T-molding - Do you cut the spine on curves?

I cut the spine on the stuff I put on my System 1 cabinet. I did not read any tutorial before I started, and I could not get the corners right, than I cut the spine and it went splendidly :)

I did not glue mine, but I can see where that could be beneficial.


Hope that helps. I am, by NO means, a good restorer :)

Chris
 
I cut the spine on curves to relieve the stress. Not cutting the spine on curves can lead to premature cracking there. I don't glue the t-molding.
 
I've had to glue a couple of cabs, but those are usually ones where the T-molding was pulled out years ago and it's lost the tight fit. I cut small V's on the corners of sharp angles.
 
i haven't attempted this yet but i was planning on cutting the spine, if you have any of the original T-Molding from the cab u can use it as a rough guide.

I'm guessing your planning on doing the Virtual Boy project tho ;-)

I know cutting the spine is the right way to go, i've seen a couple of Arcade Repair Tips vids and it shows how the spine will collapse on itself and that would never fit flush with an edge.

I hear the glue is mainly for spots that don't like to stay in, i've also seen staples used in spots where the Molding is out of view.
 
Yep, on every cab.

Cut V notches on the outside curves and multiple straight vertical slices on the inside curves.

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ArcadeMaze!
 
It isn't just the Virtual Boy, but the Simpsons cabinet and my Gaplus cabinet. :D

very nice sir! can't wait to see the results :D

I gotta put the halt on buying cabs and start finishing up projects, my Spider-man cab has been missing the upper p1/p2 side t-molding for years >.< (i'll blame it on not being actively worked on for the past 3 years lol).
 
Definitely cut. The pros even have a special tool to do it. Looks kind of like set of nippers that take a v-shaped chunk out of the spine. Glue shouldn't be necessary, unless the groove is worn, cut badly, or the wrong size for the molding being used.
 
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Definitely cut. The pros even have a special tool to do it. Looks kind of like set of nippers that take a v-shaped chunk out of the spine. Glue shouldn't be necessary, unless there groove is worn, cut badly, or the wrong size for the molding being used.

I'd like that tool if anyone has a link to it.
 
I'm glad this topic came up, I just ran into this problem on a few corners of an Area 51/Maximum Force cab. A few friends and myself bought it for a buddy stationed over in Afganastan, for his welcome home gift. And I wanted to make this thing look as good as it can for him.

Thanks for the insight guys.
 
i think i've seen that before, and yea i remember the price too wtf are they thinking with a $150+ price tag?

Unfortunately, it's a specialized tool, which means small audience and big price. On the bright side, if you are installing the molding all day, every day, it will pay for itself quickly. And based on the work it's doing, it will very likely last forever.

Not much help to the hobbyist though.
 

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