The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls
Main => Woodworking => Topic started by: Scassidy24 on March 05, 2016, 01:17:23 pm
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(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160305/7e6909ee1b869b7149d5352fd2ed3920.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160305/86ab30e7813b5bb6069d20372ec23e0e.jpg)
Okay, don't laugh at my cabinet. Well a little laughter is ok. This was intended to be a prototype build but I've been upgrading along the way and have spent so much time working on the software side of things that I've gotten used to it and my wife has become rather fond of it. So we're going to finish it as best we can. Found gone awesome black textured wallpaper I can't even begin to describe at Home Depot we're going to use on the sides and front where the coin door is. As well as put on a steel kick plate maybe.
But what to do to capture that look the T moulding provides? Maybe an automotive type pin striping ?
Any suggestions out there. The cabinet is made of 3/8" material. It's actually really solid. And again we never planned to finish this but now i guess trying to compromise and just give it as nice a clean look as possible .
still to come:
Smoked glass over screen and bezel
CPO
Back lit marquee
Anyway. The moulding or alternatives?
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Nice custom build!
I don't really think T-molding is necessary. You might just round over the edges with a sanding block to make the edges a little softer and paint it black.
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I used chipboard for the first time last week. There's no way I'd use it for a cab. Having said that, good luck with the build!
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I have seen some cool woodworking projects done with chipboard. I would say go with some edge banding if you want to put something on it.
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Edge banding. It comes in vinyl, laminate and veneer.
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That's a lot better than my first cab.
Mine started out as an experiment with a raspberry pi. I bought some controls and got mame working, but I was really only planningit as an experiment.
We were throwing away an old piece of furniture, and it occurred to me that it would be a hoot to use the boards to make a bartop to house the pi experiment.
I never intended for it to a permanent thing, I just assumed we'd get bored of it after a week or two and I'd get rid of it.
Well, that 'week or two' turned into a couple of years, and we're still not bored with it.
Thing is, it looks really shabby.
Visitors think it's cool that we have an arcade machine, but I'm always a bit ashamed of it.
The boards I used were laminated chipboard, and I just painted the edges. The edges look like a granola bar painted red.
I have just started work on a new cabinet , and I really wish I had done it sooner.
It looks as though you put a lot more effort into yours than I did with my bartop, but it seems like a shame to put all that work into something that will never look how you want it to because of the material you used.
Your workmanship looks really good. Imagine how good that cabinet could look if it was made out of better wood.
How much money are you going to put into it to try to make it look acceptable?
Could you use that money to buy some MDF instead?
I apologise if I am sounding a bit harsh, but I feel like you are in the same boat as I was.
What I see when I look at your machine is a lot of talent and a good design let down by unsuitable materials.
Please consider it a compliment :)
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This was intended to be a prototype build but I've been upgrading along the way and have spent so much time working on the software side of things that I've gotten used to it and my wife has become rather fond of it. So we're going to finish it as best we can.
Scassidy24, it's time for some tough love.
Your cabinet design is really nice. I love the classic lines. I love that you used a coin door. And I usually think trying to cram too many controls on a cab is a fool's errand, but your other post showing the prototype of your swapping CP is the right way to do it. :applaud:
Overall you have good ideas and what looks like solid execution.
But this chipboard prototype? Please keep it as a prototype.
Jamesbeat is spot on...
Your workmanship looks really good. Imagine how good that cabinet could look if it was made out of better wood.
I used OSB to build my prototype CP. I know how hard that stuff is to work with (especially drilling!). After building a whole cab out of this crap, you owe it to yourself to experience the joys of MDF and plywood.
To answer your question-- Routing a smooth edge isn't an option, IMO, as that edge is not going to take paint well and will still be craggly and uneven.
Edge banding is probably your best bet. The problem is the edge of the OSB is so craggly and uneven that you would have to wood putty or bondo the whole edge, sand it down, iron on the edge banding, trim the banding to 3/8", and then paint it to match the wall paper.
Good luck! :cheers:
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I agree the edge banding is cool concept but the putty and sanding etc and how much worn do I want to put into it. No offence taken from any of your comments people and thanks for putting in your 2 cents. Keep it coming! I need to finish the carpentry side of things to iron out and figure out all the quirks of my design ideas before going to work with quality materials.
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Well, of you insist on putting your skills into unsuitable materials, how about...
Use wood glue to saturate some 3/8" cotton tape, and stick it to the edge of the wood.
Wait until it is dry, then paint it.
Cotton is cellulose fiber like wood, so wood glue should work pretty good on it.
This is what I was going to do to cover the edges of my bartop, but I never got around to it.
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Oh, and I'd lose the keyboard drawer when you do your final build, it's just not necessary.
By all means put a subtle usb port somewhere for admin purposes (behind the coin door perhaps) but you can set up your front end to work entirely with your controls for day to day game playing.
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Reminds me of this.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/ODAwWDYwMA==/z/W3cAAOSwYlJW6hW7/$_27.JPG)
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You saw that too? Small world.
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You saw that too? Small world.
:lol
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You saw that too? Small world.
:lol
Had to reverse image search, but that's pretty funny. My favorite part of that ad (http://www.kijiji.ca/v-electronics/calgary/rare-1981-atari-space-duel-arcade-game/1148333743)...
Edit: I bumped the price up an extra $400 because people have been messaging me saying it was too low.
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My god! lol that ad is hilarious if his is worth a small fortune mine is worthy of the smithsonian. lol
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Is it called Space Dual because it is a two player game? ???
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naw man, cause it has duel screens.
(http://memeguy.com/photos/images/duel-monitors-106534.png)
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(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160327/b1a27db5e612291afc51e247f0a2cf78.jpg)
New cab in the works 3/4" MDF
Thanks for all the input guys, will be doing a proper T moulding. Same cabinet design with slight improvements and this one will get finished!
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:cheers:
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Good choice.