# diy arcade button holes **URL:** \ **Category:** Hardware: Controllers, Mods and Gear\ **Tags:** arcade-button\ **Created:** [July 7, 2011, 3:44pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/diy-arcade-button-holes/26781 "2011-07-07T15:44:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![IPM](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/ipm/32/14868_2.png) [@IPM](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/IPM)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 3:44pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/diy-arcade-button-holes/26781/1 "2011-07-07T15:44:53Z")
**diy arcade button holes** Hi Has anyone cut the arcade button holes on the VCI 100 by themselves, if so how did you do it ? I’ve called around a couple of places here in the uk to have them laser cut but there looking for over £100 to do it. all the best IPM ---
**Author:** ![ricoot](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/ricoot/32/15223_2.png) [@ricoot](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/ricoot)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 4:20pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/diy-arcade-button-holes/26781/2 "2011-07-07T16:20:00Z")
take a small round vile and spend 4 hours alone in a room and you’ll be just fine. My fingers nearly started to bleed by the time i was done, but hey! it’s your vci man 😉 you’ll survive. Start of with a vile and just make sure to fit in a button every now and than to see how you’re doing. ---
**Author:** ![IPM](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/ipm/32/14868_2.png) [@IPM](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/IPM)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 4:28pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/diy-arcade-button-holes/26781/3 "2011-07-07T16:28:29Z")
> [@ricoot](#): > > take a small round vile and spend 4 hours alone in a room and you’ll be just fine. > > My fingers nearly started to bleed by the time i was done, but hey! it’s your vci man 😉 you’ll survive. > > Start of with a vile and just make sure to fit in a button every now and than to see how you’re doing. Hi ricoot, thank you for your reply, really appreciated. were you tempted to drill the hole at any stage, I hadn’t thought of filing, I must admit I hated metal work at school, even the thought filing metal makes my teeth bleed lol. I might give this a try. thanks again IPM ---
**Author:** ![ricoot](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/ricoot/32/15223_2.png) [@ricoot](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/ricoot)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 4:38pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/diy-arcade-button-holes/26781/4 "2011-07-07T16:38:37Z")
i was tempted, yes but no i didn’t. No, really filing is the easiest way to do it yourself. You just can’t make the holes to big if you try and fit every time. Just be carefull no to put to much stress on the plate. Mine got a little bend because in the end i was crying my eyes out because it took me so long so i started “angry filing”. it’s the cheapest way also. A file will cost you like €8. Put some tape where you want holes and draw the circles (use something of equal size). Taking it to a metal shop of any kind wil cost you a fortune! ---
**Author:** ![IPM](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/ipm/32/14868_2.png) [@IPM](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/IPM)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 4:59pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/diy-arcade-button-holes/26781/5 "2011-07-07T16:59:50Z")
> [@ricoot](#): > > i was tempted, yes but no i didn’t. > No, really filing is the easiest way to do it yourself. You just can’t make the holes to big if you try and fit every time. > > Just be carefull no to put to much stress on the plate. Mine got a little bend because in the end i was crying my eyes out because it took me so long so i started “angry filing”. > > it’s the cheapest way also. A file will cost you like €8. > > Put some tape where you want holes and draw the circles (use something of equal size). > > Taking it to a metal shop of any kind wil cost you a fortune! Ok, I am now crying and my teeth are watering at the thought but I think your right. Altho, I am now thinking what about filling it with some kind of filing attachment for a drill, like a dremel ? all the best Ian ---
**Author:** ![sarasin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/sarasin/32/12614_2.png) [@sarasin](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/sarasin)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 9:13pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/diy-arcade-button-holes/26781/6 "2011-07-07T21:13:32Z")
You can dremel the majority of it and then file the last bit to perfection. It took me about an hour…to do mine. YEah…my dog was howling…🙂 ---
**Author:** ![photojojo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/photojojo/32/14618_2.png) [@photojojo](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/photojojo)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 9:17pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/diy-arcade-button-holes/26781/7 "2011-07-07T21:17:03Z")
Dremel would be my first choice, but if you don’t have a dremel you can drill smaller holes around the INSIDE of the holes then file the small spot between those holes until you get all the way around. Just be sure your fill will fit inside the hole after you drill them. ---
**Author:** ![IPM](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/ipm/32/14868_2.png) [@IPM](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/IPM)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 9:29pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/diy-arcade-button-holes/26781/8 "2011-07-07T21:29:33Z")
Thank you both sarasin and photojojo for your input, that’s pretty reassuring then, I have a friend with a dremel, exciting stuff, I should order my arcade buttons then yeeeh har ! Any pitfalls I should look out for while doing it or any tips. I’ve got to ask - photojojo are you a photographer ? curious name. thanks again guy’s IPM ---
**Author:** ![photojojo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/photojojo/32/14618_2.png) [@photojojo](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/photojojo)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 9:33pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/diy-arcade-button-holes/26781/9 "2011-07-07T21:33:21Z")
Yes, I’m a photojournalist by trade. I also have a pretty killer tool set. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![guiltyblade](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/guiltyblade/32/14059_2.png) [@guiltyblade](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/guiltyblade)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 9:50pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/diy-arcade-button-holes/26781/10 "2011-07-07T21:50:53Z")
can you use a very fine hose saw a little cutting fluid thne just widen it slowly with a dremel grinding bit? ---
**Author:** ![photojojo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/photojojo/32/14618_2.png) [@photojojo](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/photojojo)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 10:36pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/diy-arcade-button-holes/26781/11 "2011-07-07T22:36:54Z")
by hose saw I’m guessing you mean hole saw? Sure as long as it’s a blade for cutting metal. Just be sure to cut smaller than you need rather than cutting to big. ---
**Author:** ![manchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@manchild](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/manchild)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 11:04pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/diy-arcade-button-holes/26781/12 "2011-07-07T23:04:37Z")
I wouldnt suggest a hole saw…those have the tendancy to skip around on metal…a hole punch yes…but a set costs money if you dont already own it. I would suggest a Uni-bit and then file ---
**Author:** ![IPM](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/ipm/32/14868_2.png) [@IPM](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/IPM)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2011, 7:56am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/diy-arcade-button-holes/26781/13 "2011-07-08T07:56:37Z")
> [@photojojo](#): > > Yes, I’m a photojournalist by trade. I also have a pretty killer tool set. 😃 I thought you might be. I’m a photographer myself, minus the tool set. ---
**Author:** ![sarasin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/sarasin/32/12614_2.png) [@sarasin](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/sarasin)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2011, 9:24am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/diy-arcade-button-holes/26781/14 "2011-07-08T09:24:26Z")
Pitfalls… Be sure to mark the holes before you start…and make sure its CORRECT! Once its done…its DONE! The Arcade buttons JUST FIT! Cut ONE cable at a time…as not to get lost in which is which. There are these riser \spacer\ lug type thing that needs to come out too when you cutting the holes…pliers… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ray4624](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@ray4624](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/ray4624)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 2:30am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/diy-arcade-button-holes/26781/15 "2011-07-09T02:30:16Z")
any one have a measurement on what size hole it has to be? ive got a drill press and a vice (used for machining) that i would expect to work pretty well. ---
**Author:** ![zestoi](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/zestoi/32/13946_2.png) [@zestoi](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/zestoi)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2011, 8:47am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/diy-arcade-button-holes/26781/16 "2011-07-10T08:47:32Z")
> [@photojojo](#): > > Yes, I’m a photojournalist by trade. I also have a pretty killer tool set. 😃 never occurred to me you were a photog - wow i am stupid 😛 photography is my other hobby - not that i have time for that either 😉 my most recent “camera toy” is an old pentax K10D… ---
**Author:** ![IPM](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/ipm/32/14868_2.png) [@IPM](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/IPM)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 7:52am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/diy-arcade-button-holes/26781/17 "2011-07-27T07:52:37Z")
**VCI 100 arcade mod diy** The holes were a lot easier to do than i thought they’d be. I did my Arcade button mod on my VCI 100 at the weekend, I took lots of photos of the process here. [DIY Arcade Button mod walk through with photos](http://www.djtechtools.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34169)