Anyone make a bartop machine from scratch?

Lanky Kong

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Hey guys 'n gals,

I've been tossing around the idea of making a bartop machine from scratch or perhaps another existing bartop cab if one is suggested to me. What I am a little uncertain on is the dimensions required. I have been doing some research but I thought I might come to you all and see if anyone else has done it.

My idea was to make one Tapper-"themed". I mean it would be for a bar afterall lol. I would probably use a...bootleg multiboard for this...I don't know. That seems like the easiest/cheapest route to go but I am completely open to suggestions of all kinds.

Perhaps it is best to buy an existing one and modify that to my tastes? Tbbk and I had planned to pick up a couple bartop games at the last super auction but the pickings were less than ideal.

Anyway, my craziest idea was to build one in the shape of a pony keg laying over on its side. So like 1/4 to 1/2 of it would be cut out for the screen & CP. That way from the sides, top, and back it would look like a wood keg. I am thinking this might be a crap ton of work though.


Anyone ever tried to make anything like this before?


~Lanky Kong
 
You should see if you can find a real old wooden keg somewhere and build it out of that, I'm sure they can be gotten somewhere.

That was my thoughts too! But what I'm not knowledgeable about is the size wooden kegs come in. I am afraid they'll either be waaay too big or too small. Hell, I guess if I got a big enough one I could put a tap in it to use it for actual beer as well as have a game out of the front lol. I'd definitely have to waterseal it well.
 
Lanky.

I believe someone on the BYOAC forum built something with a functional beer tap in it! But that is probably overkill.

Imagine this here but without the base. Seems quite doable.

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The auction was loaded with bartops but none of the old style ones that had actual control panels, every one was a megatouch. There wasn't anything we could realistically stick any controls on.

Greg McLemore actually owns a Pong in A Barrel, which sticks the barrel on the ground the other way.
 

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Damn... man that is exactly what I was thinking. Get rid of the base and put some controls in front. The only thing I'd like different is more of a design/look change to a barrel with slats (I believe thats what the wood pieces are called).

Too bad it'll probably be next to impossible to find one of them beat to shit that we could use.
 
Actually should be an easy find. I'll be we could come up with one pretty quick.
 
Well, I have the feeling that if we found one of them machines we'd both quickly want to just restore it back up to it's original form regardless of it's current condition. We're both that way about weird shit lol...

But I can tell, I've got you hooked on my idea lol.
 
Oh you meant one of those machines? I thought you meant a barrel, and we could find a barrel real quick.

No we would never find one of those machines, they were a licensed version for Australia.
 
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People still get the bigger wooden barrels for backyard clam bakes so somebody somewhere sells them, and I know home brewers can get the smaller kegs, so you might check with some of their sites.
 
Lanky Kong lives in the St. Charles Historic district, antique stores are everywhere here. He should be able to find a mid sized barrel with ease.
 
Lanky Kong lives in the St. Charles Historic district, antique stores are everywhere here. He should be able to find a mid sized barrel with ease.

That means, I need to get the Mario bezel and soon-to-be-purchased CP in soon and get that Mario at least up & running. Then I can switch to working on this which I kind of want to. Must be A.D.D. I can't finish one project before finding another more complicated one.

I may have to go all original with the Mario just to free up some time sooner. ;)
 
You can get wooden barrels from Manards, they are in there lawn and garden section. The only problem is that they are cut in half. They have two verisons, they are cut differently. One is cut length ways and the other is just cut in half.
 
You can get wooden barrels from Manards, they are in there lawn and garden section. The only problem is that they are cut in half. They have two verisons, they are cut differently. One is cut length ways and the other is just cut in half.

I am not sure we have a Manards here but nevertheless I am guessing their barrels come that way and not that they cut them themselves?
 
A pair of lengthways cut ones would be perfect. We could hinge it so it opened up for service.

I am not sure we have a Manards here but nevertheless I am guessing their barrels come that way and not that they cut them themselves?
 
A pair of lengthways cut ones would be perfect. We could hinge it so it opened up for service.

Yeaah... But then it's not always visible, at least the game part isn't. That concept confers upsides and downsides. Upsides of doing it that way would include easier transportability as when closed it would be easier to carry and probably more protected, if done right. The downside is, we'd have to build everything within the area of a closed barrel otherwise you wouldn't be able to close it. That's definitely a limitation as, after seeing the picture of the atari barrel pong you posted, I envisioned a wooden control panel being added right in front below the monitor...

Of course if the barrels are made out of staves (now that's the right word I think lol) and cut in half cleanly, we could probably use one of the lengthwise-cut barrels for the base/cab. Then we could use another for peices to attach to the other.

Really, I was thinking that picture you posted minus the bottom with a wooden control panel added on.

---

Then again, what about the hinge idea where the control panel is detachable. and it has 2 detachable feet/stands (which would just be essentially boards with a portion of circle cut out). Everything could be stowed inside nicely. You open it up, pull out stands and control panel. Lay the barrel on the stands, connect up the CP, and plug it in.
 
I have a barrel about that size. Had it since I was a kid and I now use it to put coasters on in my arcade section of the basement for when people have drinks 'n stuff. It kinda looks like a barrel DK would throw down the girders. :) If you're desperate for a barrel, seek me out as a last resort. Not sure if I want to part with it or not.

But I am also looking to do a small bartop mini system eventually. But I currently have no space or means to cut wood pieces or shape any wood via a jigsaw. If anyone makes an easy put-together solution that people can just screw together, that'd be optimal.
 
It kinda looks like a barrel DK would throw down the girders. :)

Nice...that came to mind for me as well :) I'll keep you in mind but honestly, I'd probably feel bad taking something like that off ya anyway, what with the sentimental value and all. Plus I am sure I can find one.

As for making your own bartop machine, you can do what Tbbk and I were going to do. Find an existing bartop machine (they're out there, just don't get a megatouch one for this purpose) and add a multi-board + CP to it.

If I find one that looks like a barrel Donkey Kong would hurl, I may wood burn two handprints or monkeyprints into it LOL.
 
A pair of lengthways cut ones would be perfect. We could hinge it so it opened up for service.

If you go this way you could put the control pannen in one half and then you might have to use a LCD in the other. You could mount the LCD and use a 60-in-1 off to the side and make a cover so you do not see the board and wiring. You could also mount a speaker of the other side of the monitor. Make it so you have the hinge on the bottom and a latch on the top. The all you have to do is unlatch it pull the front down and you are ready to play. The only thing you might not be able to hide would be the wires going o the control pannel. The only reason I say use a LCD is because you want a bar top game the lcd would make it so you can keep the size down.
 
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