Button wrench...do I need this?

[KungFuJoe]

I've seen references to a button wrench in several projects...including the Project Arcade.  It doesn't seem to be an easy tool to find however and I was wondering if anyone knew of any "regular" tool that could do the job.

[NoOne=NBA=]

I just get the nut down finger tight, and then hold it in place while turning the button using the prongs that hold the switch in place.
Once you get the nut down to finger tight you can tighten it the rest of the way.
If you want the prongs in a certain orientation, just keep loosening the nut a hair, and turning the whole button/nut combo until it tightens up where you want it to.

You want to be careful not to torque the prongs off the button though.
I can't imagine a button wrench getting them any tighter than I do using that method, and I can actually get the buttons close enough that they are touching each other on top using that method.

[RayB]

It's not necessary but very useful.
My thinking was, if you're ordering parts, might as well thrown in the extra $2 for the wrench and save yourself some scraped knuckles.

[pointdablame]

It's not necessary but very useful.
My thinking was, if you're ordering parts, might as well thrown in the extra $2 for the wrench and save yourself some scraped knuckles.

Couldn't agree more.

You can certainly do without one, but since you're (more than likely) going to be ordering parts anyway, a $2 button wrench is a no-brainer in my book.  They are VERY handy, but not "necessary"

[Level42]

I agree with RayB and Pointdablame. I ordered mine with my other parts. Have to admit I only used it to remove my old square IL buttons and mount the 1P and 2P buttons but that was already worth it

It's of no use for mounting leafswitches though...If you use a lot of microswitch buttons, this is a cheap and handy tool.

[Silverwind]

Since the price is right, I went ahead and ordered one when I got my buttons.. makes it very simple..

[Stingray]

Never used one myself.

-S

[MameJunkie]

Its more useful if the CP buttons are close together.  But if you its spaced out or you one have one button on the panel...well...

[SQrL]

I agree... very useful tool (even if you only have to use it a couple of times).

[SirPoonga]

Very useful tool in tight situations.  I hand tightened most of my buttons, but I could see where many buttons are close together or in a cocktail control panel you'd want a button wrench.

[Kremmit]

It's of no use for mounting leafswitches though...If you use a lot of microswitch buttons, this is a cheap and handy tool.

I've never had a button wrench, but I always just assumed they had a socket for a Happ-style button on one end, and a socket for a leaf-button nut on the otherend.  They don't?  I wonder why not- seems like a no-brainer to me.