Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Woodworking => Topic started by: noobofthecentury on March 17, 2008, 02:11:30 am

Title: is 1/2 inch MDF enough for joystick build?
Post by: noobofthecentury on March 17, 2008, 02:11:30 am

I keep reading that everyone uses 3/4 MDF for their arcade cabinets and joysticks.
The store near my home sells 1/2 inch thick MDF, will that cause problem?

I know this is a woodworking section but I just thought to throw this question,
how do u properly make a hole for a pushbutton in a plexiglass or lexan?

Title: Re: is 1/2 inch MDF enough for joystick build?
Post by: IA1NY on March 17, 2008, 07:14:57 am

Quote from: noobofthecentury on March 17, 2008, 02:11:30 am

I know this is a woodworking section but I just thought to throw this question,
how do u properly make a hole for a pushbutton in a plexiglass or lexan?

Use a hole saw for drilling holes in Plexi or Lexan.  Especially if you are new to carpentry.  Drill slowly and clear chips often.  You can also use mineral oil as a coolant/lubricant which makes the holes smoother.  Lexan is less brittle and stronger than plexi, thus more forgiving.  You can use a spade bit or Forstner bit on either, but there's more chance of cracking plexi if you use these.  The hole saw will seve you well.

Title: Re: is 1/2 inch MDF enough for joystick build?
Post by: javeryh on March 17, 2008, 11:18:05 am

If you are planning to use through bolts to mount the joysticks then 1/2 MDF should be fine.  It's probably fine anyway with just screws from underneath too as long as you use like 8 of them.  Regular Happs buttons can be mounted in just about anything.

Title: Re: is 1/2 inch MDF enough for joystick build?
Post by: shardian on March 17, 2008, 11:28:36 am

So you are just building a desktop control panel? How big?
I built my single player desktop out of 1/4" material.