P1 START button wear

[paulscade]

Well... I expected this to last a little longer.... this only has a few months of play on it... on my unfinished cabinet <see photo>   

Does anyone make a start button with the player 1/2 logo embedded in the plastic?

Any other solutions for this??

[SirPeale]

It happens.  It's a consumable item.  Though I am surprised that it's wearing already on a home use only button.

[Blanka]

Did you sticker it, or did you buy it as start button? Mine from Ultimarc seem pretty durable.

[thatitalian]

Did you sticker it, or did you buy it as start button? Mine from Ultimarc seem pretty durable.

Same here. My Ultimarc hasn't worn at all 3 years on!

[paulscade]

This one came from GGG.  No sticker... it was ordered as a "Player One Start" button.  I used it as is.

3 years?  This one was installed, new, in mid-October.... it only lasted 3 months (before wearing... the switch still works fine).

[thatitalian]

Bummer!

I play on my cab around 70 days of the year, so at least 210 days of usage.

Maybe try an insert of some kind, the button will have to wear before the graphic will!

[Ginsu Victim]

Just buy another. Happ buttons are cheap.

[Games001]

$2.00 or so from GGG.. not a big  issue in cost, but I would be very shocked to see a Player Button giving up so fast on the graphic.  Odd.

[paulscade]

It's not the cost... you're right... they are cheap.
BUT... I'd rather not have to buy one and replace it every 3 months.
I'd rather pay 5 bucks for one that won't wear out (vs $2 every 3 months).

I have a Home Theater Master universal remote... it's got the best buttons (for a remote)that I've ever seen.  The graphics are not painted on... they are somehow embedded in the button itself.... you can't even scratch it off if you tried.  I was hoping for something like this for the P1/P2 button.

[Dazz]

I picked my buttons up from Happ 3 years ago and even with heavy play my player start buttons all look brand new still.

[Ginsu Victim]

It's not the cost... you're right... they are cheap.
BUT... I'd rather not have to buy one and replace it every 3 months.
I'd rather pay 5 bucks for one that won't wear out (vs $2 every 3 months).

Dude, you might've just got one that was flawed. Most of us have no problems.

[TOK]

Leave it scratched. Not only that, burn it with a cigarette.
It adds character that most Basement Queen home games are sadly lacking. 

[Ginsu Victim]

Leave it scratched. Not only that, burn it with a cigarette.
It adds character that most Basement Queen home games are sadly lacking. 

[richms]

A friend was finding that the instructions on some pay kiosk machines that he maintained were coming off in one particular place, turns out it was where people were putting their sweaty hands. Some peoples sweat is lets just say quite reactive to things and was softening the decals and they would come off on their hands.

So perhaps you are one of the people that sweats grease and its attacking the plastic?

[ideft]

My buttons did the same thing.  My P1 button wore down within a month and my P2 button shortly after.  I bought mine from Starburst(Happs vendor in Canada).  I was quite disappointed on how fast they wore out, it was like they were painted on with cheap poster paint.

Some peoples sweat is lets just say quite reactive to things

My sweat must be acidic then.

[massive88]

It's not the cost... you're right... they are cheap.
BUT... I'd rather not have to buy one and replace it every 3 months.
I'd rather pay 5 bucks for one that won't wear out (vs $2 every 3 months).

I had the exact same thing happen to mine, in about 3 months of light play.

I got a vinyl sticker from Pongo on these boards to replace it, and it has proved faaaaaaaaaar more durable.  Imo, clean off what remains and get some stickers from Pongo.  At the time I also got a coin and pause sticker to make my cab a little more user friendly, and some spares in case it eventually comes off again, but so far, it doesnt look like it will.

If you are extra worried about it I have heard of people applying clear nail polish to the button after the sticker has been applied for extra protection.  Like I said though, seems unnecessary to me.

Heres a shot of mine on the CP - Going on 6 months now without a hint of wear:

[RandyT]

Yes, this is definitely not normal.  I pulled one from the shelf and took my fingernail to it and it won't even mar it.

A few questions:

How often do you clean the buttons and what are you using to clean them?

Is the button in direct sunlight for any part of the day?

Have you ever handled bare metal and had every part you touched rust well before the places you didn't?   It's an odd question, I know, but simple"normal use" causing something like this as quickly as it did points to someone with some very acidic oils in their skin.  The bare metal test is a good way to see this in action.  I know a guy who had to wear gloves when he worked at a sheet metal house because everything he touched would have rusty fingerprints on it before the customer could pick up the parts .

RandyT

[paulscade]

I've never cleaned the buttons (they have never really been dirty).
The cabinet is not exposed to any sunlight at all.

I like the comment about burning it with a cigarette... gives the panel that "authentic", "real arcade" look.  (Not really...  I know... some of you are going to zing me for this.... but I prefer the nice, shiny, unscratched, look of a new control panel... over the authentic look of a dull, worn, 1980's cigarette burned panel  )

The arcade gets used mostly by the grandkids (and me)... those little, 4-5 year old, grimy hands must be eroding my button graphics... I'll have to insist that they wear special white gloves before playing. 

[RandyT]

The arcade gets used mostly by the grandkids (and me)... those little, 4-5 year old, grimy hands must be eroding my button graphics... I'll have to insist that they wear special white gloves before playing. 

Heh, that was the last question I forgot to ask.  Kids pick at stuff.  All of them, apparently, without exception.  My 3 year old granddaughter sees something like that and the first thing she likes to do is give it the "does it come off" test. And to make matters worse, the fingernails on the little ones are sharper by virtue of being thinner.

If your machine takes tokens, and you give them tokens to play, you are also giving them a better tool than fingernails for the "does it come off" test (not that they won't eventually find a better one on their own )

RandyT

[massive88]

I should add that mine which exhibited similar behavior were Happ buttons, and I have fairly acidic hands, but not super-power acidic.  My trumpet lasted 4 years through marching band practices in hot, humid, Houston afternoon weather without bad damage.

[Ginsu Victim]

hot, humid, Houston

Enough pollution in the air down there to have killed the logo without ever touching it. Ever been through Pasadena (aka Stinkadena)? I rest my case.

[FrizzleFried]

If you're worried,  simply apply a coat of clear-coat paint to your new set.

[RandyT]

Forgot to mention, please send me an email so I know where to send it, and I'll send you another plunger for your button.  It's possible that that particular button just had a manufacturing issue, so I'll replace it for you so you can see how the next one goes.

RandyT

[Ginsu Victim]

Dude, you might've just got one that was flawed. Most of us have no problems.

It's possible that that particular button just had a manufacturing issue

 

[dmworking247]

Looking at the picture... I think you got the start button for House Of The Dead 2, by mistake.

[CathalDublin]

my happs ones are on there now 3 years I'd say without wear, I've even cleaned paint off them with meths and they are still perfect

[Ginsu Victim]

For some reason, I liked that start button picture enough to make it my background at work.

[RandyT]

Dude, you might've just got one that was flawed. Most of us have no problems.

It's possible that that particular button just had a manufacturing issue

 

Heh.  Most folks make this assumption about 99% (by my estimation) more often than is actually ever the case.  When an item is mass produced, 1000's are made exactly same way.  When it goes into peoples' homes, the same item is used under 1000's of different circumstances. 

RandyT

[Bender]

actually looking at that big picture

I it doesn't appear to be wear but scratching and chipping (kinda like randy suggested)

just my opinion

[Punisher]

Laser Etching is the way to go.  I just got done making my COIN buttons. These should never wear out unless the button wears out.  I only hope that they will not discolor over time.  The only problem is that I haven't been able to get it to show up on white or blue yet.

[RandyT]

Laser Etching is the way to go.  I just got done making my COIN buttons. These should never wear out unless the button wears out.  I only hope that they will not discolor over time.  The only problem is that I haven't been able to get it to show up on white or blue yet.

I can't believe I haven't tried that yet.......I've put just about everything else in the laser, just never a pushbutton......Looks good!

RandyT

[Bender]

Laser Etching is the way to go.  I just got done making my COIN buttons. These should never wear out unless the button wears out.  I only hope that they will not discolor over time.  The only problem is that I haven't been able to get it to show up on white or blue yet.

that is awesome where does one get that done?

[TelcoLou]

Laser Etching is the way to go.  I just got done making my COIN buttons. These should never wear out unless the button wears out.  I only hope that they will not discolor over time.  The only problem is that I haven't been able to get it to show up on white or blue yet.

that is awesome where does one get that done?

... After reading Randy's response, hopefully from GGG soon .... 

[Bender]

Laser Etching is the way to go.  I just got done making my COIN buttons. These should never wear out unless the button wears out.  I only hope that they will not discolor over time.  The only problem is that I haven't been able to get it to show up on white or blue yet.

that is awesome where does one get that done?

... After reading Randy's response, hopefully from GGG soon .... 

yeah, but I want my own graphics 
if randy will do that it would be fantastic

[Punisher]

Laser Etching is the way to go.  I just got done making my COIN buttons. These should never wear out unless the button wears out.  I only hope that they will not discolor over time.  The only problem is that I haven't been able to get it to show up on white or blue yet.

that is awesome where does one get that done?

Thanks
I'm lucky enough to have access to one at work.  It would be a sweet tool to have at home but I can't see spending $50,000 for a toy.

[Ginsu Victim]

Holy ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---! I would totally be all over this service if someone offered it. Even if I were to ship mine to have it done. Count me in! (RandyT, get on that ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---!)

[TelcoLou]

I've got green "coin" buttons on my CP, but I'd buy new black ones with this etching in a heartbeat!!

  ... what a can o' worms you opened up, Punisher!

[Punisher]

  ... what a can o' worms you opened up, Punisher!

Ya, I just wish I had the means to make a bunch of these.

[Ummon]

After a few years, my Happ-product button had no wear. Then, a few months ago, I was getting uppity cos it hosed me and was repeatedly pressing it in resetting the game, or in wanting to skip a beginning sequence in the game, etc. Basically, it had almost become a 'player' button. Then it started wearing. Some people don't even get decal'ed buttons. They're white and in a special place. What else could they be for?

[mrclean]

Solution; buy a new button P1 and then place some clear nail polish ontop of it. This should help with longevity