Williams Control Panel Project

[D_Harris]

I am getting ready to make replacements for Joust/Robotron controls panels with some modifications, and I've been researching the best wood to use.

But I wanted to really make these CPs as bullet proof as possible and was considering Baltic Birch or MDO. Unfortunately, these materials can no be easily found in my area. I checked two lumber yards and of course they wouldn't be found at Home Depot and Lowes.

So I was thinking that perhaps I would be over-doing since the original CPs are I think BC plywood. So pretty much anything would seem to be a step up in quality. Anyway and decided that I would work with what is available at Home Depot.

Can I get recommendations on what to go with from the list below?

(I counted 11 plies in the Hardwood Birch Plywood below).

3/4" (2' x 4') Hardwood Birch Plywood       ($19.98)
3/4" (2' x 4') Hardwood Cherry Plywood      ($25.88)
3/4" (2' x 4') Hardwood Primed Plywood      ($19.98)
3/4" (2' x 4') Hardwood Red Oak Plywood     ($19.98)
3/4" (2' x 4') Hardwood UV Maple Plywood    ($25.88)
3/4" (2' x 4') Hardwood White Maple Plywood ($19.98)
3/4" (2' x 4') Handy Panel Birch Boise Cascade BMDD ($12.57)
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3/4" (4' x 8') Sap Maple Plywood           ($69.88)
3/4" (4' x 8') Sap Maple UV-2 Plywood      ($89.97)
3/4" (4' x 8') Hardwood A-I Cherry Plywood ($97.88)
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3/4" (4' x 8') Birch Hardwood ($47.88)
3/4" (4' x 8') Oak   Hardwood ($42.95)

Also, the strength of the joint is really what is important, I was wondering if I should try a beveled box joint instead of the Rabbeted-Groove/glue block the originals used.

http://s290.photobucket.com/albums/ll257/Statenislander/Woodworking%20Projects/?action=view&current=ControlPanelProject.jpg

Opinions?

Thanks a lot.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

[TOK]

I just used 3/4 MDF. Used the brackets mainly to align it, then glued the wood blocks. Went over the front with a 1/2" roundover. Not the most elegant material, but it's very strong. 




Last pic is the whole thing together. You can see from the test to the final that I had to lower the stick to get to correct Stargate height. Post pics of your progress!

[BASS!]

I just used 3/4 MDF. Used the brackets mainly to align it, then glued the wood blocks. Went over the front with a 1/2" roundover. Not the most elegant material, but it's very strong. 




Last pic is the whole thing together. You can see from the test to the final that I had to lower the stick to get to correct Stargate height. Post pics of your progress!

Wowie tok, I never got to see this, that is an awesome job there!!! how did you go about hiding the dust washer, did you even use one?

[TOK]

Thank you very much! I didn't use a dust washer, I just cut the hole for the stick as small as I could get away with.
With the overlay going right on the wood and having an adhesive backing, underneath wasn't an option. Putting it over top would have had it riding right on the art since I didn't want a plexi overlay.

For what it's worth, this machine is over a year old and I've had no problems... Just gotta play it enough to keep the dust off. 

[BASS!]

Hehehe:-) My next build I think I'm going to take the same approach if I decide to go with a wood panel. I hate dust washers, unless they are franco's awesome metal doohickeys.