Burgertime Cabinet Restore

BubbaK

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I picked up a Burgertime over a year ago and I'm finally getting to restore it. I'm hoping its salvageable. It has a bit of water damage to the bottom, which I can replace the bottom piece. Don't understand why its particle board on the bottom and plywood everywhere else. My biggest concern is repairing plywood that has started to separate. I sanded the cabinet down and the front and one side are pretty messed up. I picked up some bondo. My thought was to run some glue around the edges of the plywood that was lifting and clamp it tight. Let it dry, sand then start working the bondo. I've got a few pictures..

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At some point, it makes more sense to cut the bad front (and bottom?) panel out and replace with new 3/4" plywood. While that is a lot of work, you eliminate all that filling, sanding, dealing with damage.

What makes the Midway cabinets a challenge is that the panels have rabbets, fit into slots in the sides, etc.. still, with that amount of wood damage, I don't think the slight splintering you might get from cutting the panel out with be that big of deal.

I still haven't finished this Robotron project, but I cut out the front panel and replaced it. Here are some pics. Only difference is I used MDF for the front, as my cabinet originally had. In hindsight, since some Williams cabinets had a plywood front panel (used whatever they had it seems), I might as well have used plywood. MDF is easy to finish though.

http://www.coinopspace.com/forum/topics/robotron-upright-total
 
Cutting the side wouldn't be that bad and I may do that so I don't have to rework the entire slot for the T-molding. The other option I thought about for the front would be to put a piece of 1/8" masonite over it and finish. I do have a complete front kickpanel in vinyl from thisoldgame. I've a bit of time to think about it since I won't be getting back to it all week.
 
If you can extract the old front panel, then cut a new one on a good table saw with a big fence and get the width of the panel bang on so it fits snugly, the new panel will actually cover up the dados cut into the side panels (if that makes sense). If you do that and secure with good Titebond glue and finish nails, it would do fine. If you think you can cleanly do that, then I think that would be easier than fixing up the old front panel.
 
That I could definitely do. I've got access to a big table saw for that. That was actually my FIL's suggestion as well.
 
That I could definitely do. I've got access to a big table saw for that. That was actually my FIL's suggestion as well.

Do it. While it may not be reasonable to replace a side and bondo may be the answer there, I wouldn't waste a minute patching the front. Good luck. Get the 3/4" birch ply and go to town on it.
 
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