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arzoo:
Make sure you're using the correct jigsaw blade for the material (wood) and thickness. Also, a reciprocating jigsaw will cut with less effort than a standard (up/down) jigsaw. I'll echo nuka1195 - Bosch makes a great jigsaw. But buying a new saw may be overkill - unless you're like me - I'll use any excuse to buy a new tool; hell, I bought a drill press just to drill a hole in a small aluminum rod  :dizzy:.

One method I've tried when cutting the sides for mame cabinets which did not work was to cut both sides at the same time (clamped together). Jigsaws tend to go out of perpendicular when going around curves and with two pieces of wood, the effect is just enhanced. It required a lot of sanding with a band sander to get both sides to match. That's another useful tool - a band sander!

Dont give up.  :)

HaRuMaN:

--- Quote from: paigeoliver on April 17, 2008, 01:50:35 am ---Honestly, it is way easier to start by converting an existing cabinet than it is to scratchbuild one. Woodworking isn't the easiest skill in the world, and there is a very high chance that your conversion will come out better looking and cheaper than a scratchbuilt.


--- End quote ---

He's making a bartop.  Not a lot of bartop cabinets out there to convert.

leapinlew:

--- Quote from: HarumaN on April 17, 2008, 09:25:17 am ---He's making a bartop.  Not a lot of bartop cabinets out there to convert.

--- End quote ---
Actually, he's NOT making a bartop.


--- Quote from: Zobeid on April 17, 2008, 09:25:17 am ---um. . .

Not saying you're wrong exactly, but it's not the advice that I personally would give.

--- End quote ---
Well you should. It's the right advice.  :)

A lot of good suggestions floating around. Many people want to build a bartop because they think the smaller scale is easier to work with. I've built bartops, conversions and full size machines. By far, conversion is the easiest method. Usually you only need to do a small amount of cutting. It's a great way to build your skill set, while producing a quality product.

He could buy a bartop kit from Mameroom, if he's sold on it being a bartop and wants to minimize the woodworking.

Neverending Project:
Another thing to consider for the curves is picking up a Sanding Drum (example link). If you have a drill press you can install it in there and run your curves over it to smooth them out. If you don't have a drill press, you can attach it to a drill and clamp your pieces down. It will help smooth out the curves and is much easier than sanding by hand.

Don't give up! Once you figure out how to get the shape you want, the reward will be worth it.

Jdurg:
Conversions are nice, but if you live in a part of the country where there aren't a lot of arcade distributors in the area, and very few cabinets even available, you really don't save all that much in converting one.  (since it takes a while to find a cabinet that will suit your needs, and since there's no "competition" you either have to pay the price the person is asking, or go without it).  Plus, the cost of shipping can make the conversion a financially bad idea, and even the cost of gas to drive an hour to pick up a cab is not that great of an idea.

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