After all the boards were cut I could proceed to construct the skeleton of the cabinet. It turned out to be a time consuming task.
I have transferred the design on the side panels and added some marks for the support planks.
Just to be sure I placed the monitor on the side if I did not make any mistakes. I have also placed the plank below the screen to see how it will look.
For the speakers I needed a hole of 10 cm in diameter.
I also needed 29 mm holes for the buttons on the sides.
To connect the sides I have decided to use 30 x 22 mm planks and in some places that needed less support 18 x 12 mm. To cut them I have used a miter box and a clamp to cut them at 90 degrees angle.
I ended up with supports for the screen, the door on the back and the control panel.
I could predrill holes and use dowels to glue them together. This was rather tricky as I did not have a tool to drill in a right 90 degrees angle.
I did the same with the boards for the marquee.
I have connected all the planks and put some weight on top of one of the side panels for the glue to set wel.
The next day I could attach the bottom of the cabinet.
And the lower (as well as the top part) of the back, that will support the back panel door.
I have also decided that the screen needed some extra supports and I have cut few extra planks.
I have glued them on the back of the initial monitor supports.
I marked the holes for the VESA mount and predrilled holes. I could test if I did it correctly.
I have found this nice hinge for the cover in back of the cabinet. At this stage I could test it with a couple of predrilled mm holes.
To cover the screen I have chosen to cut some planks from the 8 mm MDF. It worked out just fine. Later they were going to be pained and a plexiglass with a sticker overlay will cover them anyway.
Next, I needed to hammer in the T-nuts to fasten the control panel. They are for 5 mm screws, but needed to predrilled it with a 6 mm drill.
Then I have placed the panel and tested it everything fitted as it should.
On the back, I have predrilled a hole for the C14 power connector. I also needed a power switch, but the order did not come in at this point in time, so I had to wait to be sure about the dimensions. First I have drilled 4 holes in the corders of the square and then used a small saw to cut out the hole.
The connector fitted well.
The last thing that I did to the cabinet before painting, is to put some supports for the marquee sign. As I initially thought that the marquee sign will be inside the boards. Later in the build I shall change my mind.
The finished bartop arcade cabinet skeleton was ready to be pained. The first thing was to cover the MDF board with a primer. I have used a terpentine based pained. To my surprise the primer was only available in white and gray. So I have chose the darkest colour to cover the cabinet.
Next, I have painted the control panel and the screen covering planks.
After I have finished priming the cabinet the expected power button had arrived. So I could make a hole for it on the back. I have proceeded in the same way as with the power connector.
Testing out the button next to C14 connector.
In order to add t-modling to the sides of the cabinet I needed to mill in a 2 mm slot on the side panels. For that purpuse I have used a special router bit.
The router needed to be setup in a manner that it could mill exactly in the middle on the side panel.
The finished slot for t-modling looked like this.
Now it was time to paint the cabinet. I have chosen black color.
The pained cabinet looked like this.
