Smoked black pushbuttons?

[csa3d]

Does anyone make standard sized pushbuttons which are clear like the NovaGem's, but come in a smoked black color?

Thanks!
-csa

[Franco B]

Have you thought about buying clear ones and tinting them?

You could use a product like this.

You apply it layer by layer until you reach the desired shade.

[csa3d]

Interesting.. wonder how that'd look sprayed on the inside of the clear buttons.  I'm betting it wouldn't coat well.  Using it on the top seems like you're asking for flaking over time.

.. hmm ..

[CheffoJeffo]

If you're up for a read, there is this thread on the subject ... I don't think Shawnzilla ended up making smoked buttons, although it was a popular request:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=23801.0

[Franco B]

It does actually coat really well, I havent tried it on buttons but I dont see why it wouldnt work the same.

It is a really fine mist/spray and you can hardly see the first few layers. I had to put about 20 or so layers on my lights to make them nearly black.

I cant see it flaking off as it isnt really paint. I decided to make my lights a little lighter and I really had to work hard with some fine wet and dry to remove any of the tint. You could always lacquer over the top if you were really concerned.

[MonMotha]

Sanwa Denshi makes smoked lighted pushbuttons, but only in the rectangular kind, not circular.  However, they're pretty easy to construct.  Go to your local stage shop and get some gray/smoke light gel.  Cut it to fit, and place that under the clear part of the plastic of a white button, between the clear part and the white insert.  That's how Sanwa does it, and the results are pretty darned good.