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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Sshado on April 03, 2003, 02:44:06 pm

Title: Just a trackball
Post by: Sshado on April 03, 2003, 02:44:06 pm

I bought a blue 3" trackball from Happ and I decided I want a new color.

Anyone know where I can get "just the ball"?  I am looking for Black or silver or stone colored or something.

Thanks

Title: Re:Just a trackball
Post by: _Iz- on April 03, 2003, 02:47:27 pm

http://therealbobroberts.com/

Title: Re:Just a trackball
Post by: Silverwind on April 03, 2003, 02:47:40 pm

Quote from: Sshado on April 03, 2003, 02:44:06 pm

I bought a blue 3" trackball from Happ and I decided I want a new color.

Anyone know where I can get "just the ball"?  I am looking for Black or silver or stone colored or something.

Thanks

I think bob roberts sells white.. but if you want a different color.. have you looked on happs site?? I thought I saw replacement trackballs for sale there.. but I could be wrong..

Title: Re:Just a trackball
Post by: _Iz- on April 03, 2003, 02:49:40 pm

from bob's trackball section...

Atari TB 3" ball blk/white/red/blue $15.00
Atari TB 3" ball red/blue translucent $18.00

(Happs uses atari's specs)

Title: Re:Just a trackball
Post by: Sshado on April 03, 2003, 03:04:09 pm

thanks for the responses, I wish Bob accepted Paypal though :(

Anyone know if there are any Chrome type 3" trackballs anywhere?

Title: Re:Just a trackball
Post by: shmokes on April 03, 2003, 03:31:47 pm

Hmm...This would probably be a bad idea, but you could try some automotive paint to get a chrome effect.  It'd probably end up wearing off onto your rollers over time and ruin your trackball unit, though.  Or not.

Title: Re:Just a trackball
Post by: mpm32 on April 03, 2003, 05:00:07 pm

Get a machine shop to machine a 3" sphere out of aluminium.  You could then get it nickle plated.  It would look just like chrome. Hell after the nickle plate you could get it chromed.

I have no idea what this would cost or how a metal ball would work in a trackball.

Title: Re:Just a trackball
Post by: AlanS17 on April 03, 2003, 05:02:07 pm

Metal? Sounds like a really heavy trackball. When you're finished playing your games you can go in the backyard and practice your shotput!

Title: Re:Just a trackball
Post by: IceCold on April 03, 2003, 05:04:25 pm

I'm pretty sure on certain sized trackballs you can just use a pool ball... is that correct?

Title: Re:Just a trackball
Post by: rampy on April 03, 2003, 05:05:39 pm

Quote from: IceCold on April 03, 2003, 05:04:25 pm

I'm pretty sure on certain sized trackballs you can just use a pool ball... is that correct?

for 2 1/4" trackballs yeah...  and you can have custom pool balls made with a design logo of your choice.... but I haven't seen silver =P

rampy

Title: Re:Just a trackball
Post by: Brax on April 03, 2003, 06:09:10 pm

Quote from: mpm32 on April 03, 2003, 05:00:07 pm

Get a machine shop to machine a 3" sphere out of aluminium.  You could then get it nickle plated.  It would look just like chrome. Hell after the nickle plate you could get it chromed.

I have no idea what this would cost or how a metal ball would work in a trackball.

Its still too heavy for a trackball but if you want aluminum to look like chrome all you do is polish it. You won't hardly be able to tell the difference.

Title: Re:Just a trackball
Post by: _Iz- on April 03, 2003, 06:12:04 pm

I really don't think chrome, nickel or polished aluminum are that great an idea. Yeah it would look cool, but don't you want to be able to play trackball games too? I'd think it would slip on your hand and also slip on the rollers inside instead of spinning them...

Title: Re:Just a trackball
Post by: Sshado on April 04, 2003, 06:32:19 am

I just thought of a better idea, since my control panel will sort of be black, I could chrome the trackball plate and get a black trackball.

That way I get the color scheme I am looking for and still have a great ball :)

I wish I had a digital camera to show my progress :p

My goal is to be finished by June 14th...

Sshado

Title: Re:Just a trackball
Post by: Brad Lee on April 04, 2003, 09:24:57 am

What about this thread?
http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=6056;start=0

I don't know if this would work on the trackball material- anyone?

Title: Re:Just a trackball
Post by: Sshado on April 04, 2003, 09:44:56 am

Heh, that is the same answer I got about my buttons :)

I may try it on the buttons since they are only 99 cents right now :D

Sshado

Title: Re:Just a trackball
Post by: Wade on April 04, 2003, 01:34:50 pm

I'm not sure about machining an aluminum trackball.  I think balls are very hard objects for a person to machine by hand.  However, I bet you could find a big chrome bearing somewhere.  I've seen them a couple of inches in diameter before.  The hard part would be finding someone who knows where to get one!

Don't paint a ball, that won't work for sure.

The dye will probably work, I've dyed plastics before and it works very well.  I suspect it will work on a trackball too.

I recently bleached my white ebay trackball and it looked 10 times better.  I still wanted a black one for my cabinet though so I bought one from Bob Roberts.  I have to say, it looks REALLY nice!  It also rolls smoother and faster than my old one too.

I totally forgot about being able to dye plastics.  This would be a great way to get custom color setups for buttons.  You could also dye your Start buttons a different color than white!  Very cool.

Wade

Title: Re:Just a trackball
Post by: RubbrDug on April 05, 2003, 07:27:43 am

Found this link about dyeing plastics:

http://www.rcjon.com/rcs/id46.htm (http://www.rcjon.com/rcs/id46.htm)

Never heard of that before. Gotta try it out. Even if it looks on the linked site like the color hasn't changed at all  ;D

RubbrDug