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Decisions decisions -- An Introduction
Stingray:
If you don't already have the tools and are pretty sure you'll never use them again, forget building. Paige is spot-on, you can find a very cheap or free cab if you keep looking. Once you find it, rent a u-haul to get it home.
I know you're thinking that there just aren't any cabs in your area. I thought the same thing when I first got into this hobby. I've made a lot of arcade connections since then. There are cabs everywhere. Once you meet a couple local guys who are into it, you'll be amazed at how frequently they come up.
And for the record, I think Camaros with t-tops are cool. 8)
-S
Tiger-Heli:
You kind of have to weigh out your options and find the middle ground that works for you -
SlickStik - Nicely made kit shipped to your door for $1600.00 - High cost, high convenience.
Build your own cabinet - maybe $100.00 in wood, if that - low cost, high inconvenience if you are inexperienced with tools and have to buy them for the project.
Gutted cabinet - $75 to $500 depending on condition.
This third option is where you will want to be, but you have a range along the spectrum.
A gutted cab will some water damage and peeling paint will go for around $50, but you need to get a monitor, a computer, maybe a marquee, do some fab work on the CP and some repair work on the panels, which may or may not be within your capabilities.
A pristine cab with nice side art and a monitor and working gameboard could be easily connected to a computer with a J-PAC and Arcade VGA, but you will probably pay about $500 for the cabinet, and they will be harder to find.
So you look at your skills, your tools, your budget, and how particular you are about the looks of the cabinet, and you make your decisions.
Welcome to the hobby, BTW.
armax:
--- Quote from: arcadegamenut on June 07, 2005, 09:04:38 am ---Ok. We've established a few things here. Now someone mentioned Home Depot rents trucks for $19 for 75 minutes. Is there mileage involved as well or just the straight fee?
U-Haul also offers pick-ups for ~$19, but charges .59 a mile.
Assuming just a straight fee, and rounding, we'd have spent $20 additional from our budget. Counting the book which was about $30, we now have spent $50.
Now, the biggest concern I'd have is still the fact that I don't own many of the saws, routers and such and I really don't know much about them. I do have plenty of screwdrivers, torque wrenches, a soldering iron and desoldering iron, a small (probably 1 ft) level, a tape measure and somewhere out in the garage, I believe I have a sanding block that I bought many years ago.
Still, how much am I going to have to set back to buy the tools needed? Of course there is the issue too, that this would more-then-likely be the ONLY time that I'd ever use these things. Now, renting is a possibility I suppose, but how expensive can that get? I've read many examples where it takes guys 3 - 4 hours or possibly even days to get all of their cuts finished and set up just right. If Christmas presents are any indication, I cannot cut a straight line!
--- End quote ---
pointdablame:
I'll offer a few bits of advice here.
1) If you are counting a $20 fee, and the cost of the book, and etc... get out of this hobby now. I don't mean that meanly... but especailly since this is your first cab... you'll probably go over budget. We have a way of DESTROYING budgets around here.
2) Don't build. You don't have the vehicle, the tools, or the know how. Again, not being mean, but it doesn't make sense in your case. Say you get the wood after renting a truck.. then screw up a cut cuz you don't have the woodworking skills.... now you have to rent a truck AGAIN to get wood AGAIN.\
3) Open up your yellow pages and start calling. Post where you are from here and on RGVAC.. you will find a cab. Also if you start calling ops and vending guys, etc... talk to us here first. OPS think every game is worth $1k, and even a "good deal" in your mind may be a rip off. Check with us first :) Check ebay too and search by distance from you. There are a lot of empty cabs on there.
4) Do just like someone mentioned. Rent a truck for the day you need to pick one up and you'll be done. You could even have it delivered depedning on location.
Also just a note, prices on cabs really do vary. While a lot of people might pay $500 for a fully working cab, you can get them much cheaper if you just look around and be patient. I got a Mortal Kombat cab with a Tekken 3 board fully working for $100. Try calling vending companies ro the like that might have games, but don't really "work" in games... they are usually a bit more likely to give you a deal.
Good luck.
Chris:
Are there any arcade games in your town, especially in places like bars or restaurants?
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