Thread: Painting Arcade Machine (MDF)

Here's my recommendation for a sturdy finish on MDF.

Seal edges with (your choice of) Timbermate, car putty or epoxy. I favour epoxy these days as it also provides insurance against water entry. Remember that rounded edges not only take paint better, with MDF they resist impact damage better than sharp edges (the epoxy helps here, too).

Sand to 200 grit, dedust, spray with automotive primer for good coverage, sand with 320 grit, dedust, spray several coats of chosen colour, wet sand with 400-600-1200 grit, finish with car paint cutting compound.

Basically, it's just like painting a car. The $2.00 cans from Super Cheap Auto are fine for this sort of project. Try it on a few small bits to get the hang of it. Use good sandpaper (Norton or similar) not that mystery brand stuff in Bunnies.

Thread with pictures - www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1019557

How about some pics of the project?

Originally Posted by burraboy

How about some pics of the project?

Hokay, here are some pics of the story so far. I've filled all the screw holes and am getting ready to paint soon (obviously)

And thanks to Master Splinter for your advice and linky, muchos appreciation!






This is what I envisage it will look like when complete (the artwork on the control panel is ready to be applied after painting)


And this is what it all started as - a cardboard dream...


It's nice and sturdy, got braces inside (pine beams) and used good quality, long timber screws.

First time attempting something like this.

It's probably just part of the graphics there, but are you looking at installing Dragon's Lair?

Galaga, 1941, 1942, 1943... I could go on.

Keep us up to date with your progress.

Originally Posted by Waldo

It's probably just part of the graphics there, but are you looking at installing Dragon's Lair?

Galaga, 1941, 1942, 1943... I could go on.

Keep us up to date with your progress.

Dragon's Lair will be on there - along with the other ones like Space Ace etc as well as all the arcade goodies

When I'm done it should have emulators for all platforms (arcade/MAME, Daphne [Dragon's Lair etc], SNES, SEGA, N64, Atari and so on and so forth). Literally thousands of games

Oh yeeeehhhhh

Very swish. I've always wanted to have a table top arcade machine and have often been impressed with the boxes people have built.

Good ol' MAME. Nothing like having the most modern of technology to run the most ancient of games software

Ahhh... When you said arcade games I thought you meant something like this

or these


I feel a bit like Woodwould now.....

Just a note for other arcade cabinet builders who might come across this thread...consider buying a cheap air compressor ($99-150ish in bunnies, supa cheap), brad nailer ($50-ish) and spray gun ($80-ish) - it gives you better finishing and assembly options.

If you use a brad nailer it means you only have tiny holes to fill rather than trying to hide screw heads with filler; over time, the screw head can telegraph through marring an otherwise good finish.

If you can work just with glue (clamp while drying...modern glues are plenty strong to hold without mechanical reinforcement, as oceangoing yachts can be built using nothing but wood and epoxy adhesive), that's even better.