I prefer 3/4" birch cabinet-grade plywood for anything that is to be painted or stained. The quality is a pleasure to work with. MDF would be a cheaper option, but there are several downsides when used for a cabinet: it is significantly heavier, screws can split the material, it is more susceptible to moisture damage, and the dust from cutting it is extremely fine and a breathing hazard. I do use MDF in all my smaller controllers, but the extra expense for the plywood was justified.
The ledger boards were of two different sizes, 1×2 and 3/4"×3/4". I purchased what Lowe’s calls 1"×4"×4' boards (actually 3/4"×3-3/4") and ripped them to 3/4" wide on the table saw. You’ll want the straightest boards with minimal knots that you can find. These ledger strips are used in some situations, and the 1×2 boards are used in others. I explain these boards in detail on the Ledger Boards page.
Below is a list of the materials I used. The tools have been left off. I also left off the prices because they vary so much from location to location, and some items you may be able to find bargains on. I have also left off the control-panel parts; those are discussed in that section.
Materials
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| Item | Qty. | Original source | Buy today |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4×8 ft sheet of 3/4 in birch, cabinet-grade plywood | 3 | Lowe’s | Buy locally |
| Ledger boards | — | See text above | Buy locally |
| Coin door (Happ over-under) | 1 | eBay | Specialty source |
| 3/4 in blue smooth T-molding – 40 ft | 1 | Happ / T-Molding.com | Specialty source |
| Marquee retainer – 10 ft | 1 | Happ | Specialty source |
| Keyboard drawer slides – 16 in | 1 | Lowe’s | Amazon affiliate link |
| 1-1/8 in utility cam lock | 1 | Lowe’s | Amazon affiliate link |
| Drywall screws – 1 in coarse thread | 1 box | Lowe’s | Buy locally |
| Drywall screws – 1-1/4 in coarse thread | 1 box | Lowe’s | Buy locally |
| Drywall screws – 1-5/8 in coarse thread | — | Lowe’s | Buy locally |
| Cabinet screws – 3 in | 8 | Lowe’s | Buy locally |
| 3 in paint rollers (3/8 in smooth pile, 2-pack) | 6 | Lowe’s | Buy locally |
| KILZ primer (gallon), tinted | 1 | Lowe’s | Buy locally |
| Valspar Duramax latex gloss enamel paint (gallon) | 1 | Lowe’s | Buy locally |
| 12 in fluorescent light with 6 ft cord | 1 | Lowe’s | Buy locally |
| 2 in industrial casters – rotating and locking | 2 | Lowe’s | Amazon affiliate link |
| 2 in industrial casters – rigid | 2 | Lowe’s | Amazon affiliate link |
| Hinges | 1 set | Lowe’s | Buy locally |
| Foam brushes (1 in and 3 in) | 6 | Lowe’s | Buy locally |
| Tack cloth | 6 | Lowe’s | Buy locally |
| L-brackets (4-pack, 1-1/2 in × 5/8 in) | 2 packs | Lowe’s | Buy locally |
| 1/16 in slot-cutting bit with arbor | 1 | RouterBits.com | Amazon affiliate link |
| Valspar multipurpose black enamel spray paint | 1 | Lowe’s | Buy locally |
| 1/4 in glass | 1 | Vision Glass | Buy locally |