The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls

Main => Woodworking => Topic started by: antnida on February 13, 2008, 04:16:37 pm

Title: Flush mount without a router?
Post by: antnida on February 13, 2008, 04:16:37 pm

I am just curious if there is a way to cut down the wood 1/16" to flush mount my joystick and trackball without a router?

Thanks
Tony

Title: Re: Flush mount without a router?
Post by: ChadTower on February 13, 2008, 04:18:38 pm

Chisel.

Title: Re: Flush mount without a router?
Post by: shardian on February 13, 2008, 04:19:35 pm

You would have to be damn good with some chisel tools too.

Title: Re: Flush mount without a router?
Post by: sstorkel on February 13, 2008, 07:13:57 pm

Anything that cuts wood: chisel, chisel plane, rasp, sand paper, pocket knife, drill, plunge-cut circular saw, there are lots of possibilities.

What tools do you have available? What's your budget for buying tools that you don't own?

Title: Re: Flush mount without a router?
Post by: nostrebor on February 13, 2008, 07:17:13 pm

Do you have access to any beavers? ;D


A chisel and a utility knife will do that work. You'll want to do some practicing with the chiseling techniques before going at it. You could do with just a utility knife if you're patient enough.

Title: Re: Flush mount without a router?
Post by: Neverending Project on February 21, 2008, 04:39:26 pm

You might be better off finding some 1/16" laminate to use on top of your CP. Then just cut holes in the laminate the same size as your joystick and trackball mounting plate flanges (don't forget the button holes!) and voila.

Finding the 1/16" material is a different story, however.

Title: Re: Flush mount without a router?
Post by: NickG on February 23, 2008, 02:17:45 am

Quote from: Neverending Project on February 21, 2008, 04:39:26 pm

You might be better off finding some 1/16" laminate to use on top of your CP. Then just cut holes in the laminate the same size as your joystick and trackball mounting plate flanges (don't forget the button holes!) and voila.

Finding the 1/16" material is a different story, however.

I did something similar for my first project because I did not have a router.  I used a 3/32" MDF layer (the darker brown stuff) on top of a 1/2" MDF layer.  Then, I used washers in between the 1/2" layer and the bottom surface of the mounting plate (on each post) to flush the top of the mounting plate and the top of the  3/32" layer.  Later I laminated both sides of the composited panel.  The laminate I used was about 1/16"  The end result was almost 3/4", so I used 3/4" T-molding - with satisfactory results.

Title: Re: Flush mount without a router?
Post by: antnida on March 05, 2008, 10:50:34 pm

Thanks for all the helps everyone,  I got a router from a friend and got the job done :)  Not perfectly straight but I am planning to place a lexan pieces on top of it.