MDF And Other Ponderings

[arcadegamenut]

Okay...I still haven't pulled the trigger yet...who knows if I ever will. Each time I get excited about the thing, I always think about the negatives that come along with it which usually is enough to deter me.

This time it is the dust from cutting MDF. My garage is not huge in any way (standard small two-car attached garage). My drive is also inclined so it would be impossible for me to set up sawhorses or anything there without it tipping.

This leads into the dust. I'm alergic to dust. No obviously with proper ventilation and by wearing safety materials, I'd be fine physically, but I don't really want that stuff all over my garage or somehow seep into the house!

My next thought would be to cut in out the yard a bit. If I had the cordless tools, that would probably be doable. I only wonder how far away from the house I would need to be (there's only a couple of feet on each side between my neighbors and I) to where things would remain clean and safe for everyone.

Of course, there is also still the inner fear of all the cutting, routing, etc anyway. I've never used a circular saw in my life. I did use a hand saw and table saw, but that was way back in industrial arts class during the 8th grade. That was for a VCR tape box and even it didn't turn out perfect (stain imperfections, a nail slightly poking up from the bottom, etc. That said I still have that box today. I don't think I ever used it to hold VCR tapes though. In the end, it became a nice little storage device for Atari 2600 carts.

I have hard enough time putting Sauder stuff together so I have a hard time imagining putting together a cabinet would be a simple task for me.

[shardian]

Alot of people use an old, gutted arcade cabinet for their mame machine. No building work necessary!! I have a Taito cabinet sitting in my garage patiently waiting on me to find some time to put a computer and monitor in it.
Another possibilty is to ask around your neighbors to see if any of them are woodworkers. Almost everyone has a woodworking neighbor.Usually, if you find a middle aged male with woodworking experience and tell him he can build an arcade machine, he'll get excited.
It also makes the work much more fun (and safe) if you have an interested friend to help out. (For some reason, my wife doesn't consider cutting up MDF fun...go figure)

If you do decide to build from scratch, remember these two things:
1. Those little paper masks from Wal-Mart are worthless when it comes to MDF. Get a real filtered mask if you are alergic.
2. MDF dust is heavy due to the glue. It will settle quickly, alowing for fairly easy cleanup with a shop-vac.

[DaveMMR]

I think I've made more mistakes with my cuts and MDF than anyone could count.  And after all that, there was dust everywhere.  But it's okay.  Minor mistakes can be fixed, MDF is cheap enough that you can always recut a big mistake, and the dust cleans up quite easily with a broom.  Yes, it is irritating to the nose and mouth, but dust masks help immensly (the paper one works fine for me). 

The only problem that being new at cutting will cause is that it'll take a bit longer than those who've done this before.  No matter, it's not a race.

Finally, see if you have a couple of friends who can help.  It makes mistakes happen fewer and farther between.

[shardian]

When routing, I tie a sweatshirt tight around my face like a robber. this works excellent for me. As to the paper masks, I have a big nose, and every time I use them for MDF/ drywall repairs dust sneaks in thru the cracks. Also, my safety glasses always fog up real bad with a paper mask. My main point is that he has alergies, and should use a professional grade filter mask. My dad has a very nice one that uses charcoal filters. They are on the pricey side though.

[Luckydevil]

MDF dust sucks and it goes EVERYWHERE.

If I were you I would make the necessary measurements and buy the wood. then go to a woodworking or cabinet shop and ask them to make the cuts for you. Shouldn't cost too much and you won't have to worry about any dust.

[Stingray]

I'll second the buy a dead cab & convert it option.

-S

[GoPodular.com]

Start by making just the control panel.  If you can park on the side of the road, just set up the saw horses there for cutting.  Grab a $5 extension cord and you're set.

[leapinlew]

I agree! If you can - cut outside. Wear a mask or something to adequately keep that MDF out of your lungs.

When I built my last project. I needed to route out the T-mold slot and I made sure it was the last thing I did. I tied an old shirt around my face to keep the MDF(a.k.a. MUCH DUSTY FOO! BA Barackus style.). I routed it in the middle of the yard and as soon as I finished, I walked upstairs and took a shower. Messy!

[PCtech]

Another option is to use Plywood instead of MDF.

Pros - Lighter, dust not as bad/toxic.

Cons - More expensive (About 3X as expensive I think), slightly harder to paint.

Also, I will third the idea of buying the dead/empty cab.  Usually you can find them for $100 or less (sometimes free)  It's what I did as a first cabinet, and makes things a lot easier.  You will probably learn enough from the 1st one, to be ready to build you own next time.

Good luck, start a project announcement so we can give you abuse advice...

[Gaston77]

although it nearly killed me, I would still say go for MDF. It looks slick when painted. Groovy....

[CheffoJeffo]

I would heartily recommend using an existing (non-classic!) cabinet for a base. They are relatively easy to find, easy to modify and typically well-built.

I also prefer plywood to MDF, although it is slightly more difficult to work with, requires more work to paint and is more expensive (although the cost differential often pales in comparison to the cost of controls and artwork). MDF is too bloody heavy and "dentable" for my liking ... and MDF dust makes a hell of a mess.

Cheers.

[arcadegamenut]

All sound advice.

I guess I'll continue to wait...and wait....and wait.....

The last time I was interested in this (last summer), I contacted a TNT Amusements here in Columbus. They took down what I was looking for, but I never heard from them again.

There is Dr Moonsparkle in Cleveland, but I never got around to calling him. I wasn't really interested in renting a truck and he wanted me to drive up and look at all the cabs he had to pick one.

I guess I'm a bit picky, but I don't see that as a bad thing.

[GoPodular.com]

There was a Krazy Bowl right around you for $150 a couple weeks ago.  Might still be available:

PM sent w/ details.

[Noobert]

I've read in the forum that you can get a pre-cut arcade cabinet kit for not too much more than the cost of the wood.  (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=53900.0  reply #2).  Would that work for you?

Or like Luckydevil said have somebody make the cuts for you.  You could even just mark up your wood from somebody else's plans.

Whatever you do, go ahead and start (at least some aspect of the project) now!  If you wait... and wait... and wait you might put it off for another year, then another.  Then before you know it you'll be in a retirement home and you REALLY won't have room to build your cab.   

Don't worry about your skill level.  Take your time as you build and it will come out fine

[PCtech]

I've read in the forum that you can get a pre-cut arcade cabinet kit for not too much more than the cost of the wood.  (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=53900.0  reply #2).  Would that work for you?

Or like Luckydevil said have somebody make the cuts for you.  You could even just mark up your wood from somebody else's plans.

Whatever you do, go ahead and start (at least some aspect of the project) now!  If you wait... and wait... and wait you might put it off for another year, then another.  Then before you know it you'll be in a retirement home and you REALLY won't have room to build your cab.   

Don't worry about your skill level.  Take your time as you build and it will come out fine

Yep, I agree w/ Noobert...you gotta get started.

Even if it's just buying / making sawhorses, picking out plans, or even starting to design your marquee, you got to do something to "get the ball rolling"

If your poor like me, you have to do it in many steps, with big pauses in-between...but that's not so bad.  The extra time, give you time to research, and re-design, and figure things out.

But, if like me, you gotta start something, or it will sit on the back burner till  freezes over.

Good luck.

[DaveMMR]

If your poor like me, you have to do it in many steps, with big pauses in-between...but that's not so bad.  The extra time, give you time to research, and re-design, and figure things out.

I've done that.  Started in Summer of 2003.  Had to back-burner it.  Resumed in Summer of 2004 with a new design.  Had to back-burner it once more.  Resumed in Summer of 2005.  Again... had to put it on hold.   Now this year, I've decided that I'm just going to put the full hurt on the credit card.  And a few months from now, when my bill makes me cry, I can always turn to my arcade cabinet for a little cheering up.