Where to find metal shafts for trigger stick hack

[GamingGreg]

I have a couple of PC Raider joysticks and a couple of Happ Supers that I want to convert into two trigger sticks.  (I wanted two for tank games like battlezone.)  However I'm having trouble finding some hollow metal shafts of the same diameter.

Anyone know where I can find some 10mm (or 3/8") hollow shafts?  I have tried my local Home Depot, Lowes, and the like and am comming up blank.  I know 1UP mentioned on his site that he found some aluminum tubing at a hobby store.  Anyone know what kind of hobby store that might have been?

Another thought I had was to make the hole in the joystick base slightly larger.  Home Depot had some 1/2" tubing, so if I drilled the hole larger to 1/2" would that work?  Or would that severely weaken the material for the joystick base?

[nighthawk2099]

I found mine at Lowes in the Electric/Lamps/Lighting area.  They are hollow threaded shafts which are used in some lamps. They come in pairs, are a sort of brass color and various lengths.  Be sure to get the nut and washer set that goes with them or you'll go crazy finding a matching nut with the right thread size.  If you need a picture or part number, I think I still have the package they came in.

[Brax]

Any really good model shop has aluminum tubing. Along with brass, extruded plastic, balsam sections..... all kinds of great goodies. There's a great one next to my house.  

[GamingGreg]

nighthawk2099,  if you still have the part number that would help.  I'll also see if there are any model shops around here.  Thanks guys!

[u_rebelscum]

The ace near me has hollow tubes in aluminum, stainless steal, copper, and zinc in every "imperial" size possible.  Okay a small exageration, only by 1/32" increments and a few 1/64" steps.  But zero metric.  

The neareat HD also had some hollow tubes, including 3/8".  But they didn't call them "tubes" or "pipes".  I can't remember the exact name, though.  "Hollow rods" maybe?  Don't ask me what, but there seems to be a huge difference between "tube", "pipe", and "rod" (or whatever it was called) when talking to people in the know (including, but not limited to, HD people). *shrug*


DO NOT use 1/2" size!!!  Nothing, and I mean nothing, would fit.

[nighthawk2099]

OK  here is what I got.... They are at HomeDepot and Lowes.

___________________
ANGELO

Lighting Hardware
part# 70606

Two 6"
1/8-IP Threaded
Steel Nipples (yes, it says nipples)
Zinc-Plated

Also called Threaded Lamp Pipe
___________________

Hope this helps, good luck

[MinerAl]

When I did my trigger hack, I used a 3/8" steel tube that I found in an Ace Hardware grouped with the steel rods and strips of metal.  There is a little wiggle because 1cm (10mm) isn't quite the same as 3/8 but the difference wasn't enough to put me off of using it.  I think when I am about to finally mount it I will wrap the tube with one layer of electric tape to take the wiggle down to nothing.

(Here's the thread about my trigger stick.  Unfortunately I moved this month and lost my web hosting, so the pics are dead, but I'll edit the post later when I get my self situated.)

[u_rebelscum]

When I did my trigger hack, I used a 3/8" steel tube that I found in an Ace Hardware grouped with the steel rods and strips of metal.  There is a little wiggle because 1cm (10mm) isn't quite the same as 3/8 but the difference wasn't enough to put me off of using it.  I think when I am about to finally mount it I will wrap the tube with one layer of electric tape to take the wiggle down to nothing.

Almost exactly what I did, but did approx two layers of clear packing tape.  *shrug*  Not a real difference.  

Let me warn you, though: even a small wrinkle in a tape layer will make a huge difference between "still wiggles" and "won't fit".

Works great now that it's in.

[GamingGreg]

Thanks all again for your help!  I ended up going with the 6" threaded lamp pipe, which my local Home Depot had (I couldn't find any hollow 3/8" steel rods).  It actually is a bit larger than 3/8", and fits snugly with a little bit of packing tape.

I found some brass and aluminum tubing at a local hobby shop, however the aluminum tubing seemed too soft, and the walls on the brass tubing were really thin. Thus I went with the steel lamp pipe.  However I did notice that the 13/32" brass tubing fit almost perfectly in the joystick sleeve (I didn't have the base with me).  Also the 3/8" aluminum tube fit nicely inside that brass tube.  I suppose that the 13/32" brass tube might work as a spacer sleeve on 3/8" steel tubing as well. This might possibly be another solution to the "Wiggle" issue.