Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: RoadhawK on February 16, 2003, 01:33:10 pm
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Hi all,
Anybody know where to buy Con-tact paper, coloured acrylic, T-molding and Lexan in the UK? Perferably from an online outfit? I've been searching with google but it comes back with so much info it's just too much to trawl through.
Also any good UK Diy links you've come across would be helpfull.
Thanks in advance.
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Most big-name DIY places seem to suck for this kindof stuff in my experience. Try Swallow Amusements (search on google) for the t-molding, but you'll have to send them a cheque :(
No idea for the other stuff tho :-\
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Yeah tell me about it. Bugger all in B&Q, Homebase....
Move to USA i think. Thanks anyway.
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I couldnt find Lexan from anywhere, so I started phoning around local glass merchants, and found a seller - the company I got it from is based in the west country - Roman Glass.
They also sell coloured Acrylic.
Ive not found anywhere that sells ConTact paper, and when asking about it I just get blank looks.
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Yeah tell me about it. Bugger all in B&Q, Homebase....
Move to USA i think. Thanks anyway.
I've had exactly the same experience with the chain stores - no T-Moulding, no slot cutting router bits, no lexan, no laminate (unless you buy it already glued to wood), no small carriage bolts, no knowledgeable staff.......Hopeless
Also, they all seem to sell the same stuff at about the same prices. So no freedom of choice either.
B&Q do actually sell contact paper however they call it Fablon. Unfortunately their range of designs is very limited. I didn't see anything suitable for a control panel.
T-Moulding can be obtained for either Swallow amusements or Happ(UK). I believe Happ is cheaper.
Homebase sells clear acrylic sheets which I understand from a previous thread is the same as Plexiglass. They also sell clear Polystyrene sheets which is less strong than acrylic but supposedly easier to work with. I'm not sure if the Polystyrene stuff will do as a Lexan substitute. Personally I'm going to buy the acrylic to avoid scratches.
According to a previous post coloured acrylic can be created by taking clear acrylic and spraying paint on one side. I haven't tried this but it sounds like a good idea.
There was a previous thread about where you can buy slot cutting bits in the UK. Unfortunately, I just did a search and couldn't find it.
Hope this helps.
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Had to join in on this post and vent my similar frustrations at UK availability.
I gave up with plexi etc and used glass for both bezel cover and the marquee - got both for about a tenner, they look great and I still haven't broken them yet...
That said I'm starting another project soon and want a plexi covered CP so thanks for the Homebase tip.
Used parts are my biggest frustration, there are never any decent coin doors on e-bay in the UK and when I've enquired on shipping to a couple of US based ones I've had zero response. I did succesfully get a Pole Position wheel and panel from the states although the wheel cost
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I have been looking everywhere for small black carriage bolts without any luck. Anyone have any suggestions ?.
I have used Fablon and Fablon Plus before and it is surprisingly durable. If you go to a B&Q Warehouse stores they have a much larger selection of styles.
Happs Europe sells arcade quality vinyl although it is not cheap. I don't know of any other UK suppliers though.
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Another UK builder here, I actually managed to get quite a bit of my stuff from B&Q, bolts, hinges, etc.
I also got my lexan/plexiglass from there, its called Liteglaze (Clear acrylic sheet), I used 2mm stuff that came in a 4ftx2ft sheet for about
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GSX -
Did you have much luck drilling that Liteglaze stuff ?
I bought a sheet, and whilst the pilot holes drilled fine, anything larger and it just cracked.
I ended up getting some Lexan-like material, that the glazier assured me could be treated just like wood - and you know what, he was right.
Clamped the polycarbonate to the wood, used a 28mm hole cutting spade bit and went to work - perfect.
It was much more expensive though - about
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Woohoo, some great stuff there.
Liteglaze, yeah i was looking at that in B&Q so i may try that.
Thanks Grasshopper for the Acrylic and Fablon info i'll check them out this week.
I was considering T-molding.com, let me know how you get on with that.
Keep 'em coming :P
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It's even a pain trying to get imperial size drill bits etc. which causes probs when trying to fit US parts! I'd recommend small local hardware shops for router bits etc - they should be able to order whatever you want.
I've seen Plexiglass (or Perspex as I call it) in Great Mills / Focus but it seems to be pretty beaten up in my local - I'm going to use glass over the screen in my cab I think.
At least MDF is easy to come by - I dunno how to fit it in my Mini tho ??? ::) ;D
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So far i've only played with my test piece of LiteGlaze, mananged to drill/cut several hole quite close together with no probs so far. But i have the feeling it will probably all go wrong when iI cut the last hole on my final peice. :o
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Screwfix in the uk has a nice selection of router bits and drills bits http://www.screwfix.com/ Trend bits are the ones someone recommended to me, expensive but perform well.
I think i may try a few USA firms and like GSX i'm not too bothered about shipping costs as long as i get it.
I mean i've allready ordered from Oscar and Ultimarc with no problem at all.
Most of my other bits i've got from Happs europe over the phone. Pity they don't have a UK webby yet.
What do you cut the Plexi/Liteglaze with?, Jigsaw with fine teeth or do you need a special blade?.
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Oh yeah Gajaman have you tried the website that Grasshopper mentioned? They do coin mechs here http://www.coin.demon.co.uk/-coin.htm unforunately you can't purchase online, you'd have to ring them or send a cheque.
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Thanks for the tip RoadhawK, swallow didn't have any doors on their site but I've e-mailed them to find out.
There seem to be more and more UK cabinet builders out there, as the people finder is for the US only any other UK builders want to come out of the closet?
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:) I've just built a rough prototype CP, my first one. Some pics here (http://www.stephenjones.nildram.co.uk/)
Ok it's a bit cramped but i wanted to see how i faired. This will be redesigned with a better layout to go into a cab that i hope to start building in the next few weeks.
All the plates will be routed and hidden by a graphic hopefully. Also the Cp is one player but will be two player when it is in the cabinet.
I'm just toying whether to build a cab from scratch or get hold of one to customise. I reckon i'd prefer to build from scratch and do something really wacky but no too big
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Nice work with the CP RoadhawK, that's how I started, then it gets expensive...
I had a response from Swallow BTW, they don't have any coin doors but offered to get one from Happs for me, I think they missed the point!
Still, at least they responded, both promptly and informatively, more than some of the other small UK parts resellers.
I guess the search for a inexpensive coin door in the UK goes on...
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RoadhawK: Nice start to your panel. However I'm wondering why you have fitted three joysticks. Some people fit a third joystick for 4 way games. However the T-Stiks are 4/8 way switchable.
gajaman: Have you tried buying a coin door from Suzo(UK)? I've ordered from them and their service was very good.
Also what about Industrias Lorenzo? I would imagine the shipping cost from Spain is pretty horrendous, however presumably not as much as importing from the USA. Also you wouldn't have to pay import duty because Spain is in the EEC.
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Hi dudes, the 2 T-sticks are for robotron, Crazy climber.. and i also play fighters left handed and shooters right handed. Plus my mates have a choice right or left.
The red J-stick is set to 4-way for Pac-man, Bomberman.... I may get a dedicated 4-way but the J-stick works brilliantly either as 4 or 8.
Like i said it's a v rough prototype and i couldn't wait to try it out on Mame!. It's actually not that cramped when your on it but i probably won't have that many controls on there when (if) i do a cab.
Like your site Gaja by the way, must do mine soon.
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well just thought I would check in as a fellow UK builder
currently constructing a ms pacman cocktail thanks to Kyles plans
having the same problems getting the various parts
the piano hinge is proving to be a nightmare Might just use cupboard style hinges
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I called Suzo once (since they don't seem to have a full online catalog) and requested a catalog, but it never arrived :'(
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the piano hinge is proving to be a nightmare Might just use cupboard style hinges
I am also building a cocktail cab that has followed kyles plans and have had absolutely no luck finding a suitable piano hinge.
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the piano hinge is proving to be a nightmare Might just use cupboard style hinges
My local (Swindon) Focus Do-It-All sells piano hinges, about 3' long.
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I e-mailed Suzo as there site makes it crystal clear that only companies can register to see the full catalogue and prices - no response yet.
Over the weekend I've been developing an idea for a timber made fake coin door kind of thing. Still only thinking about it, and certainly not something for purists, but it might be a cheap way to replicate a four entry coin door.
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Just an update on my eariler post, i finally recieved my t-molding at last. A couple of weeks after i placed my order nothing had turned up so i mailed Richard at t-molding.com and he said that he had known to have had a few international orders go missing and that he would send a second lot out.
Anyhow its all here now and i can finally get on with my build. ;D