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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: animatorJustin on March 03, 2010, 03:14:48 pm

Title: is it possible to route joystick hole without router...
Post by: animatorJustin on March 03, 2010, 03:14:48 pm
i don't have a router (and to poor to buy one  :cry:)and i am going to be mounting two mag-stik plus and a track ball. is it possible to do this with a chisel :-\, i know it might suck, or take a long time, but does anyone have any tips or things to watch out for when doing this.

Thanks 
Title: Re: is it possible to route joystick hole without router...
Post by: garnerb350 on March 03, 2010, 03:23:11 pm
Are you using wood?...



spade-bit? joystick hole should be the same as a button...

jig-saw? (trackball)


Check with Harbor Freight...they have tools cheap...Maybe also check around pawn shops... :dunno

using a chisel is risky...
1. You could end up gouging too much...and chance of being uneven...

Dremel kit...then buy the router bits...

Know any friends you can borrow tools from?
Title: Re: is it possible to route joystick hole without router...
Post by: animatorJustin on March 03, 2010, 03:36:30 pm
sorry 3/4 mdf board. i drilled a joystick hole, but i want the joystick longer. me and all my friends are computer animators = no tools or woodworking experience
Title: Re: is it possible to route joystick hole without router...
Post by: Malenko on March 03, 2010, 04:19:22 pm
dremel is your best/cheapest bet, unless you have a chisel and a lot of free time.
Title: Re: is it possible to route joystick hole without router...
Post by: animatorJustin on March 03, 2010, 04:22:03 pm
i do have a chisel, i was wondering if anyone has gone down that road
Title: Re: is it possible to route joystick hole without router...
Post by: javeryh on March 03, 2010, 04:26:09 pm
This is kind of easy but also a pain.  Trace your mounting plate with a razor and press as hard as you can.  Peel away the MDF.  Repeat until you reach your desired depth.  Once you get down like 1/16" you can use sandpaper or something to keep the area as flat as you can.  It's not that hard but it will take a while.

EDIT: A sharp chisel will make it go much faster.  I used one to remove MDF underneath my CP but in the corners only because my router did the rest:

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CXccc8RIW9I/SiAS53Oqe7I/AAAAAAAABuI/p-Rly9y2Nqg/s400/Control+Panel+-+Joystick+05.JPG)

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CXccc8RIW9I/SiAS6O3EbXI/AAAAAAAABuQ/ubdyLWqAQjE/s400/Control+Panel+-+Joystick+02.JPG)
Title: Re: is it possible to route joystick hole without router...
Post by: animatorJustin on March 03, 2010, 04:30:04 pm
thanks
Title: Re: is it possible to route joystick hole without router...
Post by: DrumAnBass on March 03, 2010, 06:51:07 pm
Maybe you could borrow a router? What part of the world are you in?
Title: Re: is it possible to route joystick hole without router...
Post by: apfelanni on March 04, 2010, 04:47:46 am
as a router alternative u can try a drill press with a router bit. its not that easy 2 handle but it works .  
Title: Re: is it possible to route joystick hole without router...
Post by: animatorJustin on March 04, 2010, 09:01:46 am
Philadelphia, Pa i tried a chisel...  :banghead: it worked but took 2 hours for one even hole
Title: Re: is it possible to route joystick hole without router...
Post by: Malenko on March 04, 2010, 09:27:32 am
Philadelphia, Pa i tried a chisel...  :banghead: it worked but took 2 hours for one even hole

unless you have a chisel and a lot of free time.

1 down, 1 to go?  2 hours is better then I did my first time, took me almost 3. Do it a bit at a time, chip away at it /pun.

it'd take you that long (or longer)  to drive to my house for me to route the holes for you. I think you can rent one from Home Depot. What kind of animation do you do?
Title: Re: is it possible to route joystick hole without router...
Post by: Ed_McCarron on March 04, 2010, 10:00:29 am
Philadelphia, Pa i tried a chisel...  :banghead: it worked but took 2 hours for one even hole

Crap.  I'm just south of Philly but my router is already out on loan...

Check out this place:

http://retoolpa.com/ (http://retoolpa.com/)

It's up 95N near Sesame Place...  Great prices on used tools.
Title: Re: is it possible to route joystick hole without router...
Post by: animatorJustin on March 04, 2010, 10:33:59 am
3D animation, right now mostly medical presentation, my heart is  in character animation and special effects
Title: Re: is it possible to route joystick hole without router...
Post by: severdhed on March 04, 2010, 12:43:50 pm
You can buy a router at harbor freight for $25...it is a small trim router and it works great.  Sure it is not a name brand unit, but it works great.  I have had mine for a little over a year and have used it on numerous projects, both arcade related and otherwise, and it has performed very well.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44914 (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44914)

Title: Re: is it possible to route joystick hole without router...
Post by: garnerb350 on March 04, 2010, 12:57:42 pm
You can buy a router at harbor freight for $25...it is a small trim router and it works great.  Sure it is not a name brand unit, but it works great.  I have had mine for a little over a year and have used it on numerous projects, both arcade related and otherwise, and it has performed very well.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44914 (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44914)



+1

Also that dremel kit is pretty nifty...I use that for making signs and small work that requires routing...