Cabinet Building Questions...

[DynamiteSJ]

Hey...

I have a few questions about building a cabinet from scratch. I am a pretty picky builder and want the arcade to come out lookin as nice as possible. I just restored a Sunset Riders arcade to a mame machine and it came out well.

Now my question is.... straight cuts are no problem but making circle and round cuts im stressin about. I was thinking of buying a scroll saw..


any suggestions

[brian_hoffman]

How big a circle? There is nothing wrong with a jigsaw and some sandpaper as long as you take your time and are not mass producing.

If its for buttons use a spade bit not a holesaw.

Are you using MDF?

[DynamiteSJ]

yea... im gonna use 3/4 mdf... i was actually thinking about it... and a scroll saw wouldnt work for big pieces like that main left and right sides.

So a jigsaw is gonna do and i am thinking of gettin this:

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/300/ec/eca01d52-bd2d-4e75-9335-51f1a1489c85_300.jpg

A table belt sander...


Or nah?! Any suggestion for better/different equipment?

Just a first time builder from scratch looking for answers from other with experience

Thanks

[brian_hoffman]

Its nice, although I dont have one and my stuff comes out ok, one tool you cannot live without is a dremel, a million uses for small cuts and custom cuts that the jig saw cant, it has small sanding attachment too. I love mine!

[DynamiteSJ]

ahh.... so a masive belt sander isnt really needed? a dremel/rotary tool does the job well?

[brian_hoffman]

Do you have a table saw? Those are great for long cuts like sides, if not a circular saw will work fine, just cut both sides at the same time.

[DynamiteSJ]

i dont got it yet.. im actually have one in mind which im gonna purchase on monday or tues of next week.

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/300/72/72be3383-b0ca-48e6-9983-b645942c7762_300.jpg

Ryobi BTS21

For its price range and size... according to reviews ive been reading and seeing it in person... it got the best rating in its class. Just ranked low on safety standards.. lol hopefully everything ends up good on that end.

Now about cutting both sides at once... wouldnt that be difficult if I need to make curves? I dont see a problem using a table saw.. but a jigsaw... just sounds like a nightmare...

Cutting one side and using it as a template doesnt work well?

[brian_hoffman]

I did my long cut on a table saw both side at a time, I did my curves one side at a time, Of course I traced with pencil where I was cutting, so they came out good, then I used a handheld ocelating sander, and for the places it couldnt quit get like corners or curves I used my dremel.

http://s.sears.com/is/image/Sears/00911177000

[Rawd]

I can't live without my Dremel or router. I built a couple cabinets before I owned them, and they are quite 'square'. :)

[DynamiteSJ]

awesome.. thanks for the advise and suggestions... once i get started on my cabinet.. i'll definitely post pics and my progress on it. Still making final touches on my restore of sunset riders machine.. once thats done... its on