Mounting volcano buttons with MDF CP??

[MovingTarget]

Question for anyone who has a mdf control panel with plexi top and volcano buttons...how did you mount them? 

I'm thinking about putting a hole in the mdf big enough for the entire button to go through and basically just mounting the button to the plexi and the artwork, do you think that will work out okay?

[Witchboard]

That's what I would suggest.

[RayB]

That's an easy solution. Or route-out a hole, leaving about 1/8th or 3/16ths of wood and mount to that.

[MovingTarget]

That's an easy solution. Or route-out a hole, leaving about 1/8th or 3/16ths of wood and mount to that.

Have you done that?  Just wondering if that leaves any strenght to the mdf at all and if there is any room to still get the volcano part of the button on and still be able to press the button.  I think 1/8th would probably just be too thick.

I was thinking maybe people used plexi that was thinner than 1/8th or maybe they used a thin metal plate (like aluminum pieces you can get for doing gutter work). 

Just anything someone has done that worked for them.

[RayB]

Yes, I went the routing way. I am not 100% sure the thickness I ended up with. I started conservative, opting for it to be a little thicker just in case I made a mistake, and then routed away a little more and a little more till it fit.

The great thing about those volcano buttons is the button part does not have to stick up very far past the top of the cone to be usable. So that's what I ended up with and the thickness is just enough to hold.

[nostrebor]

I'm thinking about putting a hole in the mdf big enough for the entire button to go through and basically just mounting the button to the plexi and the artwork, do you think that will work out okay?

This is how mine are mounted.

[rdagger]

Mine have all been mounted just to the Lexan.  If you cut the hole just right in the MDF, the volcano switch will be very snug in the MDF and won't move easily.  The more switch thread you can expose for the cones the better, because you will have more of the red lens exposed.

[MovingTarget]

Cool, thanks for all the replies everyone!