To whoever has built a cocktail cab, looking for price guesstimates

[DrewKaree]

Before leaving for the auction yesterday, both my buddy's and my wife said the following interesting thing:  "Just don't bring anything home that has to come inside the house, unless it's one of those "coffee table" kind of games"

Both of them.  We think they're colluding to get us to build cabs for them. 

Neither of us care if they are.  We both would like one.

There wasn't a SINGLE cocktail that sold for under $200 IIRC.  A Ms Pac with speedup that was in REALLY shabby shape (to me anyway) went for $525, an Atari Football that someone turned into a Golden Tee '98 (EXCELLENT conversion, btw....I may want to build something like THAT instead) went for $425, a nice-looking something-or-other went for $450, and a Trivial Pursuit in semi-decent shape went for $200.  These are common price ranges for cocktails at SuperAuctions in WI, and anything under $200 is WAY shabby and not worth it IMO.  What I'm saying here is that any cocktail I buy will be dedicated, so I NEED to build a cocktail to hopefully keep it inexpensive, price-wise.

Things to consider:

• Tools will not have to be purchased - I already own what I need to build one or twelve.
• "miscellaneous" items are considered a given and not something I'd include in final costs.  These include screws/sandpaper/glue/stain/paint/etc.
• Monitor and PC are already in abundant supply, so I won't have to purchase those either
• I won't be putting a coin door on them
• These will run Vantage or some seriously older version of MAME (.55 or .36 are decent for older systems, IIRC)

When the time comes to build, we discussed creating a template first for all the parts, and then zipping out both of them at the same time with a router and pattern bit.  The template will be made in order to be able to quickly whip up another cab if someone sees ours and wants us to build one for them for cheap and easy money.  We also considered making 'em to sell at auction, but the prices they're selling for seem to point to this being a VERY bad money-making idea.

SO......what I'm looking for is quick-n-dirty guesstimates as to how much you HAVE BUILT your cocktail for (taking into account the points listed above), and how much you THINK YOU CAN BUILD another one for, knowing what you now know after building one.  Is it possible to build a 2-player cocktail for under $150-200?

For the top, we decided to laminating (glue up) 2 pieces of half-inch MDF.  We can easily buy 4x4 sheets or 2x4 sheets of it here for cheap.

[Jabba]

Do you have any arcade parts or do you need to buy these? What type of games will you be playing? I assume you won't be needing a spinner or trackball on it. Leaf or Microswitch buttons/joysticks?

[Jess--]

This was built for a touch over the cost you mentioned, including buying the computer
doing this assumes that you havea router and bit large enough to make the side panels, fits in well as bit of furniture though. (the bit I used was around 5")




should say that this was built to use while my main cabinet was out of action with a dead monitor, once that was running again this sold for

[DrewKaree]

Do you have any arcade parts or do you need to buy these? What type of games will you be playing? I assume you won't be needing a spinner or trackball on it. Leaf or Microswitch buttons/joysticks?  Are you looking to put any artwork on it? Do you have an encoder (i-pac, keywhiz, etc?).

Assume that no arcade parts are lying around, and need to be purchased. 

Games to be played:  Essentially, I'm looking for as few controls as necessary to play the largest number of older games that vantage/.55/.36 handles, so eliminating games isn't a problem for me.  The gals don't care about much more than Ms Pac, Frogger, and perhaps one or two other older games.  AT MOST, I'd be looking to only use 2 joys MAX (if 2 are even needed...if I could get away with an 8-way to handle the largest number of games, fine, but a switchable 4/8 way might be a better solution), and a minimum of buttons...4, or 3 if possible.  2 would be even better, but again, whatever is minimalistic and still allows a large selection of games.  What I have envisioned is a single 8-way and 2 or 3 buttons per player, and 2 buttons for selecting # of players.  NO admin buttons, so I want to be able to plug in a keyboard if needed.

DEFINITELY NOT a spinner or trackball.  If those are found to be wanted later, I'll build a NastySpinner, but it's not something I'm letting on that is available.

Artwork would be Kinko's inkjet if it was wanted, and they charge $10/sq ft.

I'm still contemplating buying an encoder vs. a keyboard hack.  I found a source for $1 keyboards, so depending on what's suggested, mebbe a keyboard hack might be the cheapest way to go.  Considering that I don't want many controls at all, mebbe Randy's encoder might be the perfect fit. 

[DrewKaree]

Templates would be good, then you could share them with me 

If a select few here wanted a template, I'm willing to whip them up once they're completed for the cost of MDF and shipping.  If you believe yourself to be one of the "select few", think about whether or not you might consider selling the templates to others or in some way trying to profit off of my time/effort/work.  If you would (or you believe I THINK you would), you're not one of those "select few"   Mission, you're "select" enough.  Stingray isn't motivated enough to profit from them, so he falls in the "select" category.  MrC is "select" enough.    shmokes and fredster have to promise to build one together, otherwise they're not "select"   Jakobud's and Mahuti's efforts being sold on e-bay have demonstrated the need for discernment in doing something like this.

Once created, I'd ultimately be the judge as to whether you're "select" or not, and obviously, anyone pestering me for "their" templates would immediately put you in the "not so much" category

[DrewKaree]

This was built for a touch over the cost you mentioned, including buying the computer
doing this assumes that you havea router and bit large enough to make the side panels, fits in well as bit of furniture though. (the bit I used was around 5")

It looks like a raised-panel bit was used.  Is that right?  Routers aren't a problem, and handling that large a bit isn't either.  Is that 2x4 construction?

[DrewKaree]

What type of games will you be playing?

I have dozens of PC's in the 266-366 range, so whatever version of MAME will run the mostest or whatever Vantage can run.

[Jess--]

the bit was a raised panel bit
the framework was built from 1x4
the legs were 3x3
the panels were 2 bits of 1x4 joined including the control panel
the top panel was made out of 1x4 strips joined with small gaps (to give the appearance of cracking) this was the routed on the top to accept the glass and routed underneath to fit around the monitor casing (and lock the monitor in position)

the only bit that was not solid wood was the frame that the monitor sits in, that was made from ply. I have pics of it during construction if you want them

[missioncontrol]

I got my wood from a plant I used to work at and plus I make it a rule not to keep track of my spendings so I'm of no help to you. I'm sure you've run accross this before but I'll post in anyway just to show that everyonce in a while I put out an effort to make a helpful post

[DrewKaree]

I have pics of it during construction if you want them

Yeah, that'd be nice....I'm pretty sure I can suss out what's what with pics.

Throw 'em at my screen name here AT GMAIL DOT COM

[Zakk]

I'm actually about to make an exact duplicate of my "cottage mame" cocktail, so I was looking up the prices.  That thing cost me $1200CAN from scratch, however the computer would be cheaper now, and there was a trackball and spinner in that, plus a 20" monitor.  I can break it down further if you wish Drew old chap.

[DrewKaree]

I'm actually about to make an exact duplicate of my "cottage mame" cocktail, so I was looking up the prices.  That thing cost me $1200CAN from scratch, however the computer would be cheaper now, and there was a trackball and spinner in that, plus a 20" monitor.  I can break it down further if you wish Drew old chap.

EEEEEXCELLENT!


Actually, that CP seems to be fairly populated, but it'd allow me to stuff it against a wall.  If you've actually listed it out, that'd be great, cuz seeing it after you told me $1200 CAN I realized I didn't read closely enough to see that included the PC and monitor as well, which I bet added greatly to the cost.

So what you're telling me is that after the conversion rate, I can build one for $6? 

[Zakk]

Actually, that CP seems to be fairly populated, but it'd allow me to stuff it against a wall.

[Jabba]

Assume that no arcade parts are lying around, and need to be purchased.

[DrewKaree]

Breakdown is as follows, (fairly close anyway)

cabinet materials    -$40
mini-pac      -$80
controller parts   -$278
Artwork      -$80
Computer      -$650
Monitor      -$150
 

Looking at your prices, all I'd need is cabinet materials, encoder, controller parts, and artwork for a "total" package.  From what I'm thinking re: controls, I'm thinking I can get that amount down to ~$40. 

Question re: artwork.  IIRC, that cocktail had CP art (yeah, I'm not particularly motivated to check just yet...things to do right now ) and artwork for the top.  Where'd you get the artwork printed up, and was it inkjet or something mo betta?

If it were mine, and I am contemplating on building a cocktail next, I would take my T-Stick pluses off my existing control panel and use those on the cocktail. Throw in three buttons per player, P1 Start, P2 Start and two Admin buttons and I think that would do it. Not too many games I like anyways that require more than three buttons, where the majority require only 2.

EXCELLENT!  That's JUST the kinda info that helps a TON!  My buddy doesn't know the difference, so I may end up with two separate joys rather than the switchable, but the top-switching thing being a choice you'd make helps tons.

You'll need a good front end then so that everything is controlled from the joystick. My current UpRight uses a Trackball to navigate using Mame32. Think I'll play around with Mamewah to see how easy it is to navigate without the Trackball.

Yeah, not sure on that, but I figured I'd suss that out later.  Natch, it'll come back to bite me in the ass

The smaller encoders DO seem to fit the bill, I just figured.....I'm an excellent solderer.....Dad lets me solder in the driveway.....yeah.....def....definitely in the driiiveway.

[Zakk]

A Republican....cheaping out....?? ??  What is the worl coming to? 

Get the mini-pac.  It's a great little encoder and won't screw up.  I'd recommend getting the version with the opti-pac built in "just in case".  Jabba is right, it will be a pain to work a frontend (unless it is DOS based), unless you have a trackball.  Ultimarc has that "cheap" one. 

That said, I just ordered my parts from ultimarc to reproduce that cab, and it was $252 USD.  I got lazy and ordered the trackball mounting plate this time instead of making one, and ordered a coin door because I didn't have one kicking around which added a bit to the $$$. 

What has always been said on these forums is that you should never underestimate the cost you will put into a machine, since once you've invested time and effort, you will be les likely to cut corners.  Especially since you want to enjoy it and not get frustrated.

The artwork was from kinkos, oversized color laminated prints.  Just keeps the beer and sweat from making the colors run.

Now move this damn thread into the projects forum where it belongs. 

[DrewKaree]

SHEESH!  Don't you know Pixelhugger created the ever-so-successful "leaking information in drips and drabs" technique that I'm emulating?

Nah, this ain't a project yet AT ALL!  I still gotta finish my OTHER project that's in there! 

My buddy and I were gonna e-bay a few bartops, but that plan fell through since we had some legal issues to work through and the associated scum-sucking sharks lawyer's fees.  (anyone who's a lawyer.....I'm sure you're a decent upstanding member of society.  You just don't happen to live in my area )  He brought up the idea of building a cocktail cab and throwing in a Jakk's, a TV, and "REAL" controls.  I am not interested in building something that large for playing 5 games or however many that thing plays

I've got PC's and monitors lying around, and it'd please the wife mightily to free some of them from the pack they are traveling around the house in so I figured I'd make a low-end MAME cocktail

[Jabba]

I'm actually about to make an exact duplicate of my "cottage mame" cocktail, so I was looking up the prices.

[Zakk]

One link...coming up:

http://www.mameworld.net/massive/Cabinet/Cabin/Cabin.html

[Jabba]

One link...coming up:

http://www.mameworld.net/massive/Cabinet/Cabin/Cabin.html

WOW! That's just an awesome piece of work! You've taken cocktails to a whole new level I never knew existed! Nice work.

[Zakk]

Why thank you 

[DrewKaree]

Ya der, youse Canucks gotta stick togedder, eh! 























Here's dem pics I shamelessly stoleded from Zakk's site

[DrewKaree]

Okay.  DEFINITELY can live with a Midway cocktail, which is what my buddy wants, and I've got Kyle's plans I'm gonna take a look at shortly and see if there's anything that's unnecessary wood-wise, otherwise, he's got a fairly detailed materials list.  I looked at Markrvp's cost breakdown, but that seems to be for an intricate repro, so it's a bit more than I need.  Still, with Zakk's cost details and Mark's, this seems super do-able. 

Depending on when I go dormant work-wise for the winter, I may see if I can talk my buddy into buying ALL the materials and I'll do the assembly!  w00t!  I think I'll hit him up with the "mebbe a nice Christmas present?" angle.....now where'd I put that evil genius smiley?

[USSEnterprise]

Don't use that word! For some reason, it annoys the hell out of me

[DrewKaree]

You would prefer "estiguess"? 

I think it prolly bugs you because an estimate already IS a guess, so melding it with guess is a waste of an additional letter.

But that's just a guesstimate, I kould be rong