First cabnit Attempt

[darkomen64]

Ok well after YEARS of wanting to build a cabinet i fianly have done so today was day 1 of actually cutting WOOT!!!

After getting 90% of the stuff i think i will need creation started today.. And already its gone over budget lol, main reason its gone over is because of buying tools.. was just gonna get my boss to cut my t molding slots and cut everything else buy and... no patter bit due to no router.. well i was making a 4 ft saw board and my saw started to smoke and stoped.. great.. new saw time.. went to lowe to get a cheap saw... then went to wal-mart.. has a skil saw on clearace for $30 .. its nice =) they also has a Black and decker router on clearance for $35.. i couldnt resist.. and a palm sander on clearance for $20.. so $115 later i walked out with a random orbial palm sander 15 course sanding disc 15 smooth sanding disc a router and a skilsaw.. and a sobe =)

ok just so no one asks.. this IS being build outta partical board.. this is not the stuff you can get from lowes/home depot ect... i work at a partical factory so i get to pick up some 3/4 inch Industral grade (denser) and also has a special wax.. so it dosnt soak up as much of the paint, tested it and it worked great painted..

Anyway first day os work.. 1 sheet of board all cut up.. so far got 1 side cut a shelf, CP bottem few other things.. but the main think to see is the side so here it is..

[darkomen64]

WOW most of that dosnt even make that much sence.. last time i try and post something like that from my cell phone lol

i'll try that again..

Basically i'm building a arcade paradise cabinet..

Parts already gathered..

14 Concaved Happ Buttons + a player 1 and 2 button
coindoor
I-paq
27 TV (i tried it and it looks great its a flat screen (not flat panel))
Computer is gonna be a laptop that i bough for $20 in none working condition.. re soldering the power connecter new HD memory and a wifi card and i have a nice 3.2 ghz laptop with 100gig hp.. but the screen has issues so for mame it will be great..

i think i have all the tools i need other then a 1/16 slot cutting bit and i'm thinking of using brands to told it together reather then screws until the glue dries JUST because of the time saving of not having to predrill all the holes.. Other then that i need the plexi for the CP and marquee and the t-molding and paint.. that is unless anyone can think of some things i might be over looknig..

Anyways for the first day of work i'm happy.. once i finished getting the one side panel done and i stood it up and got to look at it.. what a rush... i could have sent the rest of the day and all night working on it but i knew i had other things to take care of.. but now that the work has been started.. i'm pumped and cant wait to work on it some more..

Anyways until the next update.. cya =)

[Shieldwolf]

  lol glad you clarified.  Just put all your instructions (or pc screen) up to a mirror when you read them. That said keep us posted it looks like it's off to great start.

[darkomen64]

day 2 work progress =)

Well 2nd day working on it...

Got the other side cut and all i hav e to say is I LOVE the pattern bit =) =)

Today i got the 2nd side completed top of the CP 2 parts of the back the speaker panel, the top and the monitor shelf.. Only stuff left to cut is the CP sides and front and back.. the bottem the slanted top and the back..

heres a pic of the 2 sides.. the rest is just square/rectangular panels.. nothing to special

 

[IG-88]

Looking good. Question. How are you hooking up your laptop to your TV?

[darkomen64]

The Laptop has s-video output =)

[darkomen64]

And the work continues, i got to work on it for a few hours today and got a few more pieces cut so it was a pretty good day =)

Parts left to cut are.. bottom, back, control panel front and back.. and i think thats it..

quick question tho.. as far as t-molding goes i know everyone says use 1/16 slot bit.. i have yet to order one and no one locally has one.. excpet my boss at work has a 3/32 slot bit.. how much of a impact would that have on the t-molding fitting?

Also i know most people cut there slots before they assembly the cabinet, but from what i have seen that mainly to avoid hitting and screws/brads that they have used to assembly it with.. is this the only reason? because if it is as long as i dont put any brads (using brads and glue) within 1 1/2 inches or so of the t-molded edges i should be good...

anyways heres a pic of all the parts i have cut..

[darkomen64]

Well got the rest of the piece cut and started assembling the control panel.. I'm kinda at a impasse until i get the t-molding and slot cutting bit, but oh well

heres a pic of the control panel

btw i know all my pics havent been of the best quality.. but what do you expect from my cell phone? =)

[darkomen64]

Well i have more progress to update.. today i got the frame for the tv to sit on made.. and did a test fitting.. (had teh sides held to the frame by clames just to see how the TV fit in it.. and there is less then 1/16 inch clearance on the sides.. you cant see light thought them except at 1 angle and its just a TINY bit..its actualy a little tighter then i would have liked but it fits great =) so here are the 

oh.. sorry about the pic quality.. i've been taking them all with my cell phone lol

and the CP is just a test one i made to test out the contol layout  (that is gonna change) and size and such.. was never gonna be a keeper

[AMDman13]

Hi darkomen64

Your project looks like it's turning out nicely. To answer a few questions for you. Yes you will need the 1/16th slot cutter. I at first order a 3/32 and luckly tried it on scrap wood first. Anyway it'll be slightly too big of slot. The 1/16th is perfect! All you will need is a rubber mallet and the T-Molding will fit snug as a bug.

I also assembled my cab using brads and Tightbond. It's rock solid now for over 2 years of heavy play!

Yes go ahead and assemble before routing for T-molding just make sure you leave enough space for the brads or screws and you'll be fine.