4-way DIY Arcade Stick (IKEA mod)

[UDb23]

Just finished my second build (after this): a 4-way DIY arcade stick.

The enclosure is a modded UPPSKATTNING; a new IKEA bread bin.

After various searches for real 4-way joysticks I decided to use a Happ “ms. pacman/ Galaga reunion” replica stick.

The main challenge was that this joystick is meant for mounting on metal control panels (= very thin panel compared to wood) as the shaft is really short compared to standard joysticks.
To mount it on the wood lid I carefully routed it, leaving just a few mm. Luckily the birch wood is quite sturdy.

Buttons are Happ too; the usb controller is the inexpensive, but effective, usual Dragonrise zero delay.

Finally I can play arcade classics like Pengo, Pac-Man, Burger Time with the required precision.
It really brings the original play feeling back !

Below some more pics.
Will probably make a tutorial on how to build it.

[lilbud]

I'm also making a wooden arcade stick now as you post this. Though I'm making it from pieces instead of a prebuilt enclosure.

[UDb23]

@lilbud Looks interesting.
Saw that IKEA bin in the shop and found it really had the right length and width. Of course quite amount of modding is required; starting from significantly lowering the height.

Routed Lid:

Final with gloss top coat:

Inside:

[Clyde]

@udb23 Nice one, now you can cut your sandwiches while playing without making a mess! ;)

[Clyde]

@udb23 said in 4-way DIY Arcade Stick (IKEA mod):

The enclosure is a modded UPPSKATTNING; a new IKEA bread bin.

The link doesn't work, because of a "!" before its URL. This one works: IKEA bread bin

[UDb23]

@clyde said in 4-way DIY Arcade Stick (IKEA mod):

you can cut your sandwiches while playing

LOL! :-))

[UDb23]

@clyde said in 4-way DIY Arcade Stick (IKEA mod):

link doesn't work

ops.. fixed. thanks.

[DougA]

@udb23 Just as an aside and for future reference, a lot of the "cheap" joysticks on Amazon/ebay are sold as 8 way joysticks, but have a gate underneath that can be popped out and rotated 45 degrees, so they become 4 way sticks. For example, the one I am installing in my vertical screen MAME2003 arcade. It was a little fiddly to pop it out, but not difficult.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VT8MNS4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I had originally planned to do something like your stick, but I couldn't find a suitable container. Yours looks ideal :-)

Oh,and I don't know if they would fit your stick, but you can get shaft extensions if yours still feels shorter than you would like. Amazon has quite a few, just search by "joystick shaft extension" and you will get plenty of options.

[UDb23]

@douga said in 4-way DIY Arcade Stick (IKEA mod):

have a gate underneath that can be popped out and rotated 45 degrees, so they become 4 way sticks.

I tested gate restrictors on my qanba Q1; it's ok but not exacly as a real 4 way.
Also the HAPP Super joysticks I use on my custom 2 players can be "switched" to 4 ways; still not the same as the real thing.
Maybe it's just a personal impression but the one I used on this build feels better than those.
BTW The Happ ms pacman "reunion" can be easily found at around 12 Euro (+ shipping) ;-)

[UDb23]

@douga said in 4-way DIY Arcade Stick (IKEA mod):

you can get shaft extensions if yours still feels shorter than you would like. Amazon has quite a few, just search by "joystick shaft extension" and you will get plenty of options.

Will check. Thanks for the info.

[DougA]

@udb23 I'm sure you are right about the feel. To be honest, mine feels better when used as an 8 way than a 4 way. I think once I get everything else finished, I may look at replacing my stick with a "proper" 4 way, or at least a better quality 8/4 way stick. Thinking about it, it's pretty crazy to spend a lot of time, effort and cash on building a cabinet, and then skimping on the most critical component.

[mgiugliano]

@udb23 said in 4-way DIY Arcade Stick (IKEA mod):

this

Thank you for your inspiring design and adaptation of an IKEA item!

Apologies if I come back to an old post. May I still kindly ask you the exact height of your build? In other words, how much did you cut the bread bin?

I am thinking of perhaps cutting it with an angle, so that the board will be slightly oblique. What do you think? Is your experience better with a flat board?

[UDb23]

@mgiugliano Will measure and let you know. Of course height will depend on the joystick you'll be using.
Yes, you could slightly angle it, like a did for my 2 player control panel

[813_Alex]

Nice work. How "clicky" is that Suzohapp stick? I am looking for a 4-way stick for a project and would like something quiet and smoth feeling.

[UDb23]

@mgiugliano Total height of the control panel is 8 cm (bottom box+small rubber dumpers+cover). Bottom box height is 6,5 cm (that's the part to "trim down" from the originale Ikea bread box).

[UDb23]

@813_alex That stick, like any arcade one with microswitches is quite noisy (but I like that). Also the stick itself (spring ?) makes noise when moving it. On the other hand that's a real 4-way ;-)