Need cabinet advice and help!

[Getintothegame]

Hey everyone, I'm still kinda n00bish to this whole MAME arcade deal, but I'm sure getting somewhere- I just need advice and ideas on what to do from here to improve my cabinet!


This is the top of my cabinet. As you can see, I'm trying to cover up my screen edges using some black paper. Anyone have a better idea for a bezel on a flatscreen TV? Also, I got some tape residue stuck on the plexiglas. Any idea how to get that off?

My current plan for the screen is to use black paper and then use another sheet of plexi to go over top. I'll screw it into the middle support, and have some sort of resting place on the bottom for easy access when I need to change something.


Here's my bottom area. I'll tell you right off the bat that I absolutely HATE my jigsaw, I can really see how uneven some of my cuts really did turn out. I also need to probably re-cut the diagonal piece of wood in the middle. Ugh, I wish there was an easier and less expensive way! But... I guess to make it look a little professional, it needs to be done. Also, I'll live with the hinges being on the outside of the cabinet...


Just a side view...


Back side. Again, the hinges aren't the problem here. I need a creative way to get that cord out of the arcade... any ideas?

Thanks guys. My order of business is as follows from here on out:

1. Take thoughts from this forum.
2. Route for T-Molding
3. Paint
4. Add T-Molding.
5. Add more plexiglas.
6. Make/order CP.
7. Game on!

[sstorkel]

Anyone have a better idea for a bezel on a flatscreen TV? Also, I got some tape residue stuck on the plexiglas. Any idea how to get that off?

Happ sells bezels. You might also try black poster board or foam core board. If you search for bezel info, I think you'll get some useful results.

Goo Gone removes adhesive residue.

Here's my bottom area. I'll tell you right off the bat that I absolutely HATE my jigsaw, I can really see how uneven some of my cuts really did turn out. I also need to probably re-cut the diagonal piece of wood in the middle. Ugh, I wish there was an easier and less expensive way! But... I guess to make it look a little professional, it needs to be done. Also, I'll live with the hinges being on the outside of the cabinet...

Hint: jigsaws are good for making curved cuts, circular saws are good for making straight cuts. Buy yourself a circular saw. No matter what saw you use, a sawboard is a good idea. See the sticky thread at the top of the forum for more info. If you have a high-quality jig saw and a saw board, you might be able to get away without a circular saw.

I need a creative way to get that cord out of the arcade... any ideas?

Why? Are you going to park your cabinet in the middle of the room and let people see the back? If not, why bother cleaning it up given all the other things that need to be done?

If you do decide to clean it up, here's a simple suggestion: drill a round hole and shove the cord through it. You can probably buy a cheap spade bit that will make a large enough hole.

Thanks guys. My order of business is as follows from here on out:

1. Take thoughts from this forum.
2. Route for T-Molding
3. Paint
4. Add T-Molding.
5. Add more plexiglas.
6. Make/order CP.
7. Game on!

I'd wait as long as possible before painting. Ideally, you'd want all of the major cutting and assembly to be done. In particular, I think you'll want to have the CP cut out and maybe have all the necessary holes cut and any routing done.  It's really frustrating to have the paint looking great, then scuff or ding it doing something else and have to come back and do it again.

I think it's also a good idea to make a prototype CP and game with it for a while before doing the final version for your cabinet. Just get a board, cut out some holes for the controls and screw it to two pieces of wood to make some size. Throw it on a desk in front of a monitor and play some games. You may decide that you need to tweak the control layouts. Best to discover this with a scrap-wood CP than once you've bolted everything to your cabinet and wired it up!

[Getintothegame]

Alright, thanks for the advice. I think I've got a pretty good idea of the next week's work. Thank you!

(Looks like I'll be doing some sanding, too!)

[Dudeman]

I need a creative way to get that cord out of the arcade... any ideas?

I hacked the plug out of an old power supply. That way you just have a plug on the back, and use a standard PC power cord to power the cab.

[Neverending Project]

This is the top of my cabinet. As you can see, I'm trying to cover up my screen edges using some black paper. Anyone have a better idea for a bezel on a flatscreen TV?

As sstorkel said, try some foam core poster board. You could get some black foam core and use a matte bevel cutter - the kind used for cutting picture frame mattes - and you will have a nice angled edge. Or better yet, head to your local craft or picture frame store and give them the outside and inside dimensions of your monitor bezel. Have them cut you a perfect looking bezel in the colors of your choice. It might be a little expensive, though...

Also, I'll live with the hinges being on the outside of the cabinet...

Try some cabinet hinges - the kind that are used in kitchen cabinets. Depot (and the likes) sell surface-mount hinges that do not require any holes to be cut in the cabinet, and they will be completely hidden when the door is closed.

[javeryh]

Anyone have a better idea for a bezel on a flatscreen TV?

I used black matte board with a black core - It was like $2 from an art store.  It worked great.  Check it out HERE.

I'll tell you right off the bat that I absolutely HATE my jigsaw, I can really see how uneven some of my cuts really did turn out. I also need to probably re-cut the diagonal piece of wood in the middle. Ugh, I wish there was an easier and less expensive way! But... I guess to make it look a little professional, it needs to be done. Also, I'll live with the hinges being on the outside of the cabinet...

I second the recommendation for a circular saw.  I find it next to impossible to make any type of straight cut with my jigsaw.  I only use that for curves (which get sanded anyway) or to make a rough cut.

I need a creative way to get that cord out of the arcade... any ideas?

I'd drill a hole or something with a forstner bit, spade bit or hole saw and pop it through.  You can then use a GROMMET or something to "finish it.  On my last cab I hacked a smart strip and flush mounted a receptacle on the exterior of my cabinet so I could use a detachable computer power cord.  It was scary at first because I didn't know what I was doing but in the end it was very easy and very worth it.  Check it out HERE, HERE and HERE.