BYO wall unit

[old school gamer]

It seems that most people on these boards are getting into woodworking for the purpose of building a MAME cabinet. I think thats great! I just wanted to let people know,that with some practice you can build anything you like. For instance here is a picture of my wall unit. I built this about 2 years ago,custom,one of a kind. Based on one I saw in an Ethan Allen catalog. I had no blueprints or plans or measurements. I wanted it to fit my tv and take up all the wall space,which it does. I have many other creations in my home,that I made,and the best part is when your friends come over they cant believe you made it. Well its better when my wifes friends come over and bring their Husbands and say to them "how come you cant do something like that?" Anyway just wanted to share with my fellow "woodworkers". Anybody else got something other than a cab that they built?

[PixelCloud]

nice, what kinda wood did you use? (even though i'm not into that style its still very nice)

[Zathras]

Wow thats looks great - good job.

So far the Cabinet is my biggest project but I've built other types of things like a Theremin and a tube pre-amp.  I'm to the point where I think I like the planning/building process more than the completed product

[old school gamer]

Thanks,It is built out of maple hard wood and maple ply.

[zaphod]

Absolutely gorgeous!  

[NoOne=NBA=]

It's on my list of things to do--as soon as the wife gets her JUNK out of my garage/workshop.

I keep looking at the clutter on top of my new widescreen, and wishing I had somewhere to work.

Fortunately, I got the major construction done on my current cab before she filled it up.

[MoonDog]

VERY nice work!!!

I'm new here and have yet to build an arcade cabinet (or mame an old one).  I have built a couple pieces for the living room though.  Here is one...



Hard Maple

I spent way too much time on the joinery, but I'm hoping that it will last more than lifetime.

[old school gamer]

REAL nice joinery! That will definately last a life time. I know when I build something, its indestructible. Looks like you do the same. Sure beats the GARBAGE they sell at most furniture stores!

[MoonDog]

I shudder at the thought of buying a piece of furniture.  If you want anything that will last more than a year you have to pay through the nose.  Unfortunately with all the other projects I have going it takes me forever to finish anything.

[GGKoul]

WoW!! That looks awesome!  Good Job!

[Chris]

Very nice wall unit!

I was considering building my own entertainment center... the current issue of Wood magazine has plans for one.  But the sheer number of tools it seems to take... all I have is a jigsaw, a rotary saw, a drill, and a dremel.  For the entertainment center, it says I need a drill press, a biscuit cutter, a table saw, a router, a router table, a planer, etc.  Not to mention a thousand bits and blades....

[Santoro]

Yeah, I was looking at building that as well.  I inherited many of the tools I would need, but don't have a lot of the blades/bits etc.  

Anyway, OSG I am very impressed with the way that turned out.  How many hours would you estimate it took?

[bdsjake]

how did you make those joints?  what tools are required?

[MoonDog]

how did you make those joints?  what tools are required?

if you've got a steady hand you could do it with a good hand saw and a sharp chisel.  i used a table mounted router for the tenons and a drill press with mortise attachment for the mortises.  i built a tenon jig for my table saw but i didn't like the way it turned out so i just used the router instead.  for my previous project (tv stand) i used the router for both mortise and tenon cuts and it turned out fine.  it didn't have double through-tenons though either.

[MoonDog]

... all I have is a jigsaw, a rotary saw, a drill, and a dremel.  For the entertainment center, it says I need a drill press, a biscuit cutter, a table saw, a router, a router table, a planer, etc.  Not to mention a thousand bits and blades....

you'd be surprised what you can do with just a few key tools.  by just adding a router and table for $100 - $150 and a few bits you can do a lot.  here are some substitutes:

table saw - circular saw with a guide (piece of straight metal and a couple clamps)
drill press - really good to have, but you can get an attachment for a hand drill that will work for most stuff
biscuit cutter - router slot cutting bit, dowel jig, pocket hole jig ($$)
planer - just buy the thickness you need and sand imperfections and joints

of course using the right tool for the job is always the best way to go, but not everyone can have norm's woodshop.  

[old school gamer]

Yeah, I was looking at building that as well.  I inherited many of the tools I would need, but don't have a lot of the blades/bits etc.  

Anyway, OSG I am very impressed with the way that turned out.  How many hours would you estimate it took?

I had roughly 100-120 total hours in it.

[old school gamer]

... all I have is a jigsaw, a rotary saw, a drill, and a dremel.  For the entertainment center, it says I need a drill press, a biscuit cutter, a table saw, a router, a router table, a planer, etc.  Not to mention a thousand bits and blades....

you'd be surprised what you can do with just a few key tools.  by just adding a router and table for $100 - $150 and a few bits you can do a lot.  here are some substitutes:

table saw - circular saw with a guide (piece of straight metal and a couple clamps)
drill press - really good to have, but you can get an attachment for a hand drill that will work for most stuff
biscuit cutter - router slot cutting bit, dowel jig, pocket hole jig ($$)
planer - just buy the thickness you need and sand imperfections and joints

of course using the right tool for the job is always the best way to go, but not everyone can have norm's woodshop.  

I actually do have the exact table saw Norm has, I think it can be seen in some of the MAME cabinet building pics on my web page,also there is a MUCH better pic of the wall unit on my web page also. Check it out,just click WWW over there <-------

[MoonDog]

I actually do have the exact table saw Norm has

[JustMichael]

MoonDog,  why no pegs to make absolutely sure those cross pieces can't back out?  Can you still disassemble the table anytime you want?  The table looks incredible...

[F1r3f1ght3r]

just click WWW over there <-------
[/quote

forget the tools.... can I have your rescue 911?

[MoonDog]

MoonDog,  why no pegs to make absolutely sure those cross pieces can't back out?  Can you still disassemble the table anytime you want?  The table looks incredible...

thanks.  unfortunately it's all glued up so it (hopefully) will never be apart again.  the pictures are the only proof that the through tenons are real and not just cosmetic.  i hadn't really thought about pegging the short stretchers.  to do that though they would have had to stick out farther and would be at more risk to be broken off.  i wanted it to be glued up so it would be extra solid. coffee tables are heavily used and abused.

[old school gamer]

just click WWW over there <-------
[/quote

forget the tools.... can I have your rescue 911?

Hey F1r3fight3r, Sorry you cant have the Rescue 911 machine,it goes with my collection of Firefighter stuff. By the way, I guess the cats out of the bag now........ My proffesion is a Firefighter. Whats everybody else do to make a living? Actually that might be a good  thread to post. Just so we know who were dealing with. OSG

[paigeoliver]

I shudder at the thought of buying a piece of furniture.  If you want anything that will last more than a year you have to pay through the nose.  Unfortunately with all the other projects I have going it takes me forever to finish anything.

Actually, to get the stuff that lasts a long time WITHOUT paying a lot of money, just go to the thrift store. I have never had a piece of thrift store furniture break on me.

[old school gamer]

I shudder at the thought of buying a piece of furniture.  If you want anything that will last more than a year you have to pay through the nose.  Unfortunately with all the other projects I have going it takes me forever to finish anything.

Actually, to get the stuff that lasts a long time WITHOUT paying a lot of money, just go to the thrift store. I have never had a piece of thrift store furniture break on me.

That may be true. I f you buy stuff at a thrift store,chances are it is from the "old" days. They used better materials than they use today,ie..partical board. I hate particle board,and I am on a mission to remove ANYTHING that contains particle board in my house!

[Lilwolf]

Also, spending a few bucks at a thrift store is AMAZING.

Take your wall there... Buy one new (1/3 the size and crap) and it will be about 500-1000 depending on the amount of partical board.

Now...

go into a thrift store willing to spend 200 bucks...  And you will get solid oak without any work needed.

go in with 100 and you can get solid and refinish it yourself.

go in with 40 bucks... And you will have to strip it... then refinish it.

But the 200 bucks can be the key.  Its an AMAZING AMOUNT at a thrift store.  Like preemo super stuff.  Where it wouldn't give you wallmart furnature anywhere else.

[Floyd10]

Also, spending a few bucks at a thrift store is AMAZING.

Take your wall there... Buy one new (1/3 the size and crap) and it will be about 500-1000 depending on the amount of partical board.

Now...

go into a thrift store willing to spend 200 bucks...  And you will get solid oak without any work needed.

go in with 100 and you can get solid and refinish it yourself.

go in with 40 bucks... And you will have to strip it... then refinish it.

But the 200 bucks can be the key.  Its an AMAZING AMOUNT at a thrift store.  Like preemo super stuff.  Where it wouldn't give you wallmart furnature anywhere else.

Im a huge thrift store advocate. Nice suggestion

[danny_galaga]

i don't get it. where's the control panel?