Help finding cool buttons and switches.

[BioFreak]

Hey Gang,
I'm looking for info on cool looking momentary push buttons and maybe those flip top safety switches. Basically I'm looking to make a start up panel on my bezel that contains a
power switch for the pc that incorporates a flip up safety switch and a momentary push button,
this way my three year old can't climb up and turn the machine on. Also looking to add power buttons for the speakers and monitor, also a rocker switch for the marquee light.

So if anyone knows a good website to purchase, flip top safety switches, rocker switches, momentary pushbuttons please speak now.

Also one of those covered buttons/switches you know the kind that you see in the movies when they launch a missile or something like that. The ones with the case over the top that you have to flip up in order to get to the button. I've had no luck tracking down these type of buttons and switches. If you have, let me know where.

Thanks for the help.
Biofreak

[hypernova]

for your flip up switch, you might be able to just make something yourself...maybe from something lying around in the house.

try www.mscdirect.com for starters on the rockers.

[BioFreak]

Yep I think you may be right. Home built may be the way to go.
Time to start looking in the junk box in the garage.

You know the one, that box of stuff that just sits in the corner with all the pieces and parts
you just can't get yourself to throw away cause "some day" your gonna need it. Hahahaha...

Looks like I may need it now.

Thanks.

[Hoopz]

Google for toggle switches.

http://www.nkkswitches.com/switchcategory.asp?S3=1
http://www.e-switch.com/types/toggle.html
http://www.action-electronics.com/switches.htm  (has switches plus the safety cover)

Great idea.  Now I gotta figure out how to use these myself.  And then order MORE stuff without my wife killing me....  :-)

[Hoopz]

You local hardware store may carry the swiches without the safety cover.  If you are in the US, Lowes has them.  Home Depot may also but I don't know for sure.

[mahuti]

Radioshack has a bunch of those crazy switches.

[Silverwind]

I just went to a local industrial electronics store and picked up some cool 30mm pushbuttons.  Check the phone book to see if there are any electronic supply stores nearby.

[BioFreak]

Some good ideas gang, thanks.

I think I'm going to drive around this weekend and hit some hardware and electrical stores.

During all this I also had the idea of maybe using a keyed momentary switch lock, I think it would look really good with the theme of the cabinet,  lots of them on the web but it looks like they are all mass distributers, haven't found a place that I can just buy one from, cheap. Anyone using these as power switches or know where to find them in store, in the Massachusetts or New Hampshire area?

Thanks, keep the ideas rolling.
Team BioFreak

[namedos]

Internet shops that specialize in computer mods have a large selection of this type of thing.  Xoxide is one and xpcgear is another that I've used.  I went with a Vandal Switch for my power on/off.  Little more expensive than a standard off/on switch but I liked the way it looked.

[Mark70]

I think you should look at places that pushbuttons for industrial equipment.  Hydrolic presses and such, which have covered safety switches.

Man, if  you're doing a covered switch or keyed switch, you have to make it look like you're launching a nuke from a submarine.  You know, build a little safe into the side of the cab with two keys in it, two keys have to be thrown at the same time for the push button to be activated.

[BioFreak]

Oh that idea ROCKS!!!!!
That's the type of thing I'm talking about.
Sadly I'm still looking to do it all on the cheap, maybe a trip to the junk yard
But that's the look I'm  going for, totally industrial, totally  missle silo, think  war games meets armageddon type stuff, all just to turn on the power.
Ah screw the meek, the geeks are gonna inherit the earth, Ahahahahaha...

[PetitMorte]

For the geek with money to blow, there's the Carbon Fiber covered, LED illuminated safety Toggle Switch from Directron.com.



Also, Auto Barn has aircraft-style safety toggle switches for a lot less.



I'm sure it would be possible to replace the OEM toggle switch with a momentary-on one and use that to start the machine.


Or you could go with the nuclear-silo switch thing, where you have 2 keyed switches, turned simultaneously that open a panel, out of which rises a big, round, red shiny button.

[Silverwind]

http://www.ab.com/industrialcontrols/products/push_buttons/30mm/

I purchased 30mm buttons of this brand.. 


how about a break-glass button.. LOL.. but seriously.. were you thinking a key switch like the one here?  I almost went with something like that myself but ended up going with the buttons because I felt it went better with my theme..

[Skadar]

Might be obvious, you can most likely set a password in your BIOS that turns on your computer.  And because control panels are essentially just big keyboards, you can turn on your computer with a series of button presses.  This would certainly guard against accidental activations, while simultaneously saving you the work of installing a dedicated button.

However, one of those aircraft-style buttons would be cool just for the geek-factor of it all.

[SirPoonga]

Ge a momentary switch and a safety cover.
1/3rd the way down this page.

[paigeoliver]

If you just don't want the toddler turning on the cabinet than wire up the two power buttons in series so they both have to be pressed at once, and situate them far enough apart where that won't happen.

[BioFreak]

Mmmmm geek nirvana.....

Oh now we're talking!
Thought about this on the way home.
Since I need at least 4 power buttons.
A keyed lock box instead of a switch lock with a door and something like this on the inside with all the buttons.

Love the break glass box
and that carbon fiber toggle is just killer but for this cab I need something  a little more industrial looking, think yellow and black hazard stripes.

This forum is the best!
Thanks for all the great ideas!
Don't stop, we'll be able to launch this thing to the moon if we keep up with all these ideas. Hahaha.
Thanks again.
BioFreak

[NoOne=NBA=]

If you just don't want the toddler turning on the cabinet than wire up the two power buttons in series so they both have to be pressed at once, and situate them far enough apart where that won't happen.

Or put the power switch on top of the cabinet, where it won't get hit accidentally by ANYBODY.

[babydickonboard]

that button box is pretty sick.   as is the break-glass one.

[stratjakt]

Autozone, Pep Boys, any other auto parts store.. They got plenty of crazy panel switches.  Also a marine (boats) store would have some funky marine switches for boat panels..

Any one of the bajillion of PC mod sites out there will have a flip-up switch for you.  A good option might be a "tamper proof" momentary pushbutton, that mounts flush with the panel, and cant be pressed unless you really mean to..

Another idea I've seen is a magnetic reed switch inside the cab (get em at radio shack), and have a magnet nearby (maybe tethered to a little chain).  Wave the magnet near where the switch is to make a momentary contact and turn it on..  Good way to "stealth" your power button..

Or, more arcade-authentic.. A big ole toggle switch on the top rear of the cab..

[spiffyshoes]

You know you want one.   

http://livedoorshop.depart.livedoor.com/item_detail?id=346274

[BioFreak]

OH MY GOD!!!!!
That is exactly what I was thinking of, maybe a few more buttons but that's the one.
Oh what cruel fate that these aren't available in the US and that I can't read any of it.

If I could just find a flip top button cas,e like the one in the middle, then I could just build the case. That's really what I haven't been able to find, that silly little flip up case. I'm actually thinking maybe something from a craft store could be modified to do this. They must have some kind of silly little plastic box that a button would fit in, right?

[SeanCyrusTowel]

that is really AWESOME..... someone needs to find those in the US

[Flinkly]

you know that switch box with the 6 buttons?  about a week ago, i could've gotten about twenty free buttons, including all of those styles.

during the summer i work for wayerhauser and we've got a "boneyard" that's full of old equipment and various control panels, all populated with those same kinds of buttons...but i fear that i'll never work there again.

[BioFreak]

you know that switch box with the 6 buttons?  about a week ago, i could've gotten about twenty free buttons, including all of those styles.

Aaaaaagh Noooooo! 
Rule number one when in a work environment,
take anything they are willing to give you for free, anything.
You'll end up either finding a use for it, or someone you know will find a use for it. Scavenge and pillage when ever it's an option. I'm not saying you steal stuff from work, but if they are willing to let you take it, then it's game on.

The place I worked for was a software company that ditched computers after 2 or three years, over the 7 years I was there I had at least 10 different computers at home and currently have three PCs 2 with 21" CRTs and one with a nice 17 flat panel LCD. All with over  gig of memory all for free cause they moved on an bought the next model.

If the company has, what we called "yard sales" or a "boneyard" back up the truck and fill it up, you can always throw stuff away after a time if your really not going to use it, but you can never get that stuff for free again once it's gone, or you are. :-)

So ends the lesson grasshopper...
Hahahaha...

[BioFreak]

OK so I've given up on finding a flip up button cover.
Well, that is to say I gave up finding one specifically made for that purpose.

Instead what I managed to find in a craft store, it's OK I was with my wife at the time not like I went by myself to browse, hahaha, was a corner punch in a perfectly sized plastic box.

Long story short, $8.50 she gets a craft punch and I get the button cover I've been looking for.
Now with a little luck, I'll find a hinge to use and  I won't break it when I etch the top.

attached a photo of something very close to the one I bought in case anyone else is looking to do the same. Mine doesn't have lettering on it, it's just clear.