Building a custom ITG/DDR/Stepmania cabinet

OK for some time now I've always wanted to make a ITG cabinet for a very long time now and I would love to know the tools and materials and what kind of woods to use with the cabinet itself and possible make the pads in a later time and I already know a lot about wood making and stuff so I would like to know which materials and woods that is best to build the cabinet.

Best: find a used cab on the internets, download OpenITG and install to a separate computer (which goes in the cab), clean, clean, CLEAN all the parts. if wires are all frayed, please replace. Ive known people to build a cab, electrical tap frayed wires, and either short the entire board in the cab, star a small fire, melt it from inside, or jack their own homes wires. Make sure to find a guide you like (so many to name, search 'Converter cab (ddr or itg) to Custom PC cab" or w/e

Cheap: buy some old pads (or just the metal ones from different sources are cheap but shipping could be just as much as the pad) you could build one out of wood, and some metal braces and use simple pad sensors like you see in ProDDR Pads. Hook em up via USB to your PC, output VGA (or HDMI) to a nice TV in a nice small entertainment thingy, and grad a nice 5.1 SRS speaker setup. Boom easy, cheap, but may not last forever.

Kinda Decent using real parts: Find an old ITG pad (only difference in DDR vs. ITG pad I can tell is the response on certain songs requiring full 4 panel quad holds that DDR doesnt always catch. Or at least I had that issue when I only use a DDR pad) But ya, then grab a Book Case (bout 4 feet high) on top is a Screen (PC or TV w/e you like or can afford) in side near bottom is Speakers + Bass, middle is the Controller/Keyboard/Buttons, with USB access. Grab some lights (I used the Christmas light bulbs lol) and grab the patch for lighting and set it up on your PC) Then near top the PC, with Fan, and your good to go. Least thats was my idea. Eventually I start taking old Cab parts and gluing to the bookcase, make it look more real HA HA.

Good luck though, If you need anymore explaining I can give you a few links I prefer. /)^..^(\

I can't reslly find a used can for that cheap and I'm pretty sure making one is cheaper than ever tbh and I might actually make the pads it's easier than buying them but hard to wire but I'll figure that out and I heard melamine board would be good for the cabinet which I might try

Well if you cant find a real CAB, use a cheap Book Case

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Cheap: buy some old pads (or just the metal ones from different sources are cheap but shipping could be just as much as the pad) you could build one out of wood, and some metal braces and use simple pad sensors like you see in Pro-DDR Pads. Hook em up via USB to your PC, output VGA (or HDMI) to a nice TV in a nice small entertainment thingy, and grad a nice 5.1 SRS speaker setup. Boom easy, cheap, but may not last forever.

The only thing that may cost you some extra $$$ is the Pad itself. It is the heart and soul of your machine, so looking for one not just made for your current skill, but If you plan to improve soon, you may need to step-up to a more durable (and more expensive) pad. But its worth it, you do not want to spend weeks building it all just to find the pad you got isn't responding as fast to your steps, and you gotta buy a new one again.

Book case is a great idea for the bottom half but the top part of the bottom half is kinda short in width so I probably have to go to Lowes and see if i can find the same wood except bigger in width or maybe i can see if the top part will work with the base if it will work then i will keep it the same

If you have a flat screen TV or monitor you may use, add a base to it. And not the crap plastic, they break too easy especially with vibrations from the pad lol, but try to get a solid one. Now that's If you want it on the case, other wise you can gut the top part and install a wall mount on the back inside. But use some brackets to reinforce the back to the bottom, and maybe add some 2x4 on the back back just to keep the thing from cracking forward. Which could also counterweight the TV mount.

But I looked at some home build pics and found some that used a wide bottom case/stand/fishtank thing so that can also work if the top isn't wide enough for your monitor.