Machine on porch?

ITI

New member
Joined
Nov 26, 2011
Messages
17
Reaction score
0
Location
Florida
I know, a bad idea from the jump.

How does weather really affect the machine? Will it damage the cabinet/CP?

Anyone have any experience? It is just temporary. I'd say 2 months max.

Confused newbie.

Ian.
 
I bought a battlezone from a porch

I will need a new wooden cabinet as the particle board swelled up

If you seal a tarpaulin around it, it might prolong the inevitable, but seriously not advisable to leave any appliance in a humid environment, let alone a wooden one
 
Filming an episode of cops and you need something interesting next to the couch on the porch for when you come out of the house with your shirt off yelling at the cops about how your brother cheated you in a drug deal?
 
I had one in sun room for a while it was fine, but was the colder, no rain time of year, actually was around this time of year, didnt sustain any real damage, albeit was semi protected, got dirty, but no swelling, was the only option to store it, and wasnt a keeper anyway, but still played fine daily, not the PC10 ITI I hope?
 
Besides everything already stated (swelling wood...and if the cabinet is made of MDF, it'll go even quicker)......say hello to rodent nests (and possible bug investation).

Edward
 
I bought my first machine when I was 10 and it was a pole position that I always seen on an old lady's porch. So me and my dad asked her how much she wanted got it for 20$. The cab was trashed but I removed everything and it all sits in my parents attic down in alabama
 
You're in Florida so i'd say your cab would be nice and trashed in two months. May even get some rust! Make sure youe Tetanus shot is up to date.

On a less sarcastic note: Don't do it.
 
A Blaster or a Bubbles duramold should be semi-porch proof (the cabinet anyways).

Even if moisture wasn't an issue, you would be amazed how quickly the ultraviolet rays in sunlight (even non direct sunlight on a porch) can fade artwork and make plastics brittle.
 
You should look up the restore threads of Pr0k's Sundance and Cadillacman's Tron restores to see what can happen to a cab left in the elements, it's brutal, and I've got an Atari cocktail at home that suffered that fate which now needs all the wood replicated and replaced.

If you care about the cab but have absolutely no choice but to put it outside, I'd go as far as to build a plywood crate to keep it in and cover that with several tarps, and even then it'll probably suffer. I'll also add that you should remove everything removable and keep them inside, especially the monitor and electronics.

Here's a link to Pr0k's Sundance:

http://www.rgvac.com/blog/2009/01/28/sundance-resurrected/
 
Last edited:
Bad idea, bro.

Agreed. If you need to get it out of the house for 2 months why not rent a small storage unit to put it in ? There's a Uhaul in my area that offers indoor climate controlled ones and you might want to consider one of those. It'll cost a few bucks, but it'll also save you the time / expense of replacing the cab / side art / coin mechs etc... that'll get destroyed from the elements.
 
This thread got me wondering.

Were there ever any Arcade machines DESIGNED to be put outside other than the "kiddy rides" ? Pretty much something designed to go where a soda machine might.
 
Were there ever any Arcade machines DESIGNED to be put outside other than the "kiddy rides" ? Pretty much something designed to go where a soda machine might.

Yes. The machines themselves were two standard arcade games sitting side by side. There was a large modular unit that would fit all around the games which could be lifted up like an awning during the day and then locked down at night (or when not in use). I'll see if I can find some photos.

EDIT: Here we go
picture.php
 
Last edited:
Ha, not sure how I forgot to include that it is a sun porch attached to the house, completely enclosed without cooling and heating.

The machine itself is a work in progress as it is, I bought a junked up asteroids from my neighbor for $35, renting a storage unit wasn't my first choice.

I know it isn't a great idea, I was trying to see how it worked out for other folks that had to take the plunge...
 
Back
Top Bottom