My custom wall cabinets

[syph]

I've mentioned these in a few threads, but I really didn't have them done and pretty until this Saturday - I was still cutting Lexan and finding studs for the French cleats until noon, trying to get them ready for our spring martini party that night (they were a big hit, at least until the guests discovered that one of our cats, Bob, never ever gets tired of playing with the laser pointer - no kidding, he will chase it for HOURS). Here are some pictures of the two "alpha" cabinets, the ones where I did accurate and sensible ramps, and actually used wood conditioner before using stain/sealer on them. I'll post some pictures later tonight of the "beta" cabinet, it has strange ramps and bad stain, I didn't believe them about the wood conditioner, doh. Lots of interesting streaks and stuff on that one. By the way, robocop is unbelievably amazing - you get to hit buttons during reaches and shoot the crap out of the bad guys. It's awesome.



photos of the top and bottom - ball release lever, $0.78 at Lowes, forgetting to put a bucket underneath when you pull it, priceless.






Hope you like 'em!

[Tulsa]

Sweet. I love the open catch at the bottom for retrieving the balls. The funnel top with the plexiglass is great too. Perfect design. I'll take two!

[RKnarr01]

very nice , now all you need to do is create a centralized ball feed system and a ball return system to you never have to refill!

[Tulsa]

Oops, didn't see the glass at the bottom. Okay, here's what you do. Eliminate the glass at the bottom and add a lip of wood to hold the balls in there. Then you can just reach in and grab what you needed one handed without have to open a door with one hand and hold the container in the other.

Just my two cents.. I can spare it, I have more..

[syph]

very nice , now all you need to do is create a centralized ball feed system and a ball return system to you never have to refill!

I like those, but I haven't seen one that goes with my living room yet - I think I'd have to rip out the walls and put something behind the panelling before I'd be happy with it.

I've got 4k more balls on the way, I'll post pics with the tops full, really looking forward to it.

[RKnarr01]

those are very neat you might want to consider selling some of those on ebay.

[syph]

Oops, didn't see the glass at the bottom. Okay, here's what you do. Eliminate the glass at the bottom and add a lip of wood to hold the balls in there. Then you can just reach in and grab what you needed one handed without have to open a door with one hand and hold the container in the other.

I'm in love with glassed-in bits. I like that idea though, I might try it if I ever build a fourth cabinet. I'd have to pad the bottom though, that glass stops a lot of the noise factor. But on the other hand, I wouldn't need to build ramps any more down there, since the balls wouldn't need to be near a hole. Hm.

[Tulsa]

Just cut a couple of mouse pads in there to fit for noise. Using the left hand to fill the payout hopper as needed and the right hand on the shooter at all times is the very best way to go, if you aren't going to go cyclic!

[syph]

those are very neat you might want to consider selling some of those on ebay.

I've been thinking and thinking about that, but I can't imagine how I could compete with $90 wall cabinets made from actual oak and well stained in three or four different colors. Mine are made from the cheapest wood I could find at Lowes and that was still a $30 base cost just for wood, I think oak would take me to, just guessing, $60 to $80. I guess I could pull it off unfinished for $130-$150, but even then, I think I'd be paying myself maybe three dollars an hour - I dunno about you guys but.... The two alphas went faster than the beta did by far (lots and lots of time figuring out the proper way to build a fit ramp - turns out there's a really simple trick, but I screwed up a lot until I got it) but I'm still pretty slow as far as woodcraft goes.

Maybe I'll try and put it together as a plan/tutorial, but I'm more likely to post that for free than charge for it.

[syph]

Just cut a couple of mouse pads in there to fit for noise. Using the left hand to fill the payout hopper as needed and the right hand on the shooter at all times is the very best way to go, if you aren't going to go cyclic!

Bah - my original plan was padded black velvet, but the glass cut down so much of the noise that I dropped it and just left them stained. Polyshades forever!

[RKnarr01]

i really like the ball reserve you have at the top, if you dont mind, i'd like to use that idea from ya and use it on a pachinko case i make this weekend if i get time.

[syph]

i really like the ball reserve you have at the top, if you dont mind, i'd like to use that idea from ya and use it on a pachinko case i make this weekend if i get time.

Hah - awesome, feel free, post pictures!

[Tulsa]

Bah - my original plan was padded black velvet

Only if you put it in an Elvis machine!

[syph]

don't mess with the king, baby!

[dapperdan]

What is the best way to cut lexan?

[RKnarr01]

syph,

how high is your ball reserve on the top of the case?

[syph]

I've been having great luck with my table saw and a fine/plywood blade (a cheap $13 blade, no need to go with an expensive one unless you're a wood snob. So far, I still have all my fingers, at least until my wife finds out about me and her sister.

[syph]

syph,

how high is your ball reserve on the top of the case?

counting the little slot for it, I think I ended up cutting the lexan to a width of 4 2/8" and a length of 20 7/8" for both tops. I don't recall off hand the width of the bottom glass, but you didn't ask anyway : )

[RKnarr01]

ok thanks im trying to draw up plans so i can fit my pvc tubing into the stand.

[Tulsa]

I've been having great luck with my table saw and a fine/plywood blade (a cheap $13 blade, no need to go with an expensive one unless you're a wood snob. So far, I still have all my fingers, at least until my wife finds out about me and her sister.

I'm not completely sure it would be the fingers I was worried about. :17: