Just started a build of a wooden handheld retropie machine... brass bullet buttons...

DubiousEngineer

latest build progress for those that care and have 5 mins spare to watch the video... I SPLIT THE WOOD :(

BobHarris

don't worry about the wood splitting. Scars add character/personality. :-)
Wood glue is amazing stuff, so I'm sure it will be fine. Also the wood gives the handheld a great retro look, which is a nice touch for a Retropie based system !

Clyde

@dubiousengineer My sympathies for the mishap. I'm building an upright cab at the moment and I lost count of all the errors I would try to avoid in hindsight. :P But I came to terms with all of them so far, knowing that it's the work of my own two hands, being no handyman at all.

I wish you success in fixing the case. And like @BobHarris said, it may even add some rustic character. ;)

DubiousEngineer

@bobharris ... I'm really nervous... I may end up going "steam punk!".... But that doesn't really fly with gaming ... does it?

DubiousEngineer

@clyde ... any pictures of the build so far? - :-) ... I just made a bar-top... (Well, bodged together rather than made!)

BobHarris

@dubiousengineer Final fantasy has some Steampunk influences so you could go there. :-)

Clyde

@dubiousengineer said in Just started a build of a wooden handheld retropie machine... brass bullet buttons...:

@clyde ... any pictures of the build so far? - :-) ... I just made a bar-top... (Well, bodged together rather than made!)

None I want to make public at this time. :*) But I'm planning to post an illustrated report here once it's finished, which shouldn't take more than 2 or 3 weeks from now on (I hope). Stay tuned.

I like the lean and practical design of your build. It's a welcome diversion from the typical bar-top look. In contrast, my upright looks very typical because it's a construction kit. ;)

And I like that you're apparently drinking some kind of dark beer in the video. o/ᵁ

DubiousEngineer

@clyde ... gets my vote mate! ... looking forward to seeing your pictures!! - I do love real ale and have an affinity for JD - sometimes with coke! - Thanks for watching and your thoughts on the new build of the handheld games console are also welcome... all input is useful and leads to a better build!!

DubiousEngineer

@bobharris ... super cool, I’ll have a look final Fantasy and probably use it to model the unit in photographs... maybe run a video of it.... thanks for your input! :). You get my vote! H

DubiousEngineer

@clyde cheeky show off my progress moment... apologies for self promotion... but, it’s getting laughs and ... serious making of a wooden handheld console! ...

Clyde

@dubiousengineer Being not a handyman at all myself, I'm impressed of the work you're putting into this nice "little" project. And videos like yours show me that even more practised builders make mistakes, but don't let themselves get down by them. :)

By the way, I put one of the sidearts on my cab last weekend, the second is planned for this Sunday, because I'm going to medieval festivals today and tomorrow. o/ᵁ ᵁ\o

DubiousEngineer

@clyde ... supercool! ... no bubbles I hope! ... I’m from UK and lived for six years in Chicago... Bristol renaissance fair was sooo much fun! ... take your time over your build, don’t rush, rushing and tiredness causes mistakes... I’ve been tucked up with flu for a few days, so no real progress this end, but will get something done soon! ... have fun!

I did buy these to test... not really RetroPie stuff though

Clyde

@dubiousengineer No bubbles and no dust particles to speak of, \o/ only some minor glitches around the edges because I wrap the foil around them with the help of a dryer. Thanks for the advice, I learned the "zen way" of building early on, before I could make significant mistakes. That's why I waited until the Easter holidays and my vacation this week. Of course, I still make mistakes and erroneous decisions I would do differently in retrospect, but patience and thoroughness keep them at a minimum. FAIL = First Attempt In Learning (or forth, fifth, fourteenth, fiftieth …)

I may finish my cab this weekend if only the LED buttons arrive in time. Although the parcel delivery sent me an e-mail that they did deposit it at a local store, but it wasn't there. :( I filed a complaint and I hope it will be delivered today. Sometimes, we suffer from others' mistakes instead of our own (ordering this late was mine after all), but I try not to be annoyed by them, but do other things in the meantime, in this case the plain black bezel, the marquee's illumination, laundry, and house cleaning. :)

I hope you get well soon and that you can get back to your project.

Clyde

@clyde said in Just started a build of a wooden handheld retropie machine... brass bullet buttons...:

@dubiousengineer No bubbles and no dust particles to speak of

Besides care and cleanliness, praises can be sung about special car foil with a network of tiny air channels in the glue that make bubbles nearly impossible or easy to squeeze out subsequently. :D

Drakaen391

@dubiousengineer I second the don’t rush part...

Me rushing is why my build came out looking ugly and needing paint to hide the patchwork

Clyde

@clyde said in Just started a build of a wooden handheld retropie machine... brass bullet buttons...:

I may finish my cab this weekend if only the LED buttons arrive in time.

They did today and I'm happy. :D

edit:
@Drakaen391 You have my sympathies.

DubiousEngineer

@clyde Brilliant... the frustration of the postal system! - GOING POSTAL! ... still a sick boy, tail end... Made some good progress tonight, should be wiring the console bullet buttons in place shortly, then we can give it a test... theres a big red missile switch to be fitted to it... this is going to be a beast when done!!

DubiousEngineer

@drakaen391 ... would like to see your build... Talking of shoddy builds... in the mean time, here is an 18 min video of me building a bartop... if you have time or inclination, you may see how shoddily i slammed this together!

DubiousEngineer

@clyde Great news they arrived!

Clyde

@dubiousengineer I managed to "finish" it last weekend \o/ – i.e. as finished as a toy train setup never really is, but its definitely presentable. I just need the free time to open a thread about it. Stay tuned. :)

Brilliant... the frustration of the postal system! - GOING POSTAL!

Yeah … and other little obstacles like one of the 14 buttons not lighting up. :/ Fortunately, a friend of mine could solder its broken soldering joint. \o/ I really should take one of the many soldering courses at the hacker conventions I visit quite regularly.

Looking forward to watching your video!