1/2" or 3/4" CP?

[eyal8r]

Hey guys-
I have a 1/2" CP top right now- am about to order my joysticks and buttons and whatnot. Do I need a 3/4" top for this, or will it be ok with just 1/2"?

I am installing 8ways, buttons, spinner, trackball....
Thanks
D

[Apollo]

Firstly what is your CP made out of? Secondly it should be fine, in fact better tan 3/4 as you will get better height out of your joysticks.

[eyal8r]

ahhh- its out of MDF... the rest of the cab and CP is 3/4", I just did the top in 1/2" cuz I thought I might not have to route out to fit the controls... is this true?
Thanks
D

[paigeoliver]

I always use 3/4" and never route out anything. Joysticks are usually designed for either 3/4" wooden panels, or teeny thin metal panels.

Routing out under wood panels is sure popular here, but I haven't seen it MUCH on real games, have seen a few, but they are the exceptions, not the rules.

[captainpotato]

It depends on the joystick you are using. I found that I had to route out my CP from underneath for a J-Stik - if I didn't, it sat way too low with 3/4" plywood. I gather that other joysticks have longer shafts so this may not be a problem with them.

[paigeoliver]

It depends on the joystick you are using. I found that I had to route out my CP from underneath for a J-Stik - if I didn't, it sat way too low with 3/4" plywood. I gather that other joysticks have longer shafts so this may not be a problem with them.

Thats because the j-stick was designed for metal panels, not wooden panels.

If you use the correct joysticks for the correct applications then you don't have to route anything.

[HaRuMaN]

It depends on the joystick you are using. I found that I had to route out my CP from underneath for a J-Stik - if I didn't, it sat way too low with 3/4" plywood. I gather that other joysticks have longer shafts so this may not be a problem with them.

Thats because the j-stick was designed for metal panels, not wooden panels.

If you use the correct joysticks for the correct applications then you don't have to route anything.

Burrrrrrn! 

[captainpotato]

[Thats because the j-stick was designed for metal panels, not wooden panels.

If you use the correct joysticks for the correct applications then you don't have to route anything.

Perhaps, but as routing out a few mm is no work at all, I'd much prefer to do that than to get a joystick that wasn't *exactly* what I wanted...

[Tiger-Heli]

Firstly what is your CP made out of? Secondly it should be fine, in fact better tan 3/4 as you will get better height out of your joysticks.

Agreed, another point is if you are going to add Lexan (plexiglass, etc.) to your CP, that will add about another 1/8" so you will effectively be at 5/8-inch. . .

[eyal8r]

Right- should've mentioned that. I DO plan on adding plexi.  Also, I am using Ultimarc's T-Stick Plus and their E-Stick, as well as a spinner and TB (not sure which ones yet).

So, with this info, am I ok, or, do I need to recut the CP top?
Thanks
D

[JCKnife]

I'm also curious of MDF is preferable for a CP top, or plywood?
(sorry for the threadjack but I think it's on-topic).