Help and Advice Please

[okambi]

I have been a long time lurker and I have read many posts with great interest and enthusiasm. Everyone that has gathered together to share their interests and knowledge is truly inspiring, thank you to everyone.

I recently started building a bartop cab, I used the Weecade as my inspiration and changed it a bit to fit what I have and account for my skills. Thank you Koenigs. I am using a metal CP made from 1/8” aluminum that I had bent but I have no way to do the pressed stud method that he used for the joystick screws.

I am close to wrapping it up and I would like some advice on where to get the screws / bolts I see in some of the control panels, the visible ones with the smooth head. I have looked everywhere and I cannot find something close to what it appears others are using.

I read here http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=86970.msg913226#msg913226 about taking standard carriage bolts and sanding the head to get a smooth head bolt and that worked great, however the head of the bolt is huge looking on my CP. I am using the smallest carriage bolts I could find - 3/16”

Where does everyone get the nice looking smaller smooth head screw / bolts?

Thank you in advance for you advice and help.

[DashRendar]

Maybe try something like elevator bolts?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001APPKO0

[okambi]

Dash -

Thank you for your quick reply.

I actually have looked at these at Lowe's and thought they would be the perfect solution but unfortunately the head is a bit bigger than the ones I have now.

They look great though and would require no effort to use them (read sanding and polishing), but I am looking for something with a bit smaller head.

[bkenobi]

If you can't find anything smaller diameter, you could modify those ones that Dash recommended.  I think the easiest way would be to load the bolt into a drill and spin it on sand paper or a file.  You will be removing the zinc coating, so you will need to paint them to avoid rust.  Alternately, you could see if they come in stainless steel.  However, stainless is VERY hard and would eat a lot of sand paper.  You might want to use a grinder if you go that route.

[okambi]

Bkenobi -

That's a great idea, I will go past and pick up some to try. Thanks!

[CheffoJeffo]

http://www.therealbobroberts.net/parts.html#hardware

http://www.arcadeshop.com/parts.htm

http://www.mikesarcade.com/cgi-bin/store.pl

They all stock nice small, shiny carriage bolts.

[okambi]

Cheff -

Thank you for your links and help. I have ordered some this morning. I really appreciate everyones help with this.

Thanks!