Joystick with only 24mm (smaller) buttons?

[Pixel_Outlaw]

No man likes to admit it but we don't all have large hands.
I've got short fingers.

Has anyone tried making a stick/MAME cab using only the smaller 24mm OBSF-24 buttons?
I tried looking for more information but it seem very uncommon to use the 24mm OBSF-24 buttons for the face of the joystick.

I'd like to see how it looks before funding the Chinese economy further through eBay.

I just finished making mine with the 30mm buttons and I feel it is quite a stretch to get to those pinky buttons. (I have a curved 4 button by 2 button layout.)
(No pictures yet, I've got a mountain of sanding and finish work to do)

I'm also wondering if the smaller buttons are a bit stiffer since they tend to be used for things that only get pushed occasionally.

Thanks for any help!

[brokenhalo]

Google "hitbox". They use all 24mm buttons, except for up which is 30mm. Although if you're using an 8 button layout, the rightmost 2 buttons (pinky buttons) arent going to be used for much at all. The 6 button layout is meant to fit the curvature of the hand. The extra 2 buttons are added on to console sticks just to have the extra shoulder buttons represented for menus and such.

[Pixel_Outlaw]

Google "hitbox". They use all 24mm buttons, except for up which is 30mm.

Hmmm the smaller buttons on those hitbox controllers don't look too bad.

Just stumbled upon the Neo Geo joysticks which also look like they have smaller buttons.
You did mention not really using the extra buttons for the pinky finger. I can kind of see that, not many arcade games would 8 buttons I guess.
I do like the idea of having a button under each finger comfortably though.

Yeah, maybe I'll go ahead and grab some 24's.

[Pixel_Outlaw]

Update:
Well here is my finished product.
To answer my own question, you can and it feels great!

You can take the 30mm templates on the Slagcoin guide and reduce them to 80% normal size and get a 24mm button guide that works perfectly.

[chuckster]

Was just preparing to ask this myself! The 24mm buttons are much more comfortable after trying a hitbox, I will definitely make use of the Slagcoin hack. It's so hard to find any decently prices arcade stick these days though, and customization options are basically nil. If someone came out with a stick under $150 where you could pick your joystick, layout, buttons, and extras, (maybe for a small fee), they would kill.

[Pixel_Outlaw]

It's so hard to find any decently prices arcade stick these days though, and customization options are basically nil. If someone came out with a stick under $150 where you could pick your joystick, layout, buttons, and extras, (maybe for a small fee), they would kill.

Cost breakdown for mine
Lumber: $20 (4" x .75" x 4' board poplar, 8" x 3/8" x 3' board poplar) Look in the "hobby wood" section of Home Depot
Zero Delay PCB, quick connects, ps2/usb cable: $30 (eBay, search for Zero Delay USB/PS2/PS3)
*Sanwa knockoff buttons: $15 for 12 (eBay, I really like them they don't feel cheap at all, can't find the auctions anymore...)
Mystery brand JLF knockoff joystick: $8 (eBay, but get the real thing if you're picky-it is a gamble with these unmarked ones)

Additional costs:
24mm fostner bit for button holes: $4 (eBay from China)
carrying handle, found it very nice to have (Home Depot)
Rare earth magnets to have a closing access panel in the back: $4 (Home Depot)
Hinges for back panel: $.99 (Wal*Mart)

There is a bit more price to mine that what it appears.

If you have a circular saw or a table saw and a drill you have enough to make your own joystick.


* I have 12 buttons because my stick's board has additional features. Button layout I've chosen for shmups (fighting games be damned)
Red buttons are controller buttons, black buttons are feature buttons.

Face:
X, O, square, triangle (all buttons covered under fingers, most used in shmups under my index and middle fingers)
L1, R1, Turbo, Clear (I like the turbo on the face so I don't need two hands to set and clear for games like Insector X and Gun Frontier)

Side (top to bottom):
Start
Select
PS3 Home button
Xbox/PC "Mode" button