BYOAC OLD Wiki - User contributions [en]

SlikStik

2007-11-06T06:20:32Z

Noonenba:

[http://www.slikstik.com Home Page]

SlikStik sells a variety of products, including complete control panels, a cabinet kit, spinners, and joystick handles. They also resell buttons, trackballs, joysticks, and T-molding.

* [http://www.retroblast.com/reviews/controller4.html Retroblast's review of SlikStik Classic control panel] 
* [http://www.retroblast.com/reviews/roundup5.html Retroblast's review of SlikStik's Tornado spinner] 
* [http://www.retroblast.com/reviews/slik_lighted.html Retroblast's review of SlikStik's lighted joystick handles] 
* [http://www.retroblast.com/reviews/quad_blank.html Retroblast's review of SlikStik's Quad Panel Blank] 
* [http://www.retroblast.com/reviews/slikcab_1.html Retroblast's review of SlikStiks Arcade Cabinet] 

{{New_Review_Template|Name=JONTHEBOMB
|Comments=I bought a SlikStik Tornado spinner from SlikStick's online store. The spinner arrived in good time and was not damaged during shipping. I put the spinner into my control panel and it still works nicely. I have read threads on BYOAC where people were not satisfied with SlikStick's service.

|Rating=Safe
}}

{{New_Review_Template|Name=NoOne=NBA=
|Comments=I didn't actually order anything from them, but I loaned them the handle to my 49-way joystick in February 2005. They were going to take measurements from it, and produce aftermarket balltops to replace it. Two-and-a-half years later, I still have not gotten the stick back, nor have they ever produced the replacements, despite repeatedly telling me that the sticks were almost done, and that they would return mine when they were done.

|Rating=Danger
}}

==See Also==
* [[Vendors]]

[[Category:Vendors]]

Happ Controls

2007-11-06T06:13:59Z

Noonenba:

'''Homepage:''' http://www.happcontrols.com

Happ Controls sells replacement parts for a wide variety of coin-operated machines, including video games, pinball machines, vending machines, and so on.

Happ does offer parts for the home arcade machine builder, but they are not well-known as a end-user friendly company. Shipping on small orders tends to be higher than at other vendors.

{{New_Review_Template|Name=MYX
|Comments=For many years Happs has been a staple of the coin op world. They have nearly anything and everything you could ever want that has anything to do with a coin op product. The BYOAC community found, and started ordering from Happs very early in life.

Happs does not really seem to want to deal with the little guy though. There is a $5 addition to most orders. What is the $5 for? For the fabulous pleasure of ordering from them. On top of that, they charge fairly outrageous shipping fees. If a product is not in a warehouse near you, your shipping may double because your order may come from across the country, or worse shipped in seperate packages from multiple locations. You get to pay for every cent of it too. Oh and BTW, they will not tell you how much it will cost to ship, you will find that mystery out on your invoice or credit card statment.
So, again, they do have just about anything you want or need, but you will pay for it though.

|Rating=Safe
}}

{{New_Review_Template|Name=Space Fractal
|Comments=They have lots of great products and are very respected by the mame community.

Today I found out they have closed in the EU for private users, and they are not happy with small orders. You need to order minimum £100, before they accept it. So because of that, it's only for resellers. Their shop system is also a bit buggy, and is not the easist for shopping, hard to update profile information (because I've changed addresses) and so on.

So if you live in EU, find a reseller or find a another vendor instead (like I did).

|Rating=Recommeded only through a reseller
}}

{{New_Review_Template|Name=JONTHEBOMB
|Comments=I bought an arcade monitor, a coin door and two perfect 360 joysticks from Happ Controls. I received my items in a reasonable time frame. None of the items were damaged during shipping and all of the items worked well. The price I paid was too high. I would recommend buying Happ products from Divemaster127 or Ponyboy instead of Happ Controls.
|Rating=Safe
}}

{{New_Review_Template|Name=NoOne=NBA=
|Comments=Good selection of parts, but some questionable business practices. As mentioned above, watch out for shipping. I had trouble with an arcade monitor from them, and getting it resolved was a bit of a chore. I would second the suggestion to order from Ponyboy or Divemaster if you can get the parts from them.
|Rating=Safe
}}

==See Also==
* [[Vendors]]

[[Category:Vendors]]
[[Category:Rating]]

Ultimarc

2007-11-06T06:09:45Z

Noonenba:

'''Homepage:''' http://www.ultimarc.com

Ultimarc sells a line of keyboard encoders, several different joysticks, 
and the popular ArcadeVGA video card. The ArcadeVGA simplifies connecting an 
arcade monitor to the computer.

The Ultimarc joysticks are not just rebranded sticks from an OEM. 
Andy at Ultimarc has added unique functionality to his new joystick product, 
the Ultrastik, which allows it to to be programmatically switchable between analog mode, 
8-way mode, 49-way mode, and so on.

{{New_Review_Template|Name=Buddabing
|Comments=I have purchased an ArcadeVGA (the older, 7xxx-based model), a T-Stik Plus and an IPac from Ultimarc. I've never used the I-PAC :) or the T-Stick :) but the ArcadeVGA is an integral part of my cabinet. In fact, I may upgrade to the 9xxx-based ArcadeVGA based on recent developments in MAME and Daphne
|Rating=Highly Recommended
}}

{{New_Review_Template|Name=Space Fractal
|Comments=Ultimarc is my favorite vendor in the EU! I have only heard good things about Ultimarc in Denmark (there is a simular forum about arcades in a danish language), and he has very great service, when things go wrong.

If you have a arcade monitor, and you want to setup that easily, this is recommended (J-Pac and Arcade-VGA combo).

|Rating=Highly Recommended
}}

{{New_Review_Template|Name=MYX
|Comments=Yeah, I gotta give Andy 2 thumbs up. I have bought an ipac, and an Arcade VGA card. I love the fact that I can see the games the way they were supposed to be seen...On an actual arcade monitor!!! The AVGA card was a little tricky to get installed as my computer seemed to want to fight me every step of the way. Andy actually gave me e-mail support for a couple of weeks. After everything was tried, he called me to resolve the issue. Within 10 minutes I was up and going. Good guy.
|Rating=Highly Recommended
}}

{{New_Review_Template|Name=JONTHEBOMB
|Comments=Andy is very helpful over at BYOAC. He answers any questions or troubles that members have with his products. I have only purchased an Ipac from Andy's store Ultimarc, but my Ipac has never failed me and works extremely well. Shipping was fast even though he is way over there in the UK.

|Rating=Recommended
}}

{{New_Review_Template|Name=NoOne=NBA=
|Comments=Ultimarc is definitely in the top three companies to support this hobby. Andy is always helpful, and goes out of his way to support his product as fully as possible. The trick to good shipping from him is to order large. He has a minimum shipping charge, due to shipping DHL, but shipping doesn't go up much at all if you add a bunch of other stuff to the order.

|Rating=Highly Recommended
}}

==See Also==
* [[Vendors]]

[[Category:Vendors]]
[[Category:Rating]]

The Real Bob Roberts

2007-11-06T06:05:04Z

Noonenba:

'''Homepage:''' http://homearcade.org/BBBB/index.html

Bob is a New Orleans area resident who retired from the arcade business some years ago. 
Since then, he has been selling off his large stock of arcade parts. 
Ordering is quite easy. Just surf his site. Write everything you want down. Email Bob with a list of what you want. He will write back with a total. You send him a check. He sends you the stuff. 
After you have established a buying record with him, he will cross ship your order. This means you make the order and he will ship the stuff on an honor system. He trusts that you will pay him. This method of business gets the items to you as quick as most places, if not sooner. He feels that arcade folk are good people and it he is one of the few places where you have a sort of old fashioned values feel. He seems to like to do business right. 

{{New_Review_Template|Name=MYX
|Comments=You gotta love Bob. Here is a guy who spent his life working on this stuff. He then retires, and starts a business of selling hard to find bits and pieces that he has either made or collected over the years. With Bob, there is the assurance of integrity and honest transactions. Do not let the old fashion vanilla flavored web site fool you. Bob will not take paypal as he got burned doing so. But, what you get is the right stuff and quality. Bob gets an 11.
|Rating=Highly Recommended
}}

{{New_Review_Template|Name=Buddabing
|Comments=I have only made one small order from Bob, but I can certainly vouch for him in the transaction I had with him. Due to him not taking credit cards or PayPal, I would not say Bob deserves an "11", :) but nevertheless I highly recommend him.
|Rating=Recommended
}}

{{New_Review_Template|Name=Jakobud
|Comments=Ordered from him several times. Good and reliable. Good prices as well.
|Rating=Recommended
}}

{{New_Review_Template|Name=NoOne=NBA=
|Comments=Very good communication. Always willing to help. The only downside is that there is no immediate payment method, so your product will ship immediately after he gets your check. He's been burned by Paypal, and by cross-shipping, so I don't blame him for this at all.
|Rating=Highly Recommended
}}

==See Also==
* [[Vendors]]

[[Category:Vendors]]
[[Category:Rating]]

Groovy Game Gear

2007-11-06T06:01:21Z

Noonenba:

'''Homepage:''' http://groovygamegear.com/webstore

GroovyGameGear is a one-stop shop for virtually all necessary parts to build a home arcade machine. They have designed their own keyboard encoders, joystick encoders, and the unique LedWiz, a device which allows the control of single colored or RGB LEDs.

In addition to their encoders, they stock a unique translucent microswitch button which has a built-in RGB LED and resistor. This saves a lot of time because the leads on RGB LEDs are very fragile and small, making them difficult to solder.

They stock hard-to-find items such as 1 1/8" hole saws, as well as the common items, such as locks, T-molding, regular pushbuttons, and so on.

Randy Turner, the owner of GGG, maintains an active prescence in the BYOAC forums, under the name "RandyT".

{{New_Review_Template|Name=MYX
|Comments=Randy at Groovy Game Gear, has really raised the bar as far as what to expect from arcade community vendors. He has poured his heart and soul into making innovative new gaming products. He covers a wide range of products that one needs to build and spice up a cabinet or control panel. You can expect to find everything from encoders to LED illumination and animation hardware.
|Rating=Highly Recommended
}}

{{New_Review_Template|Name=Space Fractal
|Comments=Randy is a great guy. He has some innovative controllers and interfaces, and delivers a very great service. The only bad thing is that he only sends from the USA, which means you have to pay both TOL&VAT (roughly 40% in Denmark). Since his parts are not cheap (but of good quality), some people in EU may prefer Ultimarc instead, since Andy sells from England (EU).
|Rating=Recommended
}}

{{New_Review_Template|Name=JONTHEBOMB
|Comments=Randy frequently comes to the BYOAC forum to unveil new products and answer questions asked by other members. I have placed two orders to Randy's shop at Groovy Game Gear. His products are top notch and high quality. Also, Groovy Game Gear's shipping is some how faster then the speed of light.
|Rating=Recommended
}}

{{New_Review_Template|Name=NoOne=NBA=
|Comments=Absolutely top-notch service, quality, and knowledge of the industry
|Rating=Highly Recommended
}}

==See Also==
* [[Vendors]]

[[Category:Vendors]]
[[Category:Rating]]

Ponyboy

2007-11-06T05:58:37Z

Noonenba:

'''Homepage:''' http://www.rollieelectronics.com/

'''BYOAC Thread:''' http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=36770.0

Ponyboy is a BYOAC forum member who is a Happ distributor. Since he buys from Happ directly, he charges a reasonable amount for shipping. If ordering from Happ directly, the shipping costs can be prohibitive.

{{New_Review_Template|Name=MYX
|Comments=Ponyboy can be found in the Buy \ Sell \ Trade Forum at BYOAC.

Bottom line is this...
He has tons of stuff.
Usually Ponyboy can offer prices that are below the norm of big companies like Happs.
Ordering is easy...

* Just send a personal Message (PM) of what you want.
* He will send you an e-mail with the shipping cost and total.
* You can Paypal him or send money.
* The stuff shows up.

|Rating=Recommended
}}

{{New_Review_Template|Name=Buddabing
|Comments=Although Ponyboy has no online presence that I know of, he is a respected vendor with good prices. My order with Ponyboy went very smoothly. It was shipped promptly once my payment was received, and it was packed securely.
|Rating=Recommended
}}

{{New_Review_Template|Name=JONTHEBOMB
|Comments=Ponyboy is a awesome guy. I have done two orders with Ponyboy. Both came super quick and were packaged well.

|Rating=Highly Recommended
}}

{{New_Review_Template|Name=NoOne=NBA=
|Comments=Perfect Service, Great Quality, Excellent Communication
|Rating=Highly Recommended
}}

==See Also==
* [[Vendors]]

[[Category:Vendors]]
[[Category:Rating]]

Groovy Game Gear

2007-11-06T05:55:13Z

Noonenba: /* See Also */

'''Homepage:''' http://groovygamegear.com/webstore

GroovyGameGear is a one-stop shop for virtually all necessary parts to build a home arcade machine. They have designed their own keyboard encoders, joystick encoders, and the unique LedWiz, a device which allows the control of single colored or RGB LEDs.

In addition to their encoders, they stock a unique translucent microswitch button which has a built-in RGB LED and resistor. This saves a lot of time because the leads on RGB LEDs are very fragile and small, making them difficult to solder.

They stock hard-to-find items such as 1 1/8" hole saws, as well as the common items, such as locks, T-molding, regular pushbuttons, and so on.

Randy Turner, the owner of GGG, maintains an active prescence in the BYOAC forums, under the name "RandyT".

{{New_Review_Template|Name=MYX
|Comments=Randy at Groovy Game Gear, has really raised the bar as far as what to expect from arcade community vendors. He has poured his heart and soul into making innovative new gaming products. He covers a wide range of products that one needs to build and spice up a cabinet or control panel. You can expect to find everything from encoders to LED illumination and animation hardware.
|Rating=Highly Recommended
}}

{{New_Review_Template|Name=Space Fractal
|Comments=Randy is a great guy. He has some innovative controllers and interfaces, and delivers a very great service. The only bad thing is that he only sends from the USA, which means you have to pay both TOL&VAT (roughly 40% in Denmark). Since his parts are not cheap (but of good quality), some people in EU may prefer Ultimarc instead, since Andy sells from England (EU).
|Rating=Recommended
}}

{{New_Review_Template|Name=JONTHEBOMB
|Comments=Randy frequently comes to the BYOAC forum to unveil new products and answer questions asked by other members. I have placed two orders to Randy's shop at Groovy Game Gear. His products are top notch and high quality. Also, Groovy Game Gear's shipping is some how faster then the speed of light.
|Rating=Recommended
}}

'''Review By''' NoOne=NBA=

'''Comments''' Absolutely top-notch service, quality, and durability.

'''Rating''' Highly Recommended

TRON joystick

2006-05-02T21:27:33Z

Noonenba: /* TRON-like sticks */

== About the TRON joystick ==
The joystick on a TRON machine was unique in a few ways. It was a trigger stick, just like Gorf, Satan's Hollow and other Midway games, but it was translucent royal blue (Satan's Hollow was translucent red). The TRON machine actually had four games in it. Some of the games required a 4-way stick and some could take advantage of 8-way movement. The joystick, therefore, was technically an 8-way stick, but it was restricted in such a way that the corners were difficult to hit accidentally.

== A TRON joystick on your cabinet ==
The easiest way to have a TRON stick on your cabinet is to find an actual TRON stick. The original TRON machine came out in the early 80s so there were lots of cabinets that had their control panels, with their weird TRON only joysticks, replaced with other controls and other games placed in them. TRON joysticks, and entire TRON CPs, come up fairly regularly on eBay, and are often quite expensive.

The TRON joystick is a heavy duty piece of machinery. The base of the stick (under the control panel) is 3.38" square and 4.25" tall, the mounting plate is 4"x5", and the stick above the panel is about 7" tall. Mechanically, with the exception of its unique color and restrictors, the TRON joystick is a leaf switch version of the [http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/50997000.htm Happ Controls "Heavy Duty 8-way Trigger Joystick"] with the same dimensions. It will take up considerably more real-estate on and under your control panel than a typical ball or bat-top joystick.

Reproduction translucent blue (and other color) handle pieces are sometimes produced, and and some NOS handles come up occasionally. These can be easilly mated to a Happ's HD 8-way Trigger Joystick. Specific handle parts can be ordered by taking the individual part numbers off of [http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/50997000x.htm Happ's exploded view]. Simply enter the part number for the part you need on the Happ's order page and you can get just the trigger, or just the screws, or just the faceplate, etc.

Using a stock Happ HD 8-Way Trigger stick will leave some of the games in TRON difficult to play properly. The restrictors in the real TRON stick make it difficult to go in a diagonal direction accidentally. The Happs stick is a true 8-way and will easily go to the corners and ruin your round of Light Cycles (one of the TRON levels).

People have had some success reproducing TRON style restrictors, but NOS and original restrictors are rare. It is easier to find an entire old TRON stick than just the restrictors.

== TRON-like sticks ==
Several arcade games came with heavy duty trigger sticks, which were very similar to TRON joysticks:
* Satan's Hollow (translucent red, 2-way, vertical shaft)
* Gorf (black, 8-way, optical switches, vertical shaft, bayonet lights behind faceplate)
* Xenophobe (black with two thumb triggers on face plate, true 8-way, forward leaning shaft)
* Discs of TRON (translucent blue with one thumb trigger on face plate, true 8-way, forward leaning shaft)

== B.Y.O. TRON joystick ==
Several people have successfully hacked PC trigger sticks or even actual TRON handles to other more common arcade joysticks. The trend to make computer (particularly Mac) peripherals out of translucent blue plastic in the late 90s makes it fairly simple to find good TRONesque joysticks to hack.

Generally the trigger stick handle is removed from the PC joystick and attached to a hollow metal rod the same size as the original arcade joystick's shaft. The wires from the trigger(s) go through the tube and work inside the CP just as any switch wires would.

Some challenges for building your own TRON stick:
* the limited 8-way of a real TRON stick is hard to emulate with regular arcade joysticks
* most regular joysticks' handles spin with fairly little effort, while spinning is not desirable in a trigger stick
* some cheaper joystick bases may not be hardy enough to survive enthusiastic play with the larger and heavier trigger stick handle
* the hollow shaft is also a potential weak point

Related Links:
* [http://www.oscarcontrols.com/projects/triggerstick.shtml Oscar Control's trigger stick hack]
* [http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=8923.0 MinerAl's trigger stick hack]
* [http://www.google.com/search?q=trigger+stick&sitesearch=forum.arcadecontrols.com Google search of BYOAC Forums. Keywords "trigger stick"]
* [http://www.google.com/search?q=trigger+joystick&sitesearch=forum.arcadecontrols.com Google search of BYOAC Forums. Keywords "trigger joystick"]
* [http://www.google.com/search?q=tron+joystick&sitesearch=forum.arcadecontrols.com Google search of BYOAC Forums. Keywords "tron joystick"]

Power Tools

2006-05-02T21:13:57Z

Noonenba: /* Circular Saw */

Power tools speed up the job of cutting the materials you need to build your cabinet. Depending on skill level, some people find it almost impossible to do things correctly without them, but they certainly can be done with hand tools. The list of power tools that are commonly used can be quite long, but a cabinet can certainly be built with a few important ones.

{{DisclaimerConstruction}}

==Circular Saw==

A circular saw cuts straight lines faster and easier than almost any other saw. It allows you to take the tool over to the wood, rather than maneuvering the wood around the tool.

Nearly all the cuts on a standard cabinet can be made with a circular saw.
The exception to this is inside curves.
Outside curves can be rough cut with the circular saw, and then sanded to match the pencil line.

A saw guide will help keep your straight cuts straight.
You can buy them at your local hardware store, or can build one using the factory edge of a sheet of MDF to guide the saw.
You use them by clamping them to the piece of wood you are cutting, and running the edge of your saw along the guide.

TIP: Clamp the saw guide to the piece of wood you intend to keep.
That way, if the saw does happen to walk away from the guide while you are cutting, you will leave too much wood on the piece you are keeping, and can clean it up with a second pass.

==Table Saw==

Best tool for cutting straight lines and much better than a circular saw if you need to put an angle on a cut.

==Jigsaw==

Also called a Saber Saw, a jigsaw is quite useful for making curved cuts. A jigsaw can be used to make straight cuts as well, but will take more time and due to the narrower base and propensity for the blades to bend, allows more chances for mistakes to creep in.

To minimize these mistakes, it is important to select a good quality blade that is appropriate to the material you are cutting. A cheap blade is much more likely to bend in a dense material like MDF than a more expensive one. Also, a cutting guide or straight-edge can make a big difference in the quality of the cut.

==Router==
For our purposes, a router can be considered the jack-of-all-trades. With the proper guides and setup, a router can do straight cuts like a circular saw, can handle curved cuts like a jigsaw, and can do several other things with a high degree of competency. The router's capabilities are determined by the bit that is used. If you wish to install t-molding on your cabinet, it is practically impossible to do so without using a t-molding bit in your router. If you wish to ensure both sides of your cabinet are identical, cutting one side and using a pattern bit or flush-trim bit to trace around the first side will cut a second piece of wood to the exact same shape. Cutting plexiglass with your router is also easier with your router and tends to encounter less problems.

Smaller routers, called trim or laminate routers, can also be used, and are perfectly acceptable for our purposes. Larger-shanked bits usually cannot be used, so be sure to check that the bits you wish to use come in the smaller-shanked versions.

Do not try to "cheat" to get more depth out of the cut than the bit allows. Always use the bit for the job it is meant to do.

==Drill==
[[image:countersink_bits.jpg|right|thumb|countersink bits|65px]]

Drills, drill bits, and screwdriver bits work to speed up fastening panels together. Some materials, such as MDF, should be pre-drilled, meaning a drill bit should be used to drill a hole before a screw is placed in that spot. Failure to do so can result in splitting the material. Many other materials require this step as well. Test yours to make sure.

When done with the predrilling step, using a screwdriver bit in your drill will speed up the insertion of screws as well. If your drill comes with several speeds, the lowest setting (usually #1) is designed to be used when driving screws. Higher speeds can set your screw too deep, potentially ruining the work you just did.

One of the most helpful drill bits needed for MDF cabinet construction is a "countersink" bit. This is a special drill bit assembly that has a regular drill bit with a secondary countersink cutter attached. This bit creates a dome shaped recess at the start of the hole to allow the head of the screw to rest flush with the face of the wood. By using a countersink bit you can prevent the dreaded "hump" of displaced MDF around your screw heads and in your glued and screwed joints.

==Random-orbit Sander==
Hand sanding quickly becomes tedious and more often than not, will be ignored or given minimal attention because of this. A smooth paint/stain job is easier to obtain with a smooth surface, so a random-orbit sander speeds up this chore and makes it easier to complete.

Random-orbit sanders use random movements so as not to leave directional marks in what you are sanding. While this is not important in materials such as MDF where there is no direction, or "grain", materials such as plywood will show such marks, and may be difficult if not impossible to remove. If you are staining your project, this may show up through your finish, and can be an eyesore.

Another reason for a random-orbit sander is when mistakes happen. It is easier to sand off the layer of finish you just applied if something goes wrong, such as dust in the paint. A power sander will make this an easy repair.

==Blades/Bits/Etc==
* Hole-creation bits
** Hole Saw
** Spade Bit
** Forstner Bit
* Router bits
** T-molding bit
** Flush-trim Bit
** Pattern Bit
* Saw blades
** Standard blade (HSS)
** Carbide blade
** Hollow ground blade

Power Tools

2006-05-02T21:11:32Z

Noonenba: /* Circular Saw */

Power tools speed up the job of cutting the materials you need to build your cabinet. Depending on skill level, some people find it almost impossible to do things correctly without them, but they certainly can be done with hand tools. The list of power tools that are commonly used can be quite long, but a cabinet can certainly be built with a few important ones.

{{DisclaimerConstruction}}

==Circular Saw==

A circular saw cuts straight lines faster and easier than almost any other saw. It allows you to take the tool over to the wood, rather than maneuvering the wood around the tool.

A saw guide will help keep your straight cuts straight.
You can buy them at your local hardware store, or can build one using the factory edge of a sheet of MDF to guide the saw.
You use them by clamping them to the piece of wood you are cutting, and running the edge of your saw along the guide.

TIP: Clamp the saw guide to the piece of wood you intend to keep.
That way, if the saw does happen to walk away from the guide while you are cutting, you will leave too much wood on the piece you are keeping, and can clean it up with a second pass.

==Table Saw==

Best tool for cutting straight lines and much better than a circular saw if you need to put an angle on a cut.

==Jigsaw==

Also called a Saber Saw, a jigsaw is quite useful for making curved cuts. A jigsaw can be used to make straight cuts as well, but will take more time and due to the narrower base and propensity for the blades to bend, allows more chances for mistakes to creep in.

To minimize these mistakes, it is important to select a good quality blade that is appropriate to the material you are cutting. A cheap blade is much more likely to bend in a dense material like MDF than a more expensive one. Also, a cutting guide or straight-edge can make a big difference in the quality of the cut.

==Router==
For our purposes, a router can be considered the jack-of-all-trades. With the proper guides and setup, a router can do straight cuts like a circular saw, can handle curved cuts like a jigsaw, and can do several other things with a high degree of competency. The router's capabilities are determined by the bit that is used. If you wish to install t-molding on your cabinet, it is practically impossible to do so without using a t-molding bit in your router. If you wish to ensure both sides of your cabinet are identical, cutting one side and using a pattern bit or flush-trim bit to trace around the first side will cut a second piece of wood to the exact same shape. Cutting plexiglass with your router is also easier with your router and tends to encounter less problems.

Smaller routers, called trim or laminate routers, can also be used, and are perfectly acceptable for our purposes. Larger-shanked bits usually cannot be used, so be sure to check that the bits you wish to use come in the smaller-shanked versions.

Do not try to "cheat" to get more depth out of the cut than the bit allows. Always use the bit for the job it is meant to do.

==Drill==
[[image:countersink_bits.jpg|right|thumb|countersink bits|65px]]

Drills, drill bits, and screwdriver bits work to speed up fastening panels together. Some materials, such as MDF, should be pre-drilled, meaning a drill bit should be used to drill a hole before a screw is placed in that spot. Failure to do so can result in splitting the material. Many other materials require this step as well. Test yours to make sure.

When done with the predrilling step, using a screwdriver bit in your drill will speed up the insertion of screws as well. If your drill comes with several speeds, the lowest setting (usually #1) is designed to be used when driving screws. Higher speeds can set your screw too deep, potentially ruining the work you just did.

One of the most helpful drill bits needed for MDF cabinet construction is a "countersink" bit. This is a special drill bit assembly that has a regular drill bit with a secondary countersink cutter attached. This bit creates a dome shaped recess at the start of the hole to allow the head of the screw to rest flush with the face of the wood. By using a countersink bit you can prevent the dreaded "hump" of displaced MDF around your screw heads and in your glued and screwed joints.

==Random-orbit Sander==
Hand sanding quickly becomes tedious and more often than not, will be ignored or given minimal attention because of this. A smooth paint/stain job is easier to obtain with a smooth surface, so a random-orbit sander speeds up this chore and makes it easier to complete.

Random-orbit sanders use random movements so as not to leave directional marks in what you are sanding. While this is not important in materials such as MDF where there is no direction, or "grain", materials such as plywood will show such marks, and may be difficult if not impossible to remove. If you are staining your project, this may show up through your finish, and can be an eyesore.

Another reason for a random-orbit sander is when mistakes happen. It is easier to sand off the layer of finish you just applied if something goes wrong, such as dust in the paint. A power sander will make this an easy repair.

==Blades/Bits/Etc==
* Hole-creation bits
** Hole Saw
** Spade Bit
** Forstner Bit
* Router bits
** T-molding bit
** Flush-trim Bit
** Pattern Bit
* Saw blades
** Standard blade (HSS)
** Carbide blade
** Hollow ground blade