DannyShane Posted January 8, 2019 Share Posted January 8, 2019 I'm so glad i found Launchbox, I asked a ton of questions in this forum, and the mods and other members always helped me out. So thank you all very much! I finally built my first arcade box. I'm a little disappointed in myself because there are a few mistakes but i know better for the next build. I made a 4 player cabinet and I knew prior that it would be big, but i needed gauntlet, i needed it!!. lol. I used to have the real gauntlet in my living room back in my 20's and i think it only cost $700 back then. now the price is insane. I think my roommate back then bought a centipede for only about $300. times changed quick. lol I'm not a carpenter but this thing is SOLID. in fact its too big to get out of my house so if i sell, i guess they get this with it. lol. (its not totally finished, I have to order the marquee). Actually, i have a question in case someone might know... I made up a graphic for my control panel with photoshop and i got it printed at gameongrafix. its nice, they did a great job. but what do you guys put around the edges to keep people from messing up the edges of the graphics? I seen a video where some guy had a router and used "t" something but i dont have a router and i doubt i could get it straight like that, so is there another method? just curious. ok i wrote a novel. lol 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannyShane Posted January 8, 2019 Author Share Posted January 8, 2019 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. RetroLust Posted January 8, 2019 Share Posted January 8, 2019 Looking great! T-molding is being used a lot for the edges of the sides of a cabinet. On top of control panels they use plexi to protect the artwork, but I'm no expert on this matter though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannyShane Posted January 8, 2019 Author Share Posted January 8, 2019 thanks man i appreciate it. I dont have the router or whatver its called to create the groove for t molding. i'll head to home depot tomorrow and try and figure something out, lol 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOS76 Posted January 8, 2019 Share Posted January 8, 2019 Maybe there is a type of molding that you can glue on but I'm uncertain if that exists. I bought a kit for my arcade and the grooves for the t-molding where all cut out so that was a plus. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannyShane Posted January 9, 2019 Author Share Posted January 9, 2019 (edited) yeah I wish I thought about it prior to building this thing because I would have bought the tool. but now that its painted and soen fo the graphics are on, I think the tool would scratch it all up. because I assume it has to ride the angled surface. Edited January 9, 2019 by Hayata Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlightRisk Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 (edited) You could rent a router from a home big box store if you don't want to buy one. Get a slot bit. Then just put tape on the router plate so it won't scratch your painted surfaces. As long as you have access around the outside of the cabinet so the router won't butt against something to stop the cut, it will work great. So if you put the cabinet on its side, you can go all the way around each side. The router slides along the broad surface of the side like hand sander and the depth adjustment is handled by the bit itself. You buy them by the thickness and depth of the cut. There is a polished bearing that rides along the surface you are cutting into to that holds the depth (it spins free from the cutting bit so that friction isn't a problem as it rides along). So you don't need a guide rail. If you have any molding that needs to go perpendicular to the sides, you would have to take things apart. You could also use this, which I use for shelves, boxes, and some other projects I built: Plastic Edge Banding You can google "iron-on edging" or "iron-on veneer" and see a lot of options to see if that works better for you than routing out a t-molding slot (Or "T-Moulding" for our Brit cousins ). Edited January 9, 2019 by FlightRisk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannyShane Posted January 9, 2019 Author Share Posted January 9, 2019 hmm, it might be do-able. Just so i make sure i understand this.... The piece of the router that sits on top of my control panel (and graphics) does 'not' spin? and therefore wont scratch my graphics? if that's the case., i will be going to rent one today or tomorrow. or possibly buy one depending on how expensive they are let me know, and thanks for your help and explanation. it is very much appreciated. my graphics wont last long with no molding at the edges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlightRisk Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 Yes, so if you sat your cabinet on one side with the graphics facing up, the router has a flat, circular plate with the bit pointing down on the center. You can search for videos with "router t-molding" and see exactly how it's done. So you put the router down on your graphics (with thin tape on the bottom plate just to make sure there is nothing to scratch your nice paint job and graphics). You place the router onto your panel with half of it falling off the edge and the bit just missing the wood edge where the cut will go. You turn it on and pull the router inward so it starts to cut. When the ball bearing race hits the wood, it stops the cut from going deeper. This bearing just sits against the wood with the bit spinning inside it and the outer edge cutting the groove. Then you just push the router around the edge of your wood panel tracing it's outline and keeping the bit set against the edge. The bearing rolls across the edge like a guide (sort of like a roller skate wheel), so it too doesn't scratch or burn the edge by friction since it doesn't spin, it just rolls as you push the router along. Here is a very short video that shows the bottom view of the router doing its job. Look at a few more, test on a piece of scrap, and you will be an expert Cutting the slot for the t-molding (video) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannyShane Posted January 10, 2019 Author Share Posted January 10, 2019 oh yeah after your first description, i was sold on the idea. i meant to go to home depot today but missed the timing. I will definitely be there tomorrow to pick one up. I appreciate the video, it seems pretty simple. thanks again man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannyShane Posted January 12, 2019 Author Share Posted January 12, 2019 Hey Flightrisk, thanks again. i just bought the router and a bit set. Im just gonna order t-molding from online (because i couldn't find that anywhere). wanted to say thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlightRisk Posted January 14, 2019 Share Posted January 14, 2019 (edited) You are welcome. Be sure to check back in and let us know how it goes. Pics would be great if you have the time. Check this out. At about 2:24 he shows his router and does exactly what we've been talking about. He also has tips about things he would do differently like a cabinet with no sharp angles and doing it before he put 3/4s of it together https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4OjP_5HEzs Edited January 14, 2019 by FlightRisk fixed typo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannyShane Posted January 14, 2019 Author Share Posted January 14, 2019 damn that was a useful video. i like the door on the side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlightRisk Posted January 14, 2019 Share Posted January 14, 2019 A door and all that storage! I have been really considering a version of that for myself 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madhatter3339 Posted February 3, 2019 Share Posted February 3, 2019 make sure you get the right size T-slot bit to match your tmolding barb size. Go to T-molding.com and look at the barb thickness as well as the tmolding and the tslot bit they sell both. The standard size to use is the 1/16" slot cutter. This is the 4 player I just completed for a client. It's based off the TMNT/Simpson's style cab. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slushhole Posted April 14, 2019 Share Posted April 14, 2019 On 1/7/2019 at 10:34 PM, Hayata said: knew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.