Custom holder for spare Atari boardsets

DPtwiz

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After moving a bunch of boards off my shelf to get to a box of T-molding tonight, i thought it would be handy to have something to but them in besides cardboard boxes. I'm always paranoid about scratching traces when boards touch. This one will hold 10 single atari boardset of the standard size, 11.5X22 5/16" should also hold double boards like tempest, etc. Has 10 slots top and bottom spaced at 2" the box depth is 16" deep, so the boards will hang out the end, but the box weight should keep it safely on a shelf. Added hand grab holes to the side to make it easy to pick up and move. Added the Atari logo to make it easy to tell what's in it.

I'll try and cut one tomorrow while i'm cutting a few cab parts, make sure my math was right and it fits together nice, and more importantly, the boards fit in it. if anyone is interested in one once they are done, probably 50.00 + shipping. i can send it flat and include Atari style screws with the built in washer head. I can predrill them too, make it easy to assemble once you get it. Making it out of the same birch as the cabs, so you could paint or stain it if you want. Would probably come in real handy for the guys on here that do board repairs! Here's a screen shot of it, and a quick sketch in MSpaint (i know, don't laugh to hard)

EDIT: going to go find an ARII and make a custom holder for those as well..

bxscrn.jpg


quicksketch.jpg
 
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That is so sweet. I wish I had the skills. Though for a guy who builds cabinets all the time, that was probably a cake walk. The Atari logo is a nice touch. Back when I was big into JAMMA games, I wanted to build something like that and mount it in the cabinet to make switching the harness around from one to the other easy. I had a picture drawn up (not nearly as detailed as yours) but that's as far as it got.
 
How is the (round) router bit going to make the sharp corners in the Atari logo?
 
I use a 1/8" downspiral bit, so it will only have 1/16" rounded edges, won't look bad. The slots in the bottom and top of the box will be 1/8 wide as well. I could have made it hold more boardsets, but i wanted to be able grab a board out easily, hence the spacing at 2"
 
I don't really have enough Atari boards to justify the time spent, but you may have inspired me to break out the dado blade & router. I keep telling myself to try and make more time for woodworking.

For the logos, a few seconds work with a sharp chisel would make quick work of the corners. Of course you already know that...lol. Mo coffee...
 
Cool idea. Looking forward to seeing the final build with the boards sitting inside...
 
This one will hold 10 single atari boardset of the standard size, 11.5X22 5/16" should also hold double boards like tempest, etc. Has 10 slots top and bottom spaced at 2" the box depth is 16" deep, so the boards will hang out the end, but the box weight should keep it safely on a shelf.

quicksketch.jpg

*runs to call patent lawyer*

SSL10901.jpg
 
I was thinking about something similar, but I like that your putting the Atari logo in it with handles. These would even look good as stackable shelves on their own.
 
I'd need one where the boards slide all the way in, that way I could put a hinged door on the front to seal them up. If I didn't do that it would fill up with spiders in no time.... Damn cellar spiders! :mad:

pholcus_rovner.jpg
 
heh! Phet, have you posted that before? I WAS going to cut one out today, along with a few parts i needed, until i realized how fucking dumb i am when i work till 2 AM in the shop. Building a starwars cockpit right now, and on the piece along the outside above your head that has the bevel with the 3 seperate pieces of art, i made them from 3/4 MDF so the bevel would be smooth.

I made 6 of them to use up the sheet, and when i stacked them, it was 3 right sides, and 3 left sides. I didn't pair them as left and right, and i didn't pay attention when i grabbed two of them, and i built two right sides. DUH. So now i'm cutting out 2 new inner pieces, and 1 side of the monitor frame assembly, that for some reason is routed 1/16 too deep..

I'll get some together soon though, Jpopson told me he has about 20 centipede boardsets, so i'll make him a stack of these.
 
Too bad my boards aren't all the same size.

I was thinking the same thing. I have A few JAMMA shmups that I swap into a candy cab and was wondering if I could make a similar box to fit under a pinball machine to store them in.
 
All of these ideas are cool. Somehow I overlooked your post the first time, orion. However, as someone who hasn't really gotten into collecting boards (I probably have about a half dozen board(set)s not installed in cabinets), the free USPS box approach has worked well enough. My biggest problem hasn't been how to protect them. It's been finding a central storage spot for all of them rather than sticking a few boxes here and there. Now that I've got dedicated shop space I need to build some shelves for boards, monitors, etc.
 
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