. It is YOUR project.

2nd. Your woodwork skillz suck balls. But you already knew that. But don't feel bad. Put a saw in my hand, I will hurt myself. Wood and I don't get along, never have, never will.. I just can't grasp that skill... but then I can only play twinkle twinkle little star on a piano, yet I have a B.A in Information Technology and could rewire my entire house, and do a full overhaul on an engine... so mehh... we all have our thing..Uhm, yeah, your best option at this point with you first build is NEVER try selling it. But I have seen worse... like the dude who was trying to sell his crappy homemade arcades, it's hilarious, you'll have to look for the thread.

3rd. I like the look of it (- the ---smurfy--- sawing) and even the color. That should work just fine if your using a Pi. But your CP (control panel), STOP right now!!!!

Dude, I'm telling ya, that button spacing, your gonna hate it. And whatever you used to drill the holes for the buttons, use that for the joystick hole too. Start over, it's just a cheap piece of wood. The rest of your cabinet is JUST FINE!! Get that control panel right before you commit.

4. So I wanna hear more... What other hardware do you have? Just 1 joystick and 4 buttons?

[DaOld Man]

Welcome to the hobby, and the best dang forum for it!
Looks like you are making good progress, except I agree with Phreakwars about the control panel. The only way you could possible cover up that joystick mis-cut is to cover the panel with laminate.
And if you did that, you would have to mount the joystick differently anyway. Scrap that piece and cut a new panel.
I suggest you read up on how joysticks are commonly mounted on here.
Not sure about the button layout, It could work, but it is highly unusual. (But being unusual has never stopped me. LOL)
Your wood cutting abilities will grow as your go along, but be prepared to spend money on better tools, such as a router.
However, cutting MDF (I dont think you said, but that looks like MDF you are using), puts out a lot of fine dust. I cannot imagine cutting MDF in the house, on carpet at that.
If you decide to ever buy a router (or borrow one), be aware that the router puts out a zillion times more dust cutting MDF than a jigsaw does.
Anyway, good luck, and cant wait to see how this baby turns out.
(BTW, good idea bringing the wife on board at the start.)

[n3wt0n]

Good start considering you don't have wood working experience and found the site AFTER you started.

For future reference check out the wood working forum to find inexpensive ways to cut straight lines. Check out the sawboard thread or simply use a couple clamps and a straight edge like a level or something. It will work pretty effectively even with a jigsaw.

Here is a link to a site that could help with button spacing and layouts if you are going to consider the advice above... http://slagcoin.com/joystick/layout.html

The most important part of all of this is that you enjoy the process as much as possible and have an end product you are proud of. Good luck.

[Arcadenoober]

Thank you, thank you for the suggestions. I tend to thrive on criticism, only way to get better.

With the CP. yea, I was just winging it. Plan was to only stick with Games requiring an A/B and a start/select, which is why I went with just the 4 buttons.

I was weary of cutting in the house and tried to take advantage of the vacuum attachment on the jigsaw, ended up doing most of the cutting outside.

I am going to check the local pawns for some tools, those holes were an son of a gun.

As for hardware, with the exception of the Pi, buttons and monitor, I have no clue. That is actually how I stumbled on the forum.

[tomstewdevine]

Welcome to the Forums, my first one was ---smurfy--- too. Best way to make it look OK is to read a ton of threads, start with projects that are finished and see how they got there.  I'm a noob too but I have gotten a lot better since I started, i'm sure you will too.......because your side panels are looking rough, and I don't know if you thought the conrol panel area out, because they way it looks is your buttons and joystick will hit that front board you have:

[harveybirdman]

start and select can be p1 start and coin up as well, if you insist on console emulators on your arcade machine...


also check this out http://slagcoin.com/joystick/layout.html


And buy yourself some of these https://hdsupplysolutions.com/shop/p/irwin-speedbor-8-piece-spade-bit-set-p135332?gclid=CLmR_8_ux8oCFVJhfgodqvsEpQ

Make sure the set you get has an 1 1/8"

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[PL1]

Make sure the set you get has an 1 1/4"

Don't you mean 1 1/8"?


Scott

[harveybirdman]

Make sure the set you get has an 1 1/4"

Don't you mean 1 1/8"?


Scott

Yes, just haven't had enough coffee this morning.

[leapinlew]

You'll want to paint the inside edge where the screen and control panel go.

[Arcadenoober]

So I will definitely be re-doing the CP.  tomstewdivine, your Mario box has me already wanting to scrap what I'm doing now and start over to emulate that, by far my favorite I've seen on here.. But I will continue with this....next time.

I ordered the spade set, and have already learned tons from the replies here. Invaluable.

I will most likely (budget dependent) be getting a router also.

[leapinlew]

And plan on doing some filling using bondo and sanding.

If you have a Harbor Freights nearby, go visit. Get a sander to do finishing work.

[vwalbridge]

I will most likely (budget dependent) be getting a router also.

Best decision you'll make.

[tomstewdevine]

So I will definitely be re-doing the CP.  tomstewdivine, your Mario box has me already wanting to scrap what I'm doing now and start over to emulate that, by far my favorite I've seen on here.

Thanks a ton for saying that, it is far from the best but I got the whole thing done for around $60.00 and it seems like budget is a concern for you as well. Check out my build thread here:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,145274.0.html

You can build a decent arcade without a router, but if you have one, everything will be a little more professional.  Get that 1 1/8" bit though, even just that one bit will make your control panel super easy.  If bondo is too expensive, you can always use wood filler to fill in the cracks, but it just doesn't work as nice as bondo.

If I were you, I would look on craigslist and ask your friends on facebook for free wood, even if it's an old shelf or whatever and replace the two sides that are curved. 

[Arcadenoober]

Well....here the progress....



I scrapped it. Decided to go buy some better tools, take some of the suggestions from you guys and put a better thought/effort.

Here is the cardboard mock up to make everything right.



I like to think it's coming along a heckuva lot better. And thankfully the weather is nicer.

I haven't settled on a color way yet, but after seeing the Green Bay Packers bartop on here, I'm thinking Cleveland Browns.  I know....who the heck would want that....

Still going with the Pi, and going to get some brown and orange Happ's for the controls and mount a 20" HP LCD.

[yotsuya]

Good for you for taking the feedback like a man and rebooting it. You need anything, you let me know.

[leapinlew]

Very nice. Quite a difference between your first and second. 

Watch out for that overhang and your viewing angle.

[BGoulette]

Those lines look so much better! Keep it up!

[vwalbridge]

Like Yots said...I love it when the OP embraces the comments and suggestions. You'll have a great bartop if you keep it up.

[leapinlew]

So if you are in the tip getting business, here are a few things to consider. I've marked up your pic to help me explain it easier.

First off, I love the shape, enthusiasm and the huge leap in skills from your first one to this one.

1. The bottom is flush with the sides. I normally tuck this behind the "kickplate" area of the control panel. The reason being is it's hard to finish the exposed edge of mdf.

2. I wasn't sure if you planned on putting on T-molding, but if you did, it will have difficulty make this sharp of a turn. You'll want to round it off a bit.

3. The base of your cabinet is level with the sides. No real issues with this, as long as you already thought about cooling and sound. I've used the base for a cooling fan and for sound output, both of which would be difficult if it were resting on the floor. It's not really anything you can't fix with feet, but even with feet I like to extend the sides down to cover them a bit. 

4. The top of the marquee box is flat. Again, this could work depending on your design, but could be aesthetic issue if you intend on using some kind of L-bracket marquee retainer.

All in all, nice build.

[DaOld Man]

Much much better!!

[Arcadenoober]

I'm glad you said that. I already said to my wife "dang it's too flush" and I plan on "trimming" a bit off the base.

I wanted to do a bit of rounding, but still not quite sure how to pull it off with the router without screwing it all up. I'm assuming a rounding bit would work, would just need to pick one up if that's the case, but t-molding is definitely in the plans.

I can easily move those brackets up. They're kind of just holding in place for the time being. Much appreciated.

[leapinlew]

I'm glad you said that. I already said to my wife "dang it's too flush" and I plan on "trimming" a bit off the base.

I wanted to do a bit of rounding, but still not quite sure how to pull it off with the router without screwing it all up. I'm assuming a rounding bit would work, would just need to pick one up if that's the case, but t-molding is definitely in the plans.

I can easily move those brackets up. They're kind of just holding in place for the time being. Much appreciated.

As for the rounded bits, you got a couple options. I personally like the sharpness - reminds me of a Ms. Pacman or a Galaga cabinet. If you want it sort of pointed, just take the sander to it. If you are trying to get it much more rounded, trace it using a can, coin or anything else round.

Looking good!

My strategy has always been to build multiple cabinets. Others keep rebuilding/modding their first. Either way, have fun!

[Arcadenoober]

And also I want to give a credit to a1pharm for the inspiration.

I'm going to toy around and see if I can make the t-molding work with that shape. I really dig it.

[leapinlew]

FYI: Routing a t-molding slot is safer to do before assembly. Working with 1/2" (that's 1/2" MDF, right?).

If you haven't done it yet, routing makes a terrible mess. Use a mask and do it outside.

[tomstewdevine]

DAMN! This looks great man.

[Frank Drebin]

Second version looks great.  I let my wife have input on the color of my machine and I had a stupid purple accent  color for a week till I pulled it off.  Keep up the good work. 

Also, the "3 hour" comment is hilarious, intentional or not.  There are guys that lurk for 3 years without posting or building anything.   

So let me start by saying how much fun I have had on this forum in the last 3 hours.

[Arcadenoober]

Just an update. With the exception of marquee and bezel, and fine tuning the paint job (fixing my mess), it's come along nicely. A bit of tweaking will be in order. My Pi keeps crashing on me. May need another, this one is about 2.5 years old and worn. 

I now see what you meant about the T-molding. Those angles were killer. And I'm only about 80% pleased with the viewing angle, but it was a nice first build.   I'm sure I'll still continue modifying it.  Thanks for everyone's input, it was invaluable.  This project definitely got me hooked on the hobby.

[leapinlew]

That's some nice/fast work! 

[a1pharm]

And also I want to give a credit to a1pharm for the inspiration.

I'm going to toy around and see if I can make the t-molding work with that shape. I really dig it.

I thought your second design looked awfully familiar...

Seriously though, nice work on starting over - you won't regret it.  Part of the fun of the hobby is learning new skills, and it looks like you're a quick learner.  If you need help with anything let me know!

Cheers!