Adding trackball/spinners to my CP. What tools? How to fill bad holes?

[eastbayarb]

Yes, I know this has been covered and I dove into a load of posts via the search option, but I need a more up to date reccomendation. I have a showcase cab and I wanna add a betson trackball, as well as two spinners, and I wanna know what is the best tool(s) to use for this? The CP is wood (MDF I believe). Also, the CP originally had 6 buttons for P1 and P2, and 4 buttons for P3 and P4. I added two more button holes next to P3 and P4 with a circular saw atatchment connected to my drill, but I messed up the holes, so what can I do to fill in the holes and redo them? I'd like the mounting bracket for the betson trackball to be flush with the wood on the CP.

thanks!

[severdhed]

most people will probably tell you to use bondo to fill in the holes.  apparently it works very well if you know what you are doing.  I tried doing this, and yes, it filled in the holes, but I seem to be incapable of making it look nice. it is harder to work with than you would imagine. But I have seen the results from other people doing it, and it has the potential to work great....just don't expect it to be easy.

[eastbayarb]

most people will probably tell you to use bondo to fill in the holes.  apparently it works very well if you know what you are doing.  I tried doing this, and yes, it filled in the holes, but I seem to be incapable of making it look nice. it is harder to work with than you would imagine. But I have seen the results from other people doing it, and it has the potential to work great....just don't expect it to be easy.

thanks for the suggestion about filling in holes. I wanted to repair the bad holes and drill new ones. Once everything is the way I want it, then I will probably get a vinyl overlay and add in the sticks, buttons, and spinners. Now I just need a suggestion on properly making holes for spinners and trackball

[severdhed]

I'm not the person to ask about the proper way to do things, but I can tell you how I did them.  the only tools i had at my disposal were a drill, jigsaw, and a dremel.  for my spinner (homemade..hard drive/ mouse hack) i used a spade bit in my drill, just like for the buttons and joysticks. for the trackball, i used my dremel with the circle cutter attachment.  I didn't use a mounting plate for my trackball though, so your process would probably be different.  What I am trying to say is that there are many ways to accomplish what you want...some work better than others.  What it really comes down to is what tools do you have, and how comfortable are you in using them.

[Goshen]

I made two holes that I had to fill, this is what I did..

I took the circle of wood that came out of the hole, and put it back in, then used some wood glue to keep it in place, I made the circle a little lower then the top of the cp, when this dried, it provided a foundation for putting the wood putty on top, when this dried, I then sanded it down to the same level as the rest of the cp.

[eastbayarb]

severhead,

how did you mount your trackball with no mounting plate?

goshen,

great suggestion for filling in the holes.