Slimming down buttons

[Super Cameraman]

I bought a momentary switch from RadioShack. It's the square red one.

To install it in something, you have to drill a hole in what you're putting it in, but I'd rather not drill a hole. (I'm putting it on my brand new Les Paul)

Is it possible to use a tact switch to replace the mechanics on the switch, but keep the look of the button the same? Here, lemme draw up a picture.



So, judging by the fact I can make the diagram, it's probably possible, but I have no idea how to use tact switches.

Will they melt if there's too much power? Where can I get them? I looked on Digikey, but I don't really know what I'm looking for. There's a lot of different tact switches.


Any help would be very much appreciated!

SCM

[Valium]

You can replace the mechanics with a tact switch. You'd need a lot of heat to melt one them.

And a tact switch is exactly like a button.

[bacteria]

Yes, use tact switches and buttons on top. Look at my PDA project (Handheld Hacking forum), and my Nintendo 64 Advance (later pages on project) for alternative method (Nintendo 64 forum).

Hope this helps.

Don't use the switches you mention, awful to use for game systems. I tried them on my BigBoy Advance a while back, take too much push to activate the button, so no longterm use.

You can get tact switches 6mm and 12mm from e-bay quite easily. If you don't have them in your country on e-bay, look on ebay.co.uk, there is usually a seller there who sends all over the world cheaply.

[Super Cameraman]

Well, I'm not actually making a portable with it. (As usual...) But maybe if I just get better at not burning everything I touch with a soldering iron, a NOAC is a possibility.

I'm using it to make a killswitch on my guitar. I already have one on my older (read: worse) guitar, but I had to drill a hole.

How it works is when the two lines on an amp cable, or jack, are connected, it shorts the signal and kills the sound, until you lift up the button. Jordan by Buckethead is the best example I can think of. (Surprisingly easier on a guitar, compared to guitar hero...)

I'm not sure how much power will be going through this tact switch... That's why I was concerned with melting/over heating. The button I have in now seems to be working fine, but tact switches look much smaller and weaker. (Then again, what do I know?)

Sorry for making this as complicated as possible!
SCM

[Super Cameraman]

I've been thinking about this more, and I have no idea how I'm even going to get the original button apart?

What's another way to make a really thin and clean, surface mountable button? Just a tact switch with something superglued on it maybe?

[Valium]

I've been thinking about this more, and I have no idea how I'm even going to get the original button apart?

What's another way to make a really thin and clean, surface mountable button? Just a tact switch with something superglued on it maybe?

Yup.

[bacteria]

I've been thinking about this more, and I have no idea how I'm even going to get the original button apart?

What's another way to make a really thin and clean, surface mountable button? Just a tact switch with something superglued on it maybe?

...so you didn't look at the links I suggested then I guess??

[Super Cameraman]

Oh wow, yeah. Sorry. Forgot I read it. (Brain fart)

I read about the buttons you built for your N64p, But, while it looks great when mounted under plastic, mine will be all exposed, and I don't think it would work.

Did you just hot glue 12mm tact switches for your PDA project? Are they clicky or are they nice and squishy? I think you mentioned it in one of the threads, but I can't find it. (I think you said they were squishy)

EDIT:
Heh, check it out. A 12mm tact switch with a little button on it! Perfect!

Ebay link