Hey /diy, I don't normally post here or do more than look

>>1167842
One of my arcade sticks I'm about to gut is in a wooden box. The sides are 45 degree miter cuts with wooden strips on the inside recessed to the depth of the bottom cover. The bottom cover screws into those strips. The top, which the buttons and stick are screwed into, has four small right angle metal brackets in the inside holding the top to the sides.

Something like this? Not sure if the top would be sturdy enough, but you could reinforce it fairly easily.
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0016ZXXZW/

You can use a Sega master system or Genesis/mega drive controller in the meantime if you have one lying around.

>>1167876
i am good sir, also that purse box is a good contender, but i would like to have something wide enough to sit both hands over, something rectangular. also knowing how deep the box is helps a lot too.

>>1167871
pics pls

>>1167842

I know these controllers well. having owned and still do own a 2600 ive had several of these shits break due to their shity designs. currently have an 80s aftermarket replacement that is similar in design but not an original controller. its easy to make or modify one, its just a matter of making something with switches and connecting the 2 leads on each "pad" to a switch. theres zero complication in their design. no controller board no electronic chips nothing. simple on/off pressure pads. but fuck me they broke too often

>>1168159
yeah, i had to repair some too. but im more interested in using arcade peripherals to build a new controller.

File: IMG_9029.jpg (451KB, 2109x1305px) Image search: [Google]

451KB, 2109x1305px

>>1168018
Okay it was a little different than I remembered, but hopefully this helps. The back panel (not shown) should be no thicker than the additional length of the outer thin panels. It sits on and screws into the thicker miter cut wall on the inside.

File: IMG_9031.jpg (273KB, 1728x972px) Image search: [Google]

273KB, 1728x972px

>>1168550
They got fancy with the angles, but if you don't set it on your lap I doubt it matters much.

File: IMG_9032.jpg (239KB, 1776x1206px) Image search: [Google]

239KB, 1776x1206px

>>1168557
As you can see the veneer, or whatever you want to call that, has peeled over time.

File: 0623b.jpg (17KB, 400x376px) Image search: [Google]

17KB, 400x376px

>>1167842
back in the day there was a controller called "Slick Stick" essentially the same as the 2600 controller but built much more robustly. had a metal ball that made contact with metal plates inside the joystick to facilitate the controls. also the 'throw' was a lot shorter then the standard 2600 stick. those were the hotness back then.

>>1168790
oh sorry they spelled it "slik stik"...

File: Starfighter_3.jpg (96KB, 640x640px) Image search: [Google]

96KB, 640x640px

>>1168790
there was also the "Starfighter". same company as the Slik Stik and the same size and same internal parts. the slik stik had the ball on top and the starfighter didn't.

>>1168559
Thx,

Also having issues finding slick stick for cheap

File: wico_command_control.jpg (43KB, 573x561px) Image search: [Google]

43KB, 573x561px

>>1168814
The Wico sticks are what made me a bat stick fan for life. I see one on ebay for $14.95.

File: raritan-null-modem-adapter-rj-45-female-to-9-pin-d-sub-db-9-female_311961_1.jpg (18KB, 450x450px) Image search: [Google]

18KB, 450x450px

Yeah, those original 2600 joysticks were crap. I still remember getting hand craps and soreness from trying to grip them for long play sessions. They also just plain sucked.

You can almost quite literally build your own Atari-compatible joysticks in a cave with a box of scraps. There are no circuit boards involved. Just get a 9-pin D-sub DB-9 female connector, housing, cable with at least 6 wires, and wire up the the loose end to your switches of choice. Or just buy a cheap controller, hack off the controller and reuse the premade cable. The pinout diagram can be easily found on the internets, or just figure it out yourself with a continuity tester on one of your own controllers.

File: 41xLM5VtnCL._QL40_SX400_.jpg (11KB, 400x370px) Image search: [Google]

11KB, 400x370px

>>1169665
Incidentally, you can also look for joysticks made for Sega Master System and Genesis, and the Amiga for compatible controllers. This Epyx 500XJ was by far my favorite controller. It used cherry switches, so response was phenomenal. I even modified it internally with variable autofire with a 555 timer and color-coordinated parts from Radio Shack. The only downside to the 500XJ was that the internal structure was a little fragile, so a few good drops onto a hard floor could snap things on the inside. I've had to do a number of repair jobs on it. Also, my left-hand thumb tended to wrap around the top over the hard edge as opposed to along the side as the packaging images would indicate, so my thumb would get sore after a long while.