Joystick mounting questions..

[JeSo]

Apologies if this is answered elsewhere, I did a quick search and didn't see it.

Anyway, I'm about ready to think about moving my CP from a shoebox to a real box    and I have some questions about mounting the joystick.
Ok, I assume you're supposed to attach the plate of the joystick to the bottom of the CP top? After a quick measurement, it seems that the joystick is only about 2.5 centimetres from the plate to the bottom of the bat handle.

How thick is it a good idea to make the CP top? and how long "should" the joystick be?  I'd rather not get into routing out the bottom of the panel or anything like that, seems a little beyond me at the moment, are there any other solutions? or will it play just fine as it is?  and one last thing, how big should the hole be for the joystick generally?

A few questions, I know, but this is one area where I'm kinda stuck.

Thanks.

[TalkingOctopus]

It would help to know what type of joystick you have.  I used 5/8" MDF w/ a happ super and a P360 and felt that there was no need to route the bottom.  

You can make a recess in the bottom with a chiesel if you do not have access to a router.  Be sure to practice first though and MDF dulls a chiesel quickly.  

The hole should be 1 1/8".

[paigeoliver]

Use plywood instead of MDF, then you can go thinner.

The exact thickness of course depends on the control panel size, and what all you have on it, and how it is supported.

[JeSo]

I couldn't really say what kind of stick it is, I'm not sure myself.
It's one of these:

and it has a small sticker on the side with a Sanwa elephant and the letters OK-M.

[Minwah]

I couldn't really say what kind of stick it is, I'm not sure myself.
It's one of these:

and it has a small sticker on the side with a Sanwa elephant and the letters OK-M.

That's a J-Stick, meant for mounting on metal really.  I think you will have to route the wood to as thin as you can, but not so thin that it looses it's strenth - maybe 3-5/8"?

[hyiu]

I have a J-stick ball top....
I believe its similar to yours...

you can scheck out its spec in ultimarc.com...

anyway... I did route about 1/8 from the bottom and my j-stick ball top is ok.... (I'm using it as a dedeciated 4 way....

I think it will be acceptable if you're using 3/4 in wood....
it'll be a little low... but should be ok....

I'd say try it on a small scrape piece of wood... then you'll see...
(some people will need the stick to stick out a lot... its a personal preference...)

or on the other hand... if you want... you can install the stick on top....then it'll definitely be long enough....

[Minwah]

or on the other hand... if you want... you can install the stick on top....then it'll definitely be long enough....

Or mount on metal, I have some ball-top J-Sticks and that's what I plan on doing