Best Buttons

[jim7]

Been out of the game for a bit. Just wanted to get the 411 on who currently  makes the best buttons. Need to replace the buttons one a showcase bags and a PGA tournament. I know suzo  happ is a big place to go is there any places that support this site that have good buttons?
Thanks
Jim

[lilshawn]

"best" is highly subjective.

it's like asking what's the "best" car.

best for what? the fastest? the best cornering? the best 0-60 time? the best at offroading? the best reliability? none of these things will be the same car.

i feel "buttons" themselves are all pretty much the same, it's the -switch- portion that make the difference in playability and what people perceive as being a good feeling button and a bad feeling button.

but there again, some people like a good loud snappy clicky switch. others like an immediate switching for light touch clicking.

it's going to vary from person to person, even game to game. it's often why people want to build these huge surfboard control panels with 816 buttons and 14 joysticks.

[bobbyb13]

You'll need to narrow that down a bit to get useful info really.

Concave or convex plunger?

Leaf or microswitch?

Size?

LEDs or no?

For metal control panel or wood?

Does the cost matter?

And still lilshawn is quite right, a very subjective thing-

[Beretta]

There's a lot of choices out there..

like bobby said you'll have to narrow it down.

If you're looking for a microswitch concave button I just got some arcade prime buttons from GGG that feel pretty good but I haven't mounted on a panel yet, I don't think they have as much depth as a IL/Happ but feel good on the fingers, very soft and polished and pretty quiet too, and not very expensive 1.59/ea but shipping might get ya.

although I ordered 2 green buttons and they're not exactly the same shade.. not super noticeable unless you're looking for it though.

Im not sure about the new production happs, I have some old ones though but they was made by IL so you might wanna go that route if you're looking for something like that. IL parts are a little harder to get in the US for what ever reason.. but Paradice arcade and Focus attack carry them.

not the cheapest solution though.

I think happ is making their buttons in China now if I heard correct.

[Ond]

Seimitsu 30mm

[bbegin]

Concave Fusion Pushbuttons

Hybrid American style pushbutton with Sanwa type microswitches. Ultra quiet and effortless ease of use. These buttons are shorter than the standard American Style Buttons which means they can be used in control panels and fight sticks that have a limited amount of space!

Product Features:

• Low inertia - the moving part of the button is ultra-light and only 10mm deep (unlike other types where the plunger extends the full depth of the button)
• 'No Click Leaf' switch means no clicking micro-switch
• No Plunger Spring! The body of the button contains no large spring. This results in a uniquely low actuation force of 45 grams for the entire button.
• No Hysteresis. This is the difference in button depression for the contact close and open points. On these buttons the position is the same, resulting in maximum repeated actuation performance. On micro-switch buttons this "dead" distance can be up to 1.5 mm.
• Concave top. Some gamers prefer the classic concave tops over the convex which are commonly used on Japanese low-inertia buttons.
• Robust. The limit stop of the button is supported by the button body not the switch so no chance of switch damage owing to over-enthusiastic play!
• Compact integral design. No fiddly assembly after fitting through the panel. Totally enclosed leaf-switch contacts.
• Economic. Despite their performance these are similar in price to standard arcade buttons and the price is all-inclusive, nothing extra to pay for add-on switch options.
• Nut & Thread Fixing. We have retained the traditional threaded fixing rather than the push-in design of certain other low-inertia buttons as we believe this gives the most effective permanent mounting in all types of panel up to 19mm (3/4 in).
• 28mm diameter - button mounts in 1-1/8" hole (standard)
• .110" terminal connection on the microswitch

This Canadian site has them in stock: https://retroactivearcade.ca/products/concave-fusion-buttons-red

[pbj]

Seimitsu 30mm

He means well, but we need an intervention.

[Ond]

Seimitsu 30mm

He means well, but we need an intervention.

   I have boxes full of ---smurfy--- Happ buttons, all colors! Should I just send them to you pbj?  Ain't taking my beloved Japanese buttons away from me.

[bobbyb13]

A not small proportion of my youth (and paper route $$) was squandered on machines with concave buttons and anything else now just seems wrong to me.

A button that physically feels like those crappy aforementioned Happs but functions like the Seimitsu ones would be welcome in my world.

[Vigo]

A not small proportion of my youth (and paper route $$) was squandered on machines with concave buttons and anything else now just seems wrong to me.

A button that physically feels like those crappy aforementioned Happs but functions like the Seimitsu ones would be welcome in my world.

Same here. I like the responsiveness, but convex buttons hurt my soul. That said, some of the pain around a crappy happs button is alleviated by getting custom cherry switches.

[Beretta]

Seimitsu 30mm

He means well, but we need an intervention.

   I have boxes full of ---smurfy--- Happ buttons, all colors! Should I just send them to you pbj?  Ain't taking my beloved Japanese buttons away from me.

If you're serious about unloading the happs send me a pm with what you have and how much I might take them off your hands.

I like the crappy concaves.. convex and flat tops feel like an affront to the arcade gods.

[bobbyb13]

A not small proportion of my youth (and paper route $$) was squandered on machines with concave buttons and anything else now just seems wrong to me.

A button that physically feels like those crappy aforementioned Happs but functions like the Seimitsu ones would be welcome in my world.

Same here. I like the responsiveness, but convex buttons hurt my soul. That said, some of the pain around a crappy happs button is alleviated by getting custom cherry switches.

My favorites are currently the GoldLeaf buttons that Andy at Ultimarc offers.
Concave plunger with a pretty short actuation distance.
Apparently there is a little leaf switch hiding in there as it is a self contained kind of assembly.

Only nit to pick is that the terminal blades are really small, but minor thing really.

https://www.ultimarc.com/arcade/buttons/goldleaf-pushbuttons/

Reminds me I should get some more.

[Zebidee]

I bet the OP already regrets asking.

My two cents worth of advice: order all the buttons you think you might need at one time. Otherwise the colours will never match exactly (and even then there might be variations).

[RandyT]

Real leaf switches or go home 

Seriously, it depends on your bank account, what kind of games you play and what you are willing to live with, where performance is concerned.  Just remember, just because the marketing guy puts the word "leaf" in the name of a button, it doesn't mean it uses a leaf switch. Some of these use a typical "keyboard switch", with a simple bent piece of metal inside for it's contacts.  I.e. not a leaf switch.

There's only one type of switch which is actually a "leaf switch", and they are not mistakable for any others either in appearance or performance.  Real leaf switches are not only adjustable to get just the response you want, they have very unmistakable performance and feel characteristics which no other switch can provide.  They also typically last 20 years or more, if properly used.

Buttons are just a way to actuate the switch.  Concave, convex, it doesn't really matter that much.  There is a small bit of utility in the finger-to-plunger shape, but both serve the same purpose.   In the end, it's mostly cosmetic and preference.  What's really important with the buttons (without considering the switch) is ease of installation and switch-less spring strength.  If it's too stiff, it'll probably get tiring during long play sessions.  You just don't want accidental actuations.  Higher than that is probably too stiff.

There are a ton of options.  Explore as many as you can and pick from there.

[pbj]

No click = I’m out

[Zebidee]

Click-click clicketty click

<sigh>, I think OP has vanished, just us old regulars here now, talking about steaming meadow muffins.

[leapinlew]

Convex leaf FTW. You can chew gum and take a downer to simulate the clicking sound and slower action.

[Ond]

There's clicks and then there's CLICKS.  Some of those cheap cherry's go "snap, snap, snap.  Then there's the adjustable quality ones you can 'tune' to almost silent.

I like the purist leaf switch philosophy Randy is talking about.  I'll get my hands on some of those at some stage....

see? useful info for the OP.

[jim7]

thanks all
went with
https://paradisearcadeshop.com/products/il-psl-l-concave-button-white?variant=39293873127586&utm_source=back-in-stock&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=stock-notification&utm_content=iL+PSL-L+Concave+Button+-+White&si_id=16600204_39293873127586

cherry switches

[Beretta]

There's clicks and then there's CLICKS.  Some of those cheap cherry's go "snap, snap, snap.  Then there's the adjustable quality ones you can 'tune' to almost silent.

I like the purist leaf switch philosophy Randy is talking about.  I'll get my hands on some of those at some stage....

see? useful info for the OP.

The soft touch zippy's randy provides standard on his buttons.. I must admit.. are pretty GD nice for such a budget option.


I use to be a cherry guy but these zippy's have me sold as far as feel and sound..

I can barely hear them even without being mounted in a panel what hear is actually the plastic smacking of the button body more than anything.

Then again.. I don't have any leaf switches.. Im sure I played on them as a kid but at the time I couldn't tell you what any of the stuff was and most of "my" classics would have been late 80's (maybe leaf) and early-mid 90's which was definitely microswitch

so im not sure if mortal kombat and street fighter have a benefit from leaf switches? am I wrong? serious question actually.

[lomoverde]

A not small proportion of my youth (and paper route $$) was squandered on machines with concave buttons and anything else now just seems wrong to me.

A button that physically feels like those crappy aforementioned Happs but functions like the Seimitsu ones would be welcome in my world.

Same here. I like the responsiveness, but convex buttons hurt my soul. That said, some of the pain around a crappy happs button is alleviated by getting custom cherry switches.

My favorites are currently the GoldLeaf buttons that Andy at Ultimarc offers.
Concave plunger with a pretty short actuation distance.
Apparently there is a little leaf switch hiding in there as it is a self contained kind of assembly.

Only nit to pick is that the terminal blades are really small, but minor thing really.

https://www.ultimarc.com/arcade/buttons/goldleaf-pushbuttons/

Reminds me I should get some more.

Ive got some and after starting off super silent,my main fire button has developed a squeak !!!!
 Have you encountered this with your buttons ?

[Mike A]

You need to change the button fluid every 5000 presses.

[Beretta]

This is the kinda expertise that makes this forum so great 

[pbj]

I mean, I used to pop out the plunger on an old button, rub the sides with sandpaper, wipe it all down with some Novus 2, stretch out the spring a little, put it all back together and stick whatever switch I had laying around that worked.

Nobody ever complained or noticed.

[lomoverde]

You need to change the button fluid every 5000 presses.

I cant be any higher than 3000 Im sure.Ill check the warranty.

[lilshawn]

I mean, I used to pop out the plunger on an old button, rub the sides with sandpaper, wipe it all down with some Novus 2, stretch out the spring a little, put it all back together and stick whatever switch I had laying around that worked.

Nobody ever complained or noticed.

this.

a so-so button that works properly is 100x better than a fancy led ring majigger that has sketchy presses.

[csnow]

Real leaf switches or go home