MAME Arcade Cabinet Restoration Help?

[moonchilddave]

Ok, I'm working on building my own MAME arcade game. Where it comes to the programming, setup, electronics and such - I'm golden.

When it comes to woodworking and such, to put it bluntly, I suck.

I have the cabinet that I'd like to use already but it needs some work and I was wondering if anyone else out there had experience doing restoration work on arcade cabinets. It's a Nintendo style cabinet (like Donkey Kong). And honestly, I'm to the point of being willing to pay someone to get the cabinet in shape for me and I'm willing to pay for supplies and labor. As this is really the only thing holding me back.

Anyone?

 

[GURPS]

might be a good time to learn :shrug:


what exactly do you need done ?

 

[moonchilddave]

I probably could do a good bit of it - as the sanding / painting shouldn't be too much of a stretch... But the one part that I feel uneasy about is some of the lower corners have water damage and are missing small chunks - and I've never worked with Bondo before.

 

[SandieGarry]

Nooooooo !!!

Being a professional cabinetmaker that uses Bondo on a regular basis, do not use it for your repair. It doesn't do well for that type of repair. I recommend going to Lowe's, Home Depot, True Value or someplace similar for Minwax wood repair or something similar. I've used it on my own house and relatives and it does the job. Just my opinion of course.

 

[moonchilddave]

Being a professional cabinetmaker that uses Bondo on a regular basis, do not use it for your repair. It doesn't do well for that type of repair. I recommend going to Lowe's, Home Depot, True Value or someplace similar for Minwax wood repair or something similar. I've used it on my own house and relatives and it does the job. Just my opinion of course.

See, that's why I'm looking for help from someone else - I don't know what I am doing and I'm not afraid to admit it. I know my limitations. I'm also a bit of a perfectionist and would rather see it just done right to start with rather than it become an amateur hack job that looks like junk, and falls apart in a few months. The worst part is the missing parts are in the corners so not only do they need to be built back up - but they also need a slot in them for the t-molding to go in.

 

[czygvtwkr]

I would disassemble it carefully and cut new out of some good baltic birch (not that crap from lowes or home depot) plywood if you want something nice. It all depends on if you want something really nice or not.

 

[moonchilddave]

I would disassemble it carefully and cut new out of some good baltic birch (not that crap from lowes or home depot) plywood if you want something nice. It all depends on if you want something really nice or not.

That was the other thing that had occurred to me, but again, I'm a hack when it comes to power tools. A lot of people seem to use MDF for cabinets if they are starting from scratch - but I have noticed that MDF cabinets are HEAVY!!! If you can't get it at Lowes or Home Depot (the baltic birch), where would I get it?

 

[SandieGarry]

Question

ok, because you said there was water damage previously, MDF is a bad choice. It doesn't do well around water. As previously posted, Baltic birch is a good choice. Check the Yellow pages for plywood or lumber distributors. Since there was a slot for T-moulding, it's difficult to get T-moulding to stay once it's been removed. Your best bet is to build new sides. Where are you located?

 

[moonchilddave]

I'm in the Valley Lee / Callaway area. The water damage was there when I got the cabinet... It was basically just a gutted cabinet that I picked up on the cheap.

 

[czygvtwkr]

That was the other thing that had occurred to me, but again, I'm a hack when it comes to power tools. A lot of people seem to use MDF for cabinets if they are starting from scratch - but I have noticed that MDF cabinets are HEAVY!!! If you can't get it at Lowes or Home Depot (the baltic birch), where would I get it?

You can get baltic birch at places like a Woodcraft store or a hard wood dealer, there are quite a few in the DC and Baltimore area. Deans Lumber and Dyson home center told me they can order it but without seeing it I dont want to take a chance on what they can order. You may also be able to get it from local cabinent makers.

Baltic birch is the really good plywood that good cabinets are made out of, it has no voids, has a pretty decent surface etc.

MDF is very heavy, has little strength, but worst of all is when you cut, route etc it makes a horrible sticky dust that sticks to everything and probably isnt too good to be breathing.