Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Woodworking => Topic started by: noobofthecentury on March 24, 2008, 04:40:47 pm

Title: what is a good thin wood?
Post by: noobofthecentury on March 24, 2008, 04:40:47 pm

What type of wood meets these conditions

- thin (1/4 inch)
- if cut 7 inch by 11 will still hold pretty strong
- can be drill with hole saw

Title: Re: what is a good thin wood?
Post by: HaRuMaN on March 24, 2008, 04:41:25 pm

Kinda depends on what you will be using it for?

Title: Re: what is a good thin wood?
Post by: noobofthecentury on March 24, 2008, 04:50:06 pm

I am using it for a external control panel
Kinda like a mini control panel for arcade but I can use it on my console too.

I build the 4 sides made of 1/2 inch MDF glued together
I am looking for a thin wood to be the top panel (where I will make holes for button)
I will also add 1/8 plexiglass on top of this top layer.

I want to avoid using router but get the maximum joystick height.

is this a good wood?
Baltic Birch Plywood, 6mm - 1/4" x 12" x 12"

Title: Re: what is a good thin wood?
Post by: sstorkel on March 24, 2008, 07:26:54 pm

Given your application, you almost have to use plywood. Baltic Birch is an excellent choice. 1/4" is pretty darn thin, though. If you're planning to pound on your buttons, you'll probably want at least 1/2"...

Title: Re: what is a good thin wood?
Post by: Jdurg on March 25, 2008, 10:53:26 am

Also, keep in mind that the thinner the plywood, the more likely it is to be severely warped.  So be prepared to take some time and "flatten" it out.

Title: Re: what is a good thin wood?
Post by: shardian on March 25, 2008, 11:27:13 am

Luan plywood would work in that small of dimensions. For my single player desktop CP, I had some scrap sheets of 1/4" hardboard. It is super sturdy on that small of a scale.

Title: Re: what is a good thin wood?
Post by: nuka1195 on March 27, 2008, 06:21:03 pm

luan has a tendency to bleed thru. if you're putting an overlay on top i wouldn't recommend luan.

1/4" is pretty thin, you could glue another layer everywhere the joystick is not.