more leaf switch/button questions...

[sdrob04]

I'm trying to sort out the differences in the various leaf switch bases and buttons out there, as I'd like to go with leaf switches on my cab if possible (at least for the high-use 'play' buttons).  I'd appreciate if someone could verify my conclusions thus far and answer a few questions.

Conclusions:
--for new parts, it seems that Centsible and Bob Roberts are the only ones offering leaf switches/buttons at this time.
--you have two choices, the 1-5/8" buttons (which use a thick-based switch primarily intended for metal panels) OR the 2" buttons (which use a thin-based switch primarily intended for wood panels)

Questions:
1.  Assuming one builds a 5/8" or 3/4" thick wood control panel, can you solve any thin/thick switch base issues by routing?  To what extent does use of a plexi overlay mess with the dimensions of wood thickness and switch bases used?
2.  Are all of the buttons from the two sources mentioned above convex or are some concave?
3.  Is there any real difference in quality or functionality between the Bob Roberts switch base and the thick base offered by Centsible?  Apparently the thin bases are not available from Centsible, but Bob Roberts offers a switch base said to work on both wood and metal cp's  
4.  Thoughts on translucent vs opaque buttons?  With a superbright LED, can you still achieve a glowing button effect with an opaque button?  
5.  Were glowing buttons common enough on the older games (up through '85 or so) to warrant the effort involved?  Were some colors more common than others?

Thanks for bearing with me...I am trying to avoid purchasing a bunch of incompatible and/or undesired parts.

[FractalWalk]

--for new parts, it seems that Centsible and Bob Roberts are the only ones offering leaf switches/buttons at this time.

There are a lot of other sources incuding WICO, but those are two good ones.


--you have two choices, the 1-5/8" buttons (which use a thick-based switch primarily intended for metal panels) OR the 2" buttons (which use a thin-based switch primarily intended for wood panels)

The buttons themselves are a separate item from the switch. You can order them together or separately. In other words, short does not dictate thin switch nor does long dictate thick switch.


1.  Assuming one builds a 5/8" or 3/4" thick wood control panel, can you solve any thin/thick switch base issues by routing?  To what extent does use of a plexi overlay mess with the dimensions of wood thickness and switch bases used?

The issue of button length is to account for the thickness of the panel, so yes routing wood enough would allow you to use a short button but that would be a pain. FWIW, I used short buttons on 1/2" plywood with 0.08" plexi and they were too long.


3.  Is there any real difference in quality or functionality between the Bob Roberts switch base and the thick base offered by Centsible?  Apparently the thin bases are not available from Centsible, but Bob Roberts offers a switch base said to work on both wood and metal cp's  

I think it's just a "fit" issue and not a quality issue. Either way you may or may not need a spacer to make it fit , which means you might have to make something yourself.


4.  Thoughts on translucent vs opaque buttons?  With a superbright LED, can you still achieve a glowing button effect with an opaque button?  

Yes you can get an opaque to glow, but translucents are obviously designed to pass light better. It's a personal preference thing.


5.  Were glowing buttons common enough on the older games (up through '85 or so) to warrant the effort involved?  Were some colors more common than others?

This is really a matter of opinion. If you want glowing buttons then do that. If you want an authentic cab, then match what the original cab had. But do you really care that in general buttons were or weren't lit on arcade cabs before '85?  I wanted lit translucent buttons on my machine that plays classics even though almost no original classic cabs had that. Some people might think thats heresy. It's just  personal preference.