Flush mounting joystick

[sTyLeS]

What is the best way to flush mount joysticks? I have a couple Happ Competition joysticks, and they're going in a C.P. made of 3/4" particle board with a 1/10" plexiglass overlay and I don't want bolt heads sticking up. I've read about someone using insert nuts. How is this accomplished, or what other recommendations are there?
Thanks!

[Lance]

you can drill holes with countersinks big enough for the head of the bolt or screw and then install t-nuts on the bottom side.  You then can putty over the countersinks once they are firmly in place.  That will give you basically a stud poking out the backside of your control panel.

Justin did this for his trackball on his cab, see:

http://control-click.com/mame/pictures/IMG_2708.html  (top side with countersinks puttied over)


http://control-click.com/mame/pictures/IMG_2702.html (Rear shot showing studs poking through)

I hope that helps, there are probably other ways to do this as well.  

lance

[eightbit]

you can drill holes with countersinks big enough for the head of the bolt or screw and then install t-nuts on the bottom side.  You then can putty over the countersinks once they are firmly in place.  That will give you basically a stud poking out the backside of your control panel.

Justin did this for his trackball on his cab, see:

http://control-click.com/mame/pictures/IMG_2708.html  (top side with countersinks puttied over)


http://control-click.com/mame/pictures/IMG_2702.html (Rear shot showing studs poking through)

T-nuts are not used in the example pictures you posted. These are tnuts-

heres a picture of them in use on a control panel

Ussually you countersink them from the top and run your bolts up from the bottom.

[Lance]

Actually those are tnuts in the second picture I linked.  Just the ones on the trackball studs.

[sTyLeS]

Thanks, eightbit, that's exactly what I'm looking for. And you said you then put the bolts up from the bottom...obviously you'd have to use bolts of appropriate length so they don't stick up, right? Also, with a 3/4 inch panel with plexi, how much would you recommend routing out on the bottom to get the best joystick clearance on the top but yet still maintain strength?
Thanks again.