New Project. Need some help\advice

[Carlito]

Hey everyone.  I picked up a cabinet the other day, a Karnov cabinet actually.  It's been remodeled a few times.
There are a couple spots where the cabinet has cracked and I want to fix it up.
So the first thing I need to do is gut it so I can easily move the cabinet to my basement for work.
So I need to remove the monitor.  I've read a lot of posts here about discharging the monitor and I'm guessing this is going to be one of those times where that is necessary.
I'm a little apprehensive about doing so, but that's probably just nerves   
So I guess what I'm looking for is...Do I have to discharge it to remove it
( I know, I know.  Not unless I want to get killed )
It's late tonight, and I gotta work in the morning but I'm thinking tomorrow I"m going to start taking it apart.
Is there anything else I should know about before starting to gut this machine?
I'm a real noob when it comes to arcade cabinets, but I can't wait to dive in and do this....except for discharging the monitor...that I could live without.
Hopefully you'll have some good info for me.  Wish me luck!

Carlito

[Terminatedrone]

No, you actually don't need to discharge the monitor to remove it. Take off the bezel and you should see where it is bolted into the cab, get a friend to help you, wear gloves with grip (monitors are heavy enough and hard enough to hold onto as it is) and you can just unbolt it and take it out.

You don't need to discharge the monitor unless you plan on removing the chassis (the main board) from the tube, or if you need to replace a component on the monitor.

Be careful not to touch any capacitors (they might give you a little zap) and its best to leave the monitor turned off for a few hours beforehand, otherwise, its safe to move the monitor as a single unit without discharging it.

[Carlito]

Well that just made my day!   
I thought, from reading other posts, that you had to discharge the monitor if you were moving it at all.
But I guess it's only if you're going to be removing the chassis.
Good to know, thanks Terminatedrone

[siastbill1]

Just to add in, you really should not be afraid of discharging a monitor. I've done it at least 10 times. There are arcade technicians that have probably done it hundreds, if not thousands of times. The first few times I did it, I was all worried that I was going to get shocked, but it's kinda unlikely unless you do something really stupid. Use a screwdriver with an insulated handle (obvious) and don't touch the metal frame while you are discharging (also obvious). That's it. It takes 3 seconds to do.

Also, people always write disclaimers like: "if you die doing this, it's not my fault". Obviously, that stuff is written to cover someones back. It is highly unlikely that you will shock yourself at all, let alone die. That's not saying don't be careful, but just don't worry to much about it. I don't know why discharging a monitor has become this taboo thing that people want to avoid at all costs?