Author Topic: bartop from peoples trash! (Read 9220 times)

saleem · « **on:** August 22, 2009, 03:58:52 pm »

i got too many on the go

the aim of this project is to construct a bartop from things i find thrown away (as in,skips and just leftout for rubbish man)

i found a piece of mdf that was left behind a shop on a trading estate near where i live.in fact i saw it few days ago and i wanted it then but,it was screwed to a pallet.

gos today with screwdriver and several bits in hand and reclaimed it.got me 8 fancy screws as well in the bargain.it was just short of 5ft tall and 3ft wide.you will see the screw holes in the mdf that i had to remove the screws from.

i have started another project,well 1 project is a mame conversion but,the cosmetics keeps running into probs (enough of that i will update that thread when i am happy with the cosmetics)

another project is a jamma cab i just want to get into a better state,just needs a few things doing then thats sorted.

now there is this one.bartop from trash.

anyways i cut me two sides.

just going to make it up as i go along.

just got to get some mdf from the streets for top and bottom etc.

will update.

luckily i live near/in an industrial area!

so just for those who always say "i aint got the money,i cant afford it" go round the back of local shops and reclaim their throwaways.

IG-88 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 22, 2009, 04:43:03 pm »

I love these type of projects. It will be interesting to see how this comes about. (tho your writing is kinda hard to read

)The only thing that pops into my head that you may have to buy is a joystick and buttons. Got any ideas on that?

retrofuture · « **Reply #2 on:** August 22, 2009, 05:55:22 pm »

Quote from: saleem on August 22, 2009, 03:58:52 pm

so just for those who always say "i aint got the money,i cant afford it" go round the back of local shops and reclaim their throwaways.

I wish I lived around the back of HAPP, Sanwa etc

Now going through the bins would be a joy there.

Good idea though saleem. Which part of Industrial Britain do you live in (not that there's much left!)?

LeedsFan · « **Reply #3 on:** August 22, 2009, 06:22:26 pm »

You cut two sides? What with? A thrown away jigsaw?

IG-88 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 22, 2009, 06:25:23 pm »

Whats that ^^ supposed to mean??

saleem · « **Reply #5 on:** August 22, 2009, 06:40:03 pm »

will stick some ultimarc goodies off andy when i get round to ordering them.

i am using glue and dowelling rods to put it together,just using my inginuity (if i got enough) to put it together.

i think this one will be pretty tall for a bartop though

when the weathers half decent like it has been last couple days its good to get out and at same time you can source out the materials.

i live in bradford north of england.

all i can say is,if you are a tight git like me

get yourself down to your trading estate and source out some materials,ask for it if you have to or go when they shut,help yourself,you keep your country tidy and you reclaim/recycle the material.

retrofuture · « **Reply #6 on:** August 22, 2009, 06:49:09 pm »

Quote from: saleem on August 22, 2009, 06:40:03 pm

keep your country tidy and you reclaim/recycle the material.

Bradford CCL land. Love 'em!

Beretta · « **Reply #7 on:** August 22, 2009, 10:16:50 pm »

fantastic, i can't wait to see this projects progress i think it's great.

im all the time picking up throw away stuff, old entertainment stands and desks can be used for for their wood, i've found lots of good stuff in the trash before america in general is a very wasteful nation much to my gain.. although i know you're not in America.

anyway keep the progress reports coming im excited to see how this turns out.

LeedsFan · « **Reply #8 on:** August 23, 2009, 12:36:10 am »

I may actually have some spare buttons lying around I can post to you if you like. Not many though... maybe three or four. May not be matching either. You gonna get new stuff for the controls?

saleem · « **Reply #9 on:** August 23, 2009, 07:34:35 am »

i think that i can actualy get 2 players in there,the controls i will supply with the internals.its actualy a fairly big bartop,more like an actual full size with the bottom missing.

anyways i will strive on to make the actualy chassis and like batons from what i reclaim off the streets,perhaps i get lucky and find some other usefull items even plexiglass.

i got her standing last night:

Franco B · « **Reply #10 on:** August 23, 2009, 08:35:22 am »

Interesting project.

Where abouts are the controls going to be located? If they are going to be mounted on that ~30 degree angle they will be very uncomfortable on the wrists.

Where abouts is the monitor going to be, I can't quite work it out. Have you got a sketch or anything?

saleem · « **Reply #11 on:** August 23, 2009, 09:21:52 am »

straight cp with a slightly sloping monitor bezel,where the marquee is the straight drop underneath is where i will fix speakers.the marquee will have a light (hopefuly)

i know,a 10yr old can do better!

i hopefully grab some more mdf from somewhere then i do some more work,that way it will be easier for people to suss out what it will look like.

saleem · « **Reply #12 on:** August 23, 2009, 04:54:45 pm »

had a total change of heart,decided to restart the project and make it,smaller,modern and more material friendly (in otherwords it wont take like loads of it)the other was like a tank with too many straight lines.

so i recut the sides,and got it standing:

its smaller and more sleeker!

i got the wood board for the back,i got it from behind a shop the same place i got the mdf for the cab,it was like a cork sign board but,had a nice piece of mdf on the back,so went with my trusty screwdriver and got the mdf,nice thinner piece perfect for a rear panel.

retrofuture · « **Reply #13 on:** August 23, 2009, 05:02:46 pm »

I hope you're recycling the off-cuts in an eco-friendly way... maybe even building an super-ultra-mini-dinky-mame cab from them?

saleem · « **Reply #14 on:** August 23, 2009, 05:19:48 pm »

suprisingly the original board was short of 5ft and like 3ft wide.it has gone a long way.i will sort out the rear (perhaps the top) tomorrow.cut out the back door and have it right size and fitting (just have to suss way to hold it in place.

the off cuts i will use for strengthening the outside and also for batons,i will need to rest the cp on somethinmg and the monitor bezel also.

so hopefully i will updfate tomorrow.

drventure · « **Reply #15 on:** August 23, 2009, 05:45:09 pm »

Very cool. I love this idea. Very interested in seeing where it goes. Likely won't be anything like what you initially envisioned!

retrofuture · « **Reply #16 on:** August 23, 2009, 06:08:36 pm »

Have you got any ideas about the controls and innards? Have you ever seen some discarded PC parts in a skip around Bradford?

Brilliant idea for a cab. It needs a recycling logo on the side

IG-88 · « **Reply #17 on:** August 23, 2009, 06:29:56 pm »

That reminds me, any ideas on artwork?

saleem · « **Reply #18 on:** August 23, 2009, 06:48:05 pm »

aint got a clue,it will be mamed,i got a 15" lcd for it,i got a spare pc and i can get one thats pretty old,better than just letting them rot.

theres a paint recycling place not so far from me,its where they get people to donate old unused paint instead of throwing it out,so i am thinking about getting paint from there.you just buy peoples unwanted paint cheap.

but!i am also gonna look for items that have been thrown that might have covering on them that i can use,laminate etc.

i was actualy looking for vinyl in the first place for my jamma cab as i need vinyl for the cp,then i saw the mdf,one thing led to another and here is the cab.

Octo · « **Reply #19 on:** August 23, 2009, 07:21:04 pm »

If you could find an old joystick and weld a screwdriver in place of the bat it would really go towards the "reclaimed" aspect of the bartop... If it's really industrial I'd bet you could find some pushbuttons strewn about somewhere, too... I can't wait to see how this turns out.

saleem · « **Reply #20 on:** August 23, 2009, 08:15:42 pm »

got joysticks from my jamma cab.i am replacing them with ultimarc ones,they were bought for a mame conversion i am doing on another cab but,the jamma cab was in real good nick so i thought i would put things the way i wanted them with it as i thought the work would be quick.trouble is i am having probs finding quality vinyl for the cp as its metal..

the existing sticks were realy generic jamma cab style with the big thing on the end,thats why i want the quality sticks and buttons on it.

the sticks i still got,i got 6 buttons and 1p/2p start,they are NO BRAND brand

but,i could use them,save a few quid,i got microswitchs which i removed off the jamma cab.

i got wire harness from a tee golf game,i bought the trackerball off ebay for my mame project and got the harness sent as well in the bargain,i got a loom and switchs so i am ok on that score.

i just dont think i could bear to see that horrible stick on the cp.

i got a ps2 controller,the one where you can hack the board without soldering,the wires slot into the ribbon cable,so might use that.

Ryglore · « **Reply #21 on:** August 23, 2009, 09:21:15 pm »

Quote from: IG-88 on August 23, 2009, 06:29:56 pm

That reminds me, any ideas on artwork?

May I suggest old magazine pages glued to the sides? along with scrap cardboard?

Beretta · « **Reply #22 on:** August 23, 2009, 09:26:30 pm »

um i think he's trying to make a bartop out of recycled materials.. not make it LOOK like it's made out of recycled materials.

IE: it's suppose to look like any other project just using as much "discarded" or "scrap" materials as possible..

Ryglore · « **Reply #23 on:** August 23, 2009, 09:30:04 pm »

But if he goes with the recycled idea, he could collage old Game Informers, GamePro, Xbox mags, PC Mags, PlayStation mags etc. It's not so much about making it look like garbage, it's about a theme. =)

saleem · « **Reply #24 on:** August 24, 2009, 02:34:28 pm »

all but finished the back today.

the rear door fitted:

with air holes.

i routed out the top and bottom pieces so i could flush fit the rear panel in there:

will have to thing of how to get the panel to stay there without falling out,even though its a tight fit,any suggestions i will be gratefull.

now i can think about something for the speakers and also getting me some more mdf from somewhere to finish off the front and then i can think about the cp and monitor.

i am thinking something along the lines of retrofutures cp set up where it can pivot forward.will experiment with dowelling,glue it to the sides,through into the cp so the cp will flip up and down.

obviously there will be some filling,sanding to do then i can prime her up.

Beretta · « **Reply #25 on:** August 24, 2009, 09:07:09 pm »

lots of ways to keep the back panel on.. most cabs have a lip at the bottom and a cam lock at the top.

you could also use a hinge and a lock.

another way would be to have a piece of wood maybe a 2x4 or something inside.. use T-nuts and a bolts.

you could also use a lock like you would use on a shed although not as pretty a solution

saleem · « **Reply #26 on:** August 24, 2009, 09:33:07 pm »

yes,i will be using the lip method with the cam lock i think.

Epyx · « **Reply #27 on:** August 24, 2009, 11:06:43 pm »

I created a similar panel for my bartop and just used magnets...holds it in like a champ. I also have a finger hole on the back panel to remove it.

saleem · « **Reply #28 on:** August 28, 2009, 05:16:56 pm »

i ran out of mdf so i was left waiting till i found some throwaway mdf from somewhere (gave me time to work on my jamma cab)

i got lucky yesterday and got a piece of mdf 5th by 3ft but,it was 19mm where the other was 16mm,made do though.

i have made the monitor bezel,it is routed on the rear so the monitor sits flush inside the bezel.i have used a 15" lcd and have decased it.i got the power button etc (circuit board) so i just gotta suss out where to put it.

sorry but its dark here and i only managed to just get the bezel fitted.

i am looking now for a piece of wood for the cp as i wasted most of the sheet of mdf i found on the bezel.my first attempt was ok but,just not right,this was the second attempt.theres enough mdf for the speaker housing (hopefully)

i ordered 2 majstick plus in blue,i will have 6 buttons per player (red/white and blue,cos its the british flags colors0 a 1p/2p button,coin and esc (or perhaps pause)

i got some decent creative speakers so i will try to get the speaker housing done while i wait on mdf for the cp and the things from ultimarc.

i will have to switch to sorting all the cab outside out,i will cut off the dowelling ends andwill clean it with sandpaper and use router to get edges nice and clean with flush trim bit.

DashRendar · « **Reply #29 on:** August 28, 2009, 05:24:08 pm »

Could this be BYOACs first environmentally-friendly project?

saleem · « **Reply #30 on:** August 28, 2009, 05:35:13 pm »

my neighbours probably dont think so!

i am 7 floors up and thats my veranda and the mdf+router=dust like crazy.

saleem · « **Reply #31 on:** August 29, 2009, 03:36:54 pm »

speaker panel fitted.just two 4ohm speakers with power/volume board will go behind it (some speaker fabric?) the speakers rum off a power lead.

view from above shows area for control panel.will be fitted with difference:

soon i will have to think about cutting off the dowelling rod ends and cleaning up the cabs lines.filler etc.

will sort out the insides (cosmetics and speakers) before i fit the top,that way i will have room to work.

IG-88 · « **Reply #32 on:** August 29, 2009, 04:47:23 pm »

Just curious, why dowels instead of screws?

saleem · « **Reply #33 on:** August 29, 2009, 05:16:24 pm »

the cab got glue and dowel,obviously i put glue in the holes i drilled for the dowel,it is stronger in my opinion.

screws can get ripped out also they can work loose then you get prob with wonky structure.

saleem · « **Reply #34 on:** September 02, 2009, 01:08:18 pm »

sorting the cp out.i was going to have a removable cp until i found out my bright spark carpentry aint so great and i left it high on the right hand bottom of the monitor bezel.so now it will be fixed in place.

just gotta route a recess in the rear for the magstick plus's and then i can permanently fix it in place.

i cant help thinking i put the config a bit high but,at least the person/s who play the cab will have somewhere for their hands to go,so they have some rest,might be best seeing as it will probably be used sitting down.

SpaceHedgehog · « **Reply #35 on:** September 02, 2009, 01:41:00 pm »

That looks great! I'm going to have a go at building something like this.

saleem · « **Reply #36 on:** September 15, 2009, 11:03:43 am »

not much of update realy.i am just readying the cosmetics a bit,woodfilling and sanding:

then i will matt black paint the insides,fit the pc speaers and fit the top on.

just got to decide between formica or paint or both or perhaps some other alternative covering.

trying to put my time in this and another project i got going when i can be bothered.

Encryptor · « **Reply #37 on:** September 15, 2009, 07:55:55 pm »

Is the bottom open? Just wondering how you are going to wire up your control panel since you put wood filler around your cp. It doesn't look like you can remove it now.

Encryptor

saleem · « **Reply #38 on:** September 15, 2009, 08:10:54 pm »

i can wire the controller before fitting.i can also wire the cherry switchs one at a time then fit to the relevant buttons.

without getting my tapemeasure out the thing actualy is pretty big.the cp is like good 20" wide,there will be no probs getting my big hands in there.luckily i moved the controller,button layout a bit further back so it will make it very easy.

the idea was to have a removable one but,my brilliant capentry skills left one side of the lower monitor bezel too high so there was a unsightly gap there so i had no choice to woodfill it in.

my bartop ended up being more of a arcade cab with the bottom chopped off.

saleem · « **Reply #39 on:** September 27, 2009, 08:54:58 am »

started priming the bartop.using zinsser bin.still a long way to go,case of coat of primer,then woodfill then sand,then back around until its right.

i can see i missed a bit in the top pic,back of cab,lower inside (see it?) will get that next time!

a shot of inside the cab,it will be matt black inside before i fit the pc (which will be stripped down) and controls.

this week will be long and slow.like i say,its a case of prime,woodfill where needed then sand then prime and woodfill then sand,untill its good enough for painting.after all when the paint gos on,thats it.thats the finish.


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