So I built a sawboard - now this Party Box? Americade? Bubble-something?

[DrewKaree]

I dunno how long this is gonna take me to complete, but I've been done with this step for a while now. Starting with what I started with (the artwork), this'll lead up to a finished project, or at least a finished CP.

Started with trying to figure out what "type" of cab to build, and really dig the showcase cabs.  One of the reasons I'm gonna go this route is because I can see just building a CP and stand and making this a somewhat portable "cabinet".  I'm going to be housing the PC inside the CP, so all I'll need is an S-video cable to be able to use it at all the places I envision taking it to.  I'm uncertain just yet whether I'm gonna build legs into the CP or build a base, although at this stage, I'm leaning towards building legs into the CP, ala a banquet table or something similar, as I've got a sacrificial table lying around (one of those plastic jobbies that the screws have long since been stripped out of due to someone treating the table so poorly) so that I get there, unfold the legs, plug in the cables, and BLAMMO!  Gaming goodness!

I'm at the CP artwork stage, and yesterday cut a CP out, and realized it's gonna be futile to try that (you'll see why in a few posts) and get everything to match up even CLOSE that way, so in a little bit, I'm heading over to Kinko's to have them print up my CP.  More to follow.

[DrewKaree]

I saw a picture a while back that I liked, but couldn't get it to scale up AND look good at the size I would need it.  Closest I could get was twice as big as the original image.  Beyond that, it looked like crap.  The person who created it titled the image "Bubbling with pride".  I may stick with that, although this is just SCREAMING to be named "Americade".  Maybe I should post a new thread with a poll or requests for you guys to help me think of a name or something else I may never ever consider and may leave me thinking less of you in the long run

 Here's the image that was my original inspiration (view in another window or DL it for best resolution):

[DrewKaree]

I worked on enlarging this thing six ways to Sunday, but I could never get the size I needed unless I cut/pasted numerous copies of the image to a new image of the size I needed in Photoshop.  I eventually gave up on enlarging the thing because I also found that the larger I made it, the "darker" it became, and I just wasn't happy with it.

I decided to look for an image of a flag and vectorize it so I could do what I wanted with it.  I wasn't certain how the person created the bubbles in the original, but I figured "it was done once.  It's GOT to be repeatable".

Talk about having a multitude of crap to pick from!  Everyone and their mom seems to have a picture of a flag, but nothing jumped out at me as "the one".  I tried creating one in Photoshop from scratch, but it always looked plastic and as fake as could be, not to mention that in order to create one the size I needed, I needed to buy a new computer to be able to handle the file size.  And YES, I added more memory.  I added the max my PC could use, and it still just thrashed and thrashed at the image, routinely taking 5-10 minutes any time I wanted to do ANYTHING to it other than add a detail.

I eventually found something I liked, something that I felt I could work with.  All you graphics-minded folks out there, I applaud you.  I'd bet knowing what I was doing could have saved me the (brace yourselves...the laughter might kill you) MONTH I spent working on this trying to tweak it to get it right.  This'll prolly end up looking like an hour's worth of work for you

This is what I used to start my image out with:

[DrewKaree]

I first vectorized the flag in Illustrator.  Not the hardest image to vectorize, but at smaller resolutions, it really seemed limp and lackluster.  After printing it out at size, I realized it would look WAAAAAAAY better and be perfect for my needs.  Check out Frosty's tutorial for vectorizing somewhere around here (hint: advanced search "any date" for "vector" by "Frosty" or very similar words to "vector").

After getting everything vectorized, I had to figure out how to add the bubbles.  I found MANY Photoshop filters that cost a princely sum that said they could do what I wanted, but I wasn't looking to spend money to possibly create artwork that I would end up hating, so I ended up wasting boatloads of time looking for something free.  A buddy on another forum who works for some graphics place "borrowed" me several filters to try (and I can't thank him enough - I'd have wasted money on filters that would have made bubbles, but not the effect I was looking for) and I eventually found one.  If you for some odd reason need a bubble filter, PM me and I'll tell you what I ended up using.  You graphics pros already can prolly figure out what I used.

I ended up realizing I didn't like scads of bubbles and dug the "less is more" approach to adding 'em.  Adding light, reflection, blah blah blah finally got me to the picture I ended up with below.  The application of the bubble filter was a numerous-step process that took on average 10 or more minutes to appy each time.  I hated this step with an all consuming rage.

Here's what I ended up with....the image above, all vectorized and bubble-ized:

*edit*
looking at it right now, I realize this may not be the ultimate-final version I ended up using, but it's the only one I have left that's saved, and it's close enough to what I ended up with for you to see

[DrewKaree]

For the life of me, I can't remember how I "cut out" the final shape of the CP from that image.  If any graphics pros can add or describe how to do this for everyone, PLEASE be so kind as to post how I ended up doing this!  The final pic of the artwork you're going to see was done simply by using the line tool in Photoshop and cutting away all the rest of the crap, but I promise I used a custom shape to "stamp" out my CP from that image.

In any event, I've gotta skip ahead a step to show you the shape before I show you the finalized image.  This isn't the final shape, but it's the only shape I took a picture of that I'm able to show you.  I've been TERRIBLE at taking pics of my progress until now, because the finished steps are few and far between.  I've earned my apathy degree from Stingray's School of Slack, and I've been putting it to good use

I started with this image, but after cutting out the shape I'm about to show you, I realized it was way too deep and I just wasn't satisfied with it.  I had the "OMG this thing is gonna be huge.  I SIMPLY CAN'T MAKE IT THAT HUGE!"  fear.  After seeing Bones' CP-in-a-casket^TM I stopped worrying.  Long before he created his monstrosity, I had decided to go big, because I was already home.  Don't ask just yet how big this is.  The CP artwork has it labeled for you.  You may gasp and point when you read it with your own eyes.

What shape I started with:

[DrewKaree]

After I wasted that piece of MDF, something hit me like a ton of bricks.  Pegboard.

Pegboard is SUPER cheap for a 4x8 sheet (about $5 here at the time), and it creates a grid of 1" squares!  No more measuring 1" squares!  Sure, cutting them will leave some open holes here and there, but for initial design, it's the perfect material for this task!

I fiddled around with 2 other prototype shapes, and ended up with one I really liked.  It ended up being SUPER wide, but I didn't much care, as it's fairly shallow after it's been cut out, and gives everyone enough room that I don't much care if you tell me it's a beast   It's gonna be used at parties and by my kids and their friends at our house, so the room this thing takes up won't be an issue.  When it's being played, it'll deserve the room.  When it's not being played (and this is why I'm leaning towards banquet table legs) I can stand it up in the corner behind my Time Pilot. 

I don't have a pic of the complete pegboard I ended up with, just the half I ended up using.  I used each side of the CP for a different shape, cut 'em out, and cut 'em in half to see how I liked it.  The angle cut into this was done after cutting in half for some other reason.  Pay no attention to the angle cut.  Nothing to see here

It's angled pretty much the way it'll be when done.  And this probably better illustrates why a sawboard is almost a necessity for me.

[DrewKaree]

Now that you've seen the "what's this gonna be shaped like" pics, someone please fill in the giant blank that is missing as to how to "stamp out" that shape in photoshop from the image. 

I added some text to it as well, but you'll see that in this pic.  That's the beautiful thing about it.....if MrC ever comes over, I'm guaranteed to win any game we play, because this jingoistic contraption is sure to turn his stomach and cause him all kinds of calamity during game play   I thought the text was also kind of a guy reference to how we all envision ourselves while playing. 

When I had the shape set up in Photoshop, I moved it every which way trying to decide what I liked best.  I ended up pretty happy with the results.  In setting this up for Kinko's, I've got the layered image I'm keeping at home, and I merged all the layers, leaving only the image to be printed.  Mebbe they tinker with some of the levels and such, but I also tried to "idiot-proof" it by using the corner registration marks and making the instructions as to final dimensions a part of the final image they have to print.  It also helps me when I walk in there with a tape measure and measure it out, in case the local counter guy tries to tell me "we don't have any instructions that say it's gotta be such and such big".  Only the quality of the final print should be in doubt

The finalized shape, image, and prep for printing:

[DrewKaree]

I realize it may look even darker than the orignal image I wanted to use, but when enlarged, this is lots brighter than the orignal image, and I like the setup.

I decided to print out the image to see what it'd look like, and I was gonna be cutting out the CP yesterday (big mistake there, I'd later realize).  I copied/pasted/printed/taped up a test print.  It's in B&W because I was using a laser printer.  I'll let Kinko's do the color version.  You should be able to see what I was talking about when I said it looks way more realistic and not so CG-generated/plastick-y. 

[DrewKaree]

That image was printed up prior to me adding the image size and registration marks to it.  I learned yesterday why it sucked to cut my CP before I had the artwork done and in hand.  This more than likely won't be the case for YOU unless you have the plethora of angles I've decided to work with

After cutting my CP and laying the test print out on top of it, I realized that even though it's a test print, enough of the angles didn't match up that I am fearful of building my CP while waiting for the artwork to be printed.  I'm going to be having the artwork printed first, and I'll be pinning it to the MDF when I get it back.  After doing that, I'll remove, one by one, the pins and "connecting the dots" to lay out my CP shape, after which I'll cut it.  Doing this will ensure that I've got the right shape and size for my CP, and the artwork will be easier to line up and trim.

I've got the CP I cut out, but it's a frivolous picture to post, since it sits exactly under the image posted above.  It also ended up being off about half an inch on the two longest sides, and no amount of playing with it would get it closer, plus it didn't fall on the same point on the angles on the outer point of those long sides.

I know, I know, it's just a test print.  It'll prolly end up fine, but I'm good with wasting a sheet of MDF to make sure I get it right.  On the plus side, I'm using the excess material left over to build an 8' sawboard, so it's not all going to waste, plus I'll be using everything else to test out the miter angles I'm obviously going to have.  I've not decided if I'm going to be glueing/biscuiting the angles (my first instinct) or going an alternate route yet, and testing it out will let me know how well biscuits are going to work, if at all.

*edit*
Alright, here.  A marquee I whipped up long ago.  I think I'm out of the "-cade" phase and am going with something else (mebbe even the "Bubbling With Pride" thing), and I didn't lay out the black outline on the letters or add any glow/shadow/highlights to it like the CP image, but here's a gratuitous pic for you guys.  I know I like looking at a lot of the pretty pics here too

[DrewKaree]

That's all for now.  After Kinko's is done, I'll post a pic of the job they do and what they suggested.  This is NOT going on vinyl, because I'll be throwing plexi over it.  Oh yeah, this will have 4 joys and an as-yet-unspecified number of buttons per player.  I'm considering adding a trackball, but thus far, it's just the joys and buttons.  Other things that will be done for you to look forward to:

• Cupholders will be inset directly into the CP (fear not, there's a plan
• The sides will be mahogany.  Can't describe the stain you'll have to wait for pics (imagine a Republican "scheming room".  Dark wood and whatnot
• Hinging the CP on the bottom (remember, folding table legs need a solid attachment point, so the CP and sides will hinge backwards from the bottom
• attaching the folding table legs, or another idea for a CP base
• I/O plate on the backside or drill openings instead? 
  SUGGESTIONS WANTED FOR THIS PART PLEASE!
• POTENTIALLY a cold cathode or 3 coming into play...not quite sure yet
• super-top-secret-extra-special-might-never-have-been-done-before if-I-told-you-I'd-have-to-kill-you method for being able to SEE the light emitted by the cold cathodes.
• $175 wasted to get an 8 ball that looks like a moon rock to use as a trackball

Yeah, I bet I got you with that last item   I thought these were kinda cool though.  They're called "Lunar Rocks" and were used in Pluto Nash.  And I'm NOT buying 'em until I have a pool table.  And maybe not even then.

[Bones]

62 friggen inches!

That's not a CP that's a space station. You could hang ten on that in Hawaii. Where exactly does one go to buy an abandoned aircraft carrier runway anyway? You say you are gunna store it behind your Time Pilot, here's and idea, put your Time Pilot cab inside your CP. Hey NASA called, they have measured a gravitational disturbance over your house which affecting satellites in orbit.     

Looking good mate, the shape is very original.

I got two CP printouts done, one of which was used as a sacrificial lamb and became a template during CP construction. Don't know what you are paying for your printing or if this idea is viable for you, but it really took a lot of the guess work out of my CP project.

Keep the updates coming although I do confess to a little CP size envy.

[DrewKaree]

62 friggen inches!

That's not a CP that's a space station. You could hang ten on that in Hawaii. Where exactly does one go to buy an abandoned aircraft carrier runway anyway? You say you are gunna store it behind your Time Pilot, here's and idea, put your Time Pilot cab inside your CP. Hey NASA called, they have measured a gravitational disturbance over your house which affecting satellites in orbit.     

Of all the people here, I KNEW I could count on you for that

I got two CP printouts done, one of which was used as a sacrificial lamb and became a template during CP construction. Don't know what you are paying for your printing or if this idea is viable for you, but it really took a lot of the guess work out of my CP project.

Keep the updates coming although I do confess to a little CP size envy.

I was gonna go tonight, but I found a baseball game on TV that simply sucked any initiative right out of my body to do anything but have a beer or 3 and forget the world exists for 9 innings.

Depends on the price, although I'm REALLY confident that one print will suffice once I've got the shape laid out.  The black outline around it was supposed to be to give me some room for error, but now that'll serve as sacrificial scrap to stick the pins in to mark out the shape.  I'm just gonna lay out the button/joy placement right on the CP, since the artwork will cover it.  I'll drill it out and use an xacto to trim the artwork from the holes.  If I need a second print, I'll be adding some stuff to it concerning player start buttons and whatnot.

Oh, and I've got red joys/buttons, blue joys/buttons, yellow joys/buttons, a black joy, and white buttons.  Contemplating getting a stainless joy for player 1.  I haven't found a white joy that either matches or I'm happy with, so feel free to give your opinion on using a stainless joy.  In the meantime, I'll be using the black joy until I decide what to do about that.  Thus far, plasti-dip has been the only solution I've come up with thus far, and it just feels "icky".  I've already tested paint, and it's NOT an option, even using Plasti-Kote or Krylon Fusion.  It can and will come off.  Further suggestions for a white Happ Comp to match are welcome.

*edit*
After much looking around, I'm leaning towards getting the stainless joy, and also picking up matching red, blue, and black.  Is SlikStik the ONLY one who carries all of 'em?  All I was able to find on Randy's site were balltops (which aren't the most friendly items to figure out which ones you want to order ) which I might not mind, actually, but for some godforsaken reason, anyone selling parts seems to have a webstore design from hell or it's almost invisible by being hidden so well (must be to keep stuff in stock )

[DrewKaree]

Went to Kinko's today to drop off my disc for printing.  Enjoyable dude to speak with.  The slipcase I threw the CD in had a lineup for fantasy football I had to take down and enter for one of the teams in a league I run, and we had a nice little chat about fantasy football.  I think it helped me get some good service, although the price I was quoted for my marquee bordered on obscene.

It's gonna be run through their inkjet plotter, which runs ~$10/sq. ft.  I gave this a shot because the price would be astronomical for anyplace that would do one of those "OMG IT'S DA BOMB!" jobs on my CP image.  Any doubts on this, figure out how much it cost you for your CP artwork.  Now double it.  That's about how much mine would cost.  Probably more, because for you to be close to half my price, you'd have to have a 31" CP, which seems highly unlikely as a common dimension.  It seems ~20-25" is more normal, which makes my CP 3x larger....so triple your price if you're around that. 

While I was there, it was suggested that something similar to overhead projector slide material (mylar or who knows what it is, someone here will correct me on it) would probably be best for something that would have a light behind it.  Remember the "obscene" amount I was quoted for my marquee?  I scrapped together an image, guessed that 27 x 6 would be about a decent size for a showcase cab marquee.

FIFTY EMMER EFFIN' DOLLARS! 

Uh....yeah.....um.....I'll be looking for something else to use for a marquee, 'mkay?

*edit*
Oh yeah, my CP image will come to ~$70.  Stop freaking.  Go back to the "it's x much bigger than your CP, so do the math" part.  That's the price you pay.  Go big or go home.....and I chose "big".  Who knows, mebbe it'll fit the CP I cut out and I'll save all that money on a new sheet of MDF.

*shruglet*

[DrewKaree]

After getting my print back from Kinko's, I found out something pretty nice. 

Call them to see what printer they use - Manufacturer, model #, anything you can.  Use that printer's color pallette so you'll get a little better idea of how your print will look when you get it back. 

The blue looked to be a little lighter than on my screen, but I actually liked it a bit better than what I was looking at.  I brought it up to the guy when I picked it up, and he said "most folks are using the pallette that comes with blah blah blah".  When I woke up and my eyes ceased their glazing over, I asked him if it were possible to find out or download the same pallette they use.  He told me that sometimes it IS possible, although not always, and he wasn't certain if EVERY Kinko's used the same printer or not, but thought I'd pass that along to ya.

Also, in case you couldn't read it in the earlier picture, here's a pic from my actual image I had them print, and naturally, it came out to the exact dimensions I requested.  The guy also had a comment about that as I unrolled the picture.  He started telling me "if you bring the image in, we size it up right when we store it into the computer and.....".  It was at that point that I stopped him and said "I know you may have never had a problem, but there's a forum I belong to where literally DOZENS of guys have had the exact problem we're talking about, and I once suggested that they put the dimensions on their picture.  It'd be a GUARANTEE that I'd get ragged for it if I had you guys print it and didn't do this, and it came out wrong"

He laughed.  Why wouldn't he?  It wouldn't have been his hard work he was screwing up, now would it?   In the future, not only will I recount this to people speaking of printing at Kinko's, but I'll never have Kinko's print something WITHOUT doing this, as it worked first time out of the gate.  The guy WAS smirking at me as I brought out my tape measure and double-checked it, but I'd have had smoke coming out of my ears and would definitely NOT have been smirking if he'd have effed it up!

Here's what I did, and in the larger pic, you'll be able to tell the blue "L" shaped I put in each corner for accuracy.....and DON'T forget to ALSO type in the words exactly as I have....change the dimensions, but DON'T change the wording.  You may feel it demeans them, I feel it gives them knowledge

[DrewKaree]

Figured I'd modify THIS post, since there's less blather in it than the rest, so even it out, right?  The CP, while wide, and seeming to be deep, isn't as deep as the image dimensions, which should be fairly obvious by the shape.  I just realized this while re-checking, and figured I'd give you dimensions of the widest point on the CP.  If you look carefully on the pic below this post (the pic with the arrows is what I'm talking about), The "inner" section from the middle out towards the ends is the widest point, and it measures 12" wide.  Smack dab in the middle of the ol' flyin' V it's 10".

I'm hoping it's wide enough to fit the mobo I've got.  Like a dunce, I completely forgot to take that into account.  What the heck, I can just cut the mobo in half and pick up a spool of wire and one of those Cold Ice solder pens, right?   If not, it's not a big deal.  I've got 2 really good used parts stores around me, and if I have to buy a newfangled board, I'll simply throw in a big enough HD to make this a jukebox as well.  Notice the addition of name ideas to the thread?  I was fooling around with "Party Box" but wasn't really diggin' it after a while, but.....  Oh, and if it's on banquet table legs, there's no marquee, so the hell with naming it.  It'll just be named for you guys to distinguish my crap festival.

Remember that big black and white BLAH! image I whipped up as a test?  Here she is all dolled up and purdy! 

[DrewKaree]

Now that I've got the image back, after laying it out for picture-time, I took the CP I cut out over the weekend and put it on top to see if it was a better fit than the test image.  Definitely seems like it, although there's still the same issues, demonstrated by the orange arrows.  If you look closely, you can see that there's some issue with EVERY angle, but those are the worst offenders.

I'll simply lay the pic out and pushpin it onto a new sheet and take the pins out one by one and lay out my CP again.  I'm contemplating having the bottom panel of the CP inside, rather than have the sides resting on the bottom, so I may end up using that piece as the bottom, but at the very least, that piece will go on top of the inside base of the CP with a ³/₄" offset from the CP sides itself.  It'll look like I made a rabbet all around the CP base for the top to flip down onto.  I'll need the added thickness if I go for the banquet table legs, and if not, it'll help block light seepage if I give my super-top-secret-extra-special-might-never-have-been-done-before if-I-told-you-I'd-have-to-kill-you cold cathode idea a whirl.

Anyhoo, here's the pic of me pointing out my mistakes so as to steal all your hatin' comments towards my ghetto-fabulous rig :

[Clonedsheep]

And I'm NOT buying 'em until I have a pool table.

[DrewKaree]

THAT TABLE IS SAAAAAWEEEEEEET! 

Who sells that table, or where'd you stumble across it?

I'm actually looking for something semi-opaque for the 8 ball.  Y'know, it's black, but if you hold it up to a light, you can see clear through it?  All the clear balls I've seen I can't get a good look at the 8 ball.  I realize I'd be buying the whole rack for one ball....then I start to wise up   I'd bet money though, that the manufacturer would sell replacement balls for the set....or at the very least, they'd have a "scratch-n-dent" set I could buy for cheaper.

I like all three of those sets, but the 1st and 3rd I like better. 

[Clonedsheep]

Saw the table on ebaums world a couple years ago but no info after that. I just saved the pic for the future.  As far as I know all poolball makers sell replacements. So you may get lucky. I do like the Idea of a Semi-opaque 8ball. That is truly a cool idea.

[DrewKaree]

Upon re-reading this, I figured I'd look at it myself. 

The blue looked to be a little lighter than on my screen, but I actually liked it a bit better than what I was looking at.  I brought it up to the guy when I picked it up, and he said "most folks are using the pallette that comes with blah blah blah".  When I woke up and my eyes ceased their glazing over, I asked him if it were possible to find out or download the same pallette they use.  He told me that sometimes it IS possible, although not always, and he wasn't certain if EVERY Kinko's used the same printer or not, but thought I'd pass that along to ya.

Here, so you can see the differences and how they can turn out and what the heck I'm talking about, see how it looks on your PC, and how it turned out.  Obviously it had to go through a few other color-changing items like my camera, the camera software, and re-run through Photoshop, but it's a pretty accurate representation of the differences that happened.  The focus on the camera isn't as nice as I'd like it to be, but after looking at the image again, it's definitely the focus that isn't as sharp as the printout actually is.

[Ldsfunaz]

I actually own the third set of balls, the personalized one's, and i don't think that is what you are looking for. They are tottally clear with what looks to be a foam or plastic insert inside of them.

[DrewKaree]

Nah weight won't make a difference, just as long as I can use it for a trackball.

Those glitter sets that are around seem like what I'm looking for, but I don't think I'm digging the glitter.  I'm making a trip to one of the local pool/dart supply stores around here tomorrow to see if they've got those, or something else I might like.

Aramith and Elephant seem to only deal with distributors, though.  Somehow I need to buy just an 8 ball instead of a whole set.  Mebbe they offer some sort of mail-in form for replacement balls I can get a photocopy of or something.

I dig the flag set you've got, but if they were ALL flag with just numbers, that'd be even better.  Thanks for the idea!

[dfmaverick]

Just a little digging on ebay.

Here's a pic of a clear set blown up a bit so you can see the 8-ball and also some set that is called opal which seems to me a bit opaque.

[dfmaverick]

Couple more if this is for your patriotic cab here.

Not exactly for the 8-ball on these, but the cue ball. One is the Patriots cue ball. Silver would go with the stainless joys. The other is from the Rocco clear set with a Made in USA cue ball. BOth were found on ebay again and the Patriots was able to be bought separtaely.

[DrewKaree]

Just a little digging on ebay.

Here's a pic of a clear set blown up a bit so you can see the 8-ball and also some set that is called opal which seems to me a bit opaque.

That opal set looks like it might fit the bill....gonna do a little research on 'em.

Thanks for the footwork!

The reason I'm looking for a semi-opaque one is if I do decide to go with the cold cathode (or mebbe even if not, mebbe an LED cannon) I'd want it to come through the ball, and for strictly personal choice, I like the thought of an 8 ball vs a standard opaque trackball or other replacement.  The first set is very similar to the one from Clonedsheep's link.  The black "blob" will block the light, but I think you're spot on about the opal set. 

And for me to put a Patriot's ball in there instead of a Packers ball, even though it wouldn't go with the overall theme.....in WI, that's just asking for comments I usually dole out to other poor saps

[Mark70]

THAT TABLE IS SAAAAAWEEEEEEET!

[DrewKaree]

Mebbe that was silk-screened on a piece of felt or something like that.  It certainly doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility.

[dfmaverick]

Mebbe that was silk-screened on a piece of felt or something like that.

[DrewKaree]

Mebbe that was silk-screened on a piece of felt or something like that.  It certainly doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility.

Look's like it's printed and here's a place that does it:

http://www.champbilliards.com/product_type_printed_cloth.asp

Go to their link to panoramic images and search for "43223". That will be a swimming pool image that one could use to get that effect.

You're like a search GENIUS or something!  How the heck did you EVER find that?  I started a writeup for a CP, and this is turning into "How do I build this CP before I blow all my money on a sweet pool table?"

[DrewKaree]

Think I found the set.  The Opal set appears to be a solid colored ball with an opal pattern applied to it.  While checking the manufacturer's site, I found these, and I'm writing 'em to see if those are see-through. 

More work to follow tomorrow

[dfmaverick]

You're like a search GENIUS or something!

[DrewKaree]

OK, the brakes on the truck need to be redone, so this is all I could pick up for now.  I've also been invited to play golf, and I've gotta go for reasons other than just having fun.  I picked up the wood for the sides, and after re-doing the CP top so my image fits better, I'll be cutting these up.  I only need 3 of these, the 4th piece is for stain testing and test miters for fitting.  I no longer have access to a planer, so hitting the lumberyard is out.  These ended up being more expensive by about a dollar a board than from the lumberyard, and I'm good with that. 

Also, here's my "helper" who just WOULDN'T leave me alone for some reason today.  I think he's a fan of the mahogany, or else he's just hungry   And Seph, if you're checkin' this out.... my cat could whup yer dog's @$$

Hopefully I'll be back later today with something less bland than this little update

*Edited to add some "Seph's dog punking"*

[mr.Curmudgeon]

Jingobox? Flag-Mo-Tron? Star-Spangled Mamer? Freedom-inator? G.A.P. Station (Grand Arcade Party)? Conserva-cab? Republicade?     


mrC

[DrewKaree]

Jingobox? Flag-Mo-Tron? Star-Spangled Mamer? Freedom-inator? G.A.P. Station (Grand Arcade Party)? Conserva-cab? Republicade?     


mrC

I've GOT IT!  Conservacade!  Conserva-cab just sounds like a PSA for saving old cabs, and there are a few Republicans who are simply RINO's and I detest them....a melding of the two and.....


Shortly, I'll be pinning the artwork to the new sheet and re-drawing the shape to be cut out if it ever stops raining and dries up today.  Natch, pics to follow

[mr.Curmudgeon]

I've GOT IT!  Conservacade!  Conserva-cab just sounds like a PSA for saving old cabs, and there are a few Republicans who are simply RINO's and I detest them....a melding of the two and.....

That's what I was thinking!

You need a picture of Bush on that CP...and an eagle....crying. 

mrC

[DrewKaree]

I've GOT IT!  Conservacade!  Conserva-cab just sounds like a PSA for saving old cabs, and there are a few Republicans who are simply RINO's and I detest them....a melding of the two and.....

That's what I was thinking!

You need a picture of Bush on that CP...and an eagle....crying. 

mrC

The eagle would just be over the top

[Bumblebounces]

Drew-

One thing that you may not have thought about with the "clear" balls is the "lens effect" they will have.  I apologize if anyone has brought this up already, I didn't really have time to read the whole thread and type this post (lunch is almost over ). 

Anyway, the track balls that glow are hollow and so the light gets diffused around the sphere when back lit.  These pool balls will be solid so the light will have a lens-like effect with the light going through the ball.  The ball will very likely NOT glow uniformly.  If that's what you're after in a clear ball, I doubt you'll get it. 

That's what I wanted when I got a translucent blue Logitech USB track ball and hacked it.  When I tested it, the blue ball looked good if your line of sight was directly in line with back lighting light source.  Anywhere else, you get a weird lens flare kinda effect going on.  Don't get me wrong, it looked kinda cool but it was not what I had in mind or expecting.  I never actually back lit my track ball but I still have plans to do so at some point.  Just a word of caution in case you're expecting a certain result.

Good luck and I love the patriotic design.  Keep up the good work.

Bumble

[TOK]

Bumblebounces, even the Happ translucent balls to this to some extent. When you look at them straight on, they're vibrant. When you look at them from an angle, they look bright at the top, darker closer to the panel.

It's not a bad thing, you just get the best effect when looking straight on at the ball.

[DrewKaree]

One thing that you may not have thought about with the "clear" balls is the "lens effect" they will have.  I apologize if anyone has brought this up already, I didn't really have time to read the whole thread and type this post (lunch is almost over ). 

Anyway, the track balls that glow are hollow and so the light gets diffused around the sphere when back lit.  These pool balls will be solid so the light will have a lens-like effect with the light going through the ball.  The ball will very likely NOT glow uniformly.  If that's what you're after in a clear ball, I doubt you'll get it. 

I hadn't heard/thought of that.  The ball I'm looking to find wouldn't be clear, but rather semi-opaque (I think I have that term right...dunno) so I'm not certain if it would have that same effect.  Right now, I'm not certain if I'm gonna go with a trackball on there, but there's DEFINITELY gonna be room for it smack dab in the middle there (although mounting depth might be an issue....I'll worry about that later)

What I have pictured is a "smoky" colored ball, black, but not "black, black" if that makes sense.  Kind of like a limo tinted window.  You can still see through it, but only if the light is right, and light from inside is visible.  I wish I could better describe what I'm looking for.  Darn words!

Good luck and I love the patriotic design.  Keep up the good work.

Go with jingoistic   It'll make MrC happy

Thanks

[DrewKaree]

Ok, so when last we left our inept builder, there were alignment issues with the actual printed image and the CP that was cut.  This is my re-doing the screw up, how, and what NOT to do

I figured I'd use the CP image I had so I wouldn't have any problems with sizing and whatnot.  I traipsed to the store and bought me some thumbtacks.  These were more than enough for the task at hand, plus they were BIG so my big oxy hands theoretically wouldn't have so many problems with 'em. 

I started pinning from one end, smoothing the CPO out as I worked my way around the border.  After all corners of the border were pinned at their intersecting points, I threw a few extra on there to keep stuff from rolling up or tearing a pin out. 

Here's the FASCINATING money shots from this endeavor   The yellow circles were added to make it easier for you to tell where I put the pins around the image.