Homebrew SDA Thumbstick Mod!!!!! (w/pics)

[myjeepisbad]

So since the last SDA thumbstick thread got deleted, and I got bored and frankly, just don't have the patience to wait for someone else to to create a thumbstick cap that would add some surface area to that tiny little thing we're supposed to use.
I decided that I would do it.......tonight!

So here I provide you a quick instruction on how to do this yourself, with pics, for any of you who might decide to try it.

Here's what you need:

-hot glue gun (I happened to have one already)
-small dimpled button (took it off the tag of a shirt in my closet)
-small piece of sandpaper or skateboard griptape (I skate therefore I have)
-scissors (not pictured)



Here you can see what I mean by dimpled button.




I went with hot glue because it has good enough holding power to stay attached to my SDA under all normal circumstances but will, with some pressure break and peel off my phone with no damage or evidence it was even there. Trust me on this folks I had to prove this theory 4 times before I got the stupid button on right.

So anyways back to the project.

I decided to go with the glue on the SDA because it's easier to set the botton in the center of the thumbstick, and the thumbstick has a dimple in the top which proved to be perfect for holding glue.

I used tweezers to place the button, dimple side up(smooth side down), take care on the horizozntal position of the button. I was so worried about the place of the button in the center of the thumbstick I kept forgetting to look at how flat the button was. When your working with hot glue, you only have a few seconds to check your fit before it sets. So I ended up having to take off peel of the glue and re try until I got it right with no clearance issues and close to perfectly centered.

Here are some pics to show you how the placement came out.





Here's where the dimpled button part comes in.

I took a piece of skateboard griptape cut it in to a circle to match the dimple on the button and and put it in. I went with that because it's self adhesive and I have it laying around. If you don't then co the same with heavy grit sand paper and glue it to the button. If you do it right it should be just flush with the surface of the button making a perfect little gripper pad for your new improved thumbstick.







In my opnion, this has turned out to be an absolutley perfect mod.

-easy (took me 25 minutes total)
-cheap (cost me nothing, I had it all already)
-fuctional (my thumb fits nice)
-asthetically pleasing (almost.....looks OEM, in my opinion)

Now I just did this tonight so I have still have to test the durabilty over the next few days/weeks, but I will keep you guys posted.

For now, check it out, tell me what you think, and let me know if you've tried it too!

[myjeepisbad]

**NOTE** Please forgive my spelling I must have been tired when I proofread this last night.

[Falqon]

look cool man, I can't see how it would survive getting in and out of a pocket or case, but I guess if you somehow don't need that, then it'll be perfect.

[myjeepisbad]

Well we'll see how it survives daily use. I'm pretty cautious with my phone but it does go in and out of my pocket alot, so we'll see over the next few days.

[SoMuch2S@y]

looks very cool, I had no idea that was the button u were talking about until I saw the pic (when I was reading your insrtuctions I kept thinking to myself, "WTH is the button for??" )

[myjeepisbad]

looks very cool, I had no idea that was the button u were talking about until I saw the pic (when I was reading your insrtuctions I kept thinking to myself, "WTH is the button for??" )

Yeah sorry, my write up skills aren't the best and reading it now, I couldv'e explained things a little better, but what are you gonna do it's already posted. Thanks for the feedback though.

[Jay Raptor]

I like that, but I would first grind/sand down the original thumbstick a little so its not sticking out so far.

[ibeQuint]

hot glue doesnt last too long. maybe try a plastic based glue?

[myjeepisbad]

I like that, but I would first grind/sand down the original thumbstick a little so its not sticking out so far.

hot glue doesnt last too long. maybe try a plastic based glue?

I don't want to permantly damage the SDA. I wanted something that would work but I could easily revert back to original if I wanted.

[ibeQuint]

plastic based glue is able to come off. just not as easy as hot glue.

[myjeepisbad]

Weekend bump.

[Swivel]

Interesting rig. As careful as I am with my SDA, I would still imagine I'd rip that thing off in a day or two while sliding it into my pocket.

But I never put my thumb on the top surface of the thumbstick anyway. I move up by pushing up on the bottom of the stick, and move side-to-side by pushing on the opposite side of the direction I want to move, etc. You know what I mean?

[cpr86]

good job man! its always great to see people putting in the work and showing others what they did. definitely keep us updated.

[cpr86]

good job man! its always great to see people putting in the work and showing others what they did. definitely keep us updated.

[myjeepisbad]

Interesting rig. As careful as I am with my SDA, I would still imagine I'd rip that thing off in a day or two while sliding it into my pocket.

But I never put my thumb on the top surface of the thumbstick anyway. I move up by pushing up on the bottom of the stick, and move side-to-side by pushing on the opposite side of the direction I want to move, etc. You know what I mean?

Yeah I know what you mean. I guess I'm used to my PSP analog stick. The clearance on that thing is so close you have to use the top of the button not the sides.