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New user a bit overwhelmed here.
severdhed:
i'm not trying to be rude, but how do you plan on building anything without any kind of power tools? at the absolute minimum, you would need a drill for your button/joystick holes, and to predrill all of the screw holes. without a router, T-MOlding would be nearly impossible to install.(the t-molding makes all the difference in the world). how do you plan on cutting the plixiglass for the marquee or in front of the monitor?
you can put together a cabinet for not too much money, but this is not a cheap hobby. estimate what you think it will cost, then double that and you should be pretty close to what it will cost. if your hands are not steady enough to use a power saw, then how do you expect to do the wiring and things like that/ perhaps you should try to get a friend to help you(preferably one with power tools)
when i built my first control panel, i did it using only a drill, jigsaw and a dremel....and it really wasnt very easy and didn't turn out like i had pictured it. i have since rebuilt it a few times, each time getting a few more tools.. if you want it to turn out looking anything like a real arcade cabinet, you will NEED:
drill
jigsaw
circular saw (or table saw)
Router
orbital sander
i guess you could use one of those old fashioned hand powered crank drills, but that sure would suck. you could technically cut everything with had saws, but it would be exhausting and very time consuming. plus you would need to do a ton of sanding by hand. i dont know how you would cut a slot for t-molding without a router.
in my opinion, you are trying to accomplish something that just isn't feasable with your restrictions. your best bet really is to have someone with powertools to help you...otherwise it is going to take you 6 months and look like crap
vertygo:
Trust me your neighbour down the road, the one where all the sawing sounds come from on the weekend, will gladly help you.
I think you also need to get a little more positive about this, honestly. It's fun, it's about games. If you keep saying you can't do this, and you don't have the money for that, then you're in for a really disappointing, tough time. Just laugh at it once in awhile. Personally, I've been collecting buttons, leds, u360 joysticks, and all sorts of other crap for years now, and I'm JUST starting to picture how it's going to come together. :lol
You sound like your not married either, so count that as a blessin.. er.. wife's coming, gotta go.
mwong168:
If you are looking for specific cabinet plans and dimensions you can check out:
http://www.jakobud.com
I used one of their plans as a starting point and I was making changes to it as I went along. Good thing my friend William who did all my woodwork didn't mind and also made changes to the plans which made the construction of it easier and cleaner end result too.
dafelandry:
What i did before i built ANYTHING (actually i gutted/modded an old SEGA cabinet) is tested my emulators,frontend and such to make sure that pc could handle it and so once its all setup it comes down to simply setting keys with your soon to be built control panel.... if you need help with anything ask (obviously not roms)... i was in your shoes less than a month ago but now i have a pretty sweet cabinet (well 90% waiting on my marquee and doing t-molding tonight) as far as a 19" monitor should be fine... i have a 21" ws.... i had to jerry rig the mount on it but it turned out VERY nice.... just wait till it starts comming together hahah u'll feel like a kid on christmas!!!
bartops are definatly interesting with keeping cables and hardware clean/neat and compact but very rewarding when complete! I cannot wait to see some photos once its complete!! (i also like the fact that you dont want a premade, it takes away from your own twists and such, but i mean it does save you work)
Good luck and we are all here to help!
I sent you a PM!
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