plated arcade buttons

[SavannahLion]

I wasn't sure if I should have asked this in B/S/T since I'm not actually buying them at this moment.

I know that someone (Ultimarc I think) offers partially chromed buttons, but is anyone selling 100% chromed buttons? How about brushed metals like aluminum? steel (can you even plate with steel?)?

Has anyone purchased plated buttons and, if so, how well do they resist wear and tear?

I would really like brushed aluminum buttons, specifically ones I can have anodized. But based on previous experience with plated buttons on some consumer electronics, they don't really resist wear very well. They develop this hideous look as the metal plating wears down to the underlayer and eventually to the plastic. Looks like crap. Probably cheap crap plating I figure. I don't expect plated arcade buttons to be any different unless someone tells me different?

If it can't fly, I guess my only option is to get black buttons. That presents another aesthetic problem I'll have to resolve.

[tightwad]

buttons are cheaper, and only the top would need replaced....why worry so much about it?

[drventure]

If you've ever taken a button apart, the actual button part (that you press) is pretty simple. I've actually toyed with turning button tops on a lathe in hardwood. Then mating that top to the plastic bottom portion of the button (the part with the "legs" that latch into the button housing).

On my cab, i've spray painted the buttons. I used a primer and good quality spray, then triple coated them in Future floor wax (yep), and have been VERY happy with the finish. It wouldn't hold up in an arcade, but it's done pretty good for my machine.

But real metal buttons (or turned wood) would be much better!

[Xiaou2]

 I think the biggest problem you might have in an all metal button is friction.
(unless they are ball bearing'd heh)

 A plastic insert in a metal housing might be ok.

 You could sand a buttons top bezel down nearly flat, sink the button down a tad, and glue on
a fairly thin metal bezel ring.  Might have to glue the button in the CP permanently due to
the lack of the thicker plastic bezel support.

[Bender]

franco made some sick ones that are like caps for happ buttons AND they light up

*here*

[SavannahLion]

buttons are cheaper, and only the top would need replaced....why worry so much about it?

I have my reasons 

It's an important aesthetics issue and as much work I'm putting into this CP, I don't want to just use any random colored buttons.

If you've ever taken a button apart, the actual button part (that you press) is pretty simple. I've actually toyed with turning button tops on a lathe in hardwood. Then mating that top to the plastic bottom portion of the button (the part with the "legs" that latch into the button housing).

I have, actually. I have a set of six or so color mismatched buttons that I've dissected and examined.

On my cab, i've spray painted the buttons. I used a primer and good quality spray, then triple coated them in Future floor wax (yep), and have been VERY happy with the finish. It wouldn't hold up in an arcade, but it's done pretty good for my machine.

Never occurred to me to use floor wax. I do have white grease specifically formulated for plastics, but it's messy at best.

But real metal buttons (or turned wood) would be much better!

I concur, but I lack a lathe. Though I do want one and it is planned for, I just don't have the money or the space right now to dedicate to a lathe.

 I think the biggest problem you might have in an all metal button is friction.
(unless they are ball bearing'd heh)

 A plastic insert in a metal housing might be ok.

Nudge the button diameters an extra mm or two apart and use a vinyl collar somewhere down inside. I imagine that as long as you keep the tolerances loose, the vinyl would provide sufficient "lubricant" to the button. Unfortunately, that might be prone to gumming, but then regular buttons are probably prone to soda spills and rancid pizza grease as well.

In any case, I'm not entirely interested in an all metal button.