Joystick question

[Mark Thomas]

I have 2 red joysticks from the same arcade cabinet one of the joysticks is very shiny and looks like it has a gloss finish the other seems to have lost its gloss and looks more matt. They are both the same make and model. I will try to get a pic up soon. My question is this:

Can I buff up the joysticks to get them both looking the same? I was unsure if there was a wax or polish I could use or is that just madness?

Cheers

[TopJimmyCooks]

you can try - but some plastics can be polished while others are too soft.  best bet is to identify the joystick model and get two new shafts or balltops that you like.  If it's a red matte ms pac man style happ's stick, they don't really polish even if you sanded it smooth to start. 

[Vigo]

I bet that polish used for clearing foggy headlights might be a good choice. I'd personally just try any compound for plastics.

I have gone with a dremel tool buffer and compound before, and found it works awesome, but I needed a steady hand to make it buff evenly.

You can also paint your balltops. I've done it with awesome results. This is probably never recommended around here because:

A) It is a lot of work, and you have to know how to paint with some skill.
B) If you don't sand, paint, prime, and clear coat it with multiple coats, it will wear off after normal use.
C) A lot of times, it is cheaper and easier to just buy a new balltop.

[Le Chuck]

Switch them.  Make P1 Joy as the P2 Joy.  Wait several years.  They should start to look the same.


or just go buy new handles and call it a day.

[pinballjim]

Chuck the joystick shaft in a drill, set the rotation so you're not unscrewing the ball top, squirt polishing compound into a rag, hold on tight.

 

[Vigo]

You can also use it as an excuse to buy new joysticks. That's what most of us arcade part junkies do. 

[paigeoliver]

If they are Wico sticks then Bob Roberts still has lots of NOS handles at $3 each, just not in the most popular colors (no red).

[Mark Thomas]

Cheers guys I will give them a buff up and see if it cleans it up they are old suzo happs sticks from a Bas arcade cab, not seen them for sale anywhere.