How to mount joysticks

[krick]

I know this has probably been discussed to death but I can't seem to find any really good threads on the subject.

I'm making a new control panel.  My cab has a 3/4" MDF control panel.  The current joysticks look very much like Happ Competition sticks.  I don't see any identification on them so I'm not sure.  Anyway, the're just bolted to the underside of the panel using carriage bolts through the top of the MDF.  There's a layer of plexi on top of the control panel.  I don't think I will use plexi on my new panel.

I plan on getting new sticks, possibly the T-Stick Plus model from Ultimarc.  From what I've read, I'll need to rout out a depression on the underside of the panel so that the thickness is only 1/2".

Can I just bolt them down with carriage bolts?  Will 1/2" MDF be strong enough?

Should I be using a metal plate like this?...
http://www.dameon.net/BBBB/joyplate2.jpg

I saw that some people were able to attach joysticks without screw heads showing.  I would much rather have this than carriage bolts. What hardware is used to do this?  Where do I get it/them?  Again, will 1/2" of MDF be strong enough?

Any tips and tricks that people can impart will be greatly appreciated.

[GGKoul]

Oh my god!!!

This is the 3rd post about mounting joysticks in the last 24 hrs!!

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=17537

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=17412

Yes a 1/2 inch of MDF will support the joysticks

[krick]

Oh my god!!!

This is the 3rd post about mounting joysticks in the last 24 hrs!!

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=17537

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=17412

Yes a 1/2 inch of MDF will support the joysticks

Yeah.  Well, the first thread went off on a tangent about mounting a J-PAC. And the second turned into a religious debate about using 1/2" plywood vs 3/4" MDF.

What I really need is information about the hardware involved and what my options are.

[Sasquatch!]

I saw that some people were able to attach joysticks without screw heads showing.  I would much rather have this than carriage bolts. What hardware is used to do this?  Where do I get it/them?  

Tee-nuts - you would screw in the joysticks from the bottom of the CP using them.  I would imagine a good hardware store would have them, but I've never looked.

[froggerman]

Home Depot has T-Nuts. (If there is one near you)