how to secure hotas to desk without damaging the wood

Zallibik

Zallibik
anyone know how secure hotas to desk without damaging the wood

ok so jus started elite standard beta single player missions, and my x55 is secure but not secure enough, is there anyway I can hold it in place on my desk without using screws? (the desk is solid pine and I really don't want holes in it)

not sure if this is the correct forum for this post sorry if it isn't.. but it says anything related to elite and I'm only concerned about this for elite lol.

thank you for any input.
 
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Cmdr Andy B

Cmdr Andy B
Zallibik said:
ok so jus started elite standard beta single player missions, and my x55 is secure but not secure enough, is there anyway I can hold it in place on my desk without using screws? (the desk is solid pine and I really don't want holes in it)

not sure if this is the correct forum for this post sorry if it isn't.. but it says anything related to elite and I'm only concerned about this for elite lol.

thank you for any input.
Click to expand...

sticky backed velcro maybe? the glue may mark the desk though.
 

huwthomas

huwthomas
My first resort would be blu tac :)

Or you could bolt it to a heavy plank. If the plank still isn't heavy enough, add straps and tie the whole thing around the desk ;)
 

Jorlin

Jorlin
well i used screws (just a plain wooden plate as a desk).

Maybe use screws to fixate it on a wooden plate, which you place on your desk. Some foam material between plate and desk to avoid scratches.
 

OldSalt

O
I have my X52 Pro screwed to a piece of wood which in turn is clamped to my desk (it was an expensive desk bought by my wife for my 30'th some years back). That way it's set in place but can easily come off when I need to use my desk for more desky stuff

For the throttle I just picked up a small pine side table from a charity shop for peanuts and screwed it straight on. It sits at just the right height next to my chair.
 

1500

1500
Its a matter of how much work and how much of a pain to move do you want it to be. So a simple idea is to buy suction cups and stick backed Velcro, attack the Velcro to the suction cups and to the x55.

If that is not enough, then buy some wood (plywood or similar), attach the flight stick to this (make sure board can lay flat, not on hardware). Then use C-clamps to attach it to the desk. Make the board as large or a small as you wanted given your space. Just adding the board will add weight and might be enough, another option is instead of using c-clamps just add weight to the board, dumb bell or such.
 
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Fenris Wolf

Fenris Wolf
I'd suggest Command Strips. They are two strips of velcro with a gel type glue on the back which can be removed quite easily without leaving a mark on the surface they are attached to.

I use the bigger ones for hanging pictures/paintings in the house* as well as large framed photographs for exhibition. Works a treat.

* I've got three large wooden frames with glass which have been on the wall for four years now without a problem.

The smaller ones I've used for hanging/affixing stuff (coat hangers and such things) to walls and nothing has fallen off yet.

Would be quite easy to put them on the base of the hotas and stick them to the desk.

Here is a link to them on the 3M website:
http://www.3mdirect.co.uk/command-strip-products.html
 

HaB1971

H
Using this as computer desk should work

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Wirenut

W
All due respect many of the "bailing wire and duct tape" methods I've seen here are going to fail in the heat of combat(i.e. the worst possible moment) In my opinion your best bet is going to be some type of screw or clamp. Consider drilling some fine holes with a sharp drill bit and using threaded rod and washers to hold the stick to the desk. If you ever decided to do away with it there is a wide variety of wood puttys that can be used to 95% hide the hole, think makeup for lumbar. Someone above posted the idea to affix the joystick to a piece or 3/4" Cabinet grade plywood (imho) with the Stick screwed to it and a couple heavy C-Clamps to the edge of the desk, this is going to be the best of both worlds securely fastened to desk but removable in a few seconds.

Just the $0.02 of an old Tradesman.
 

Rennard

R
I have an x55 and I use sticky back Velcro. Just put soft side down so that you can still use the desk without scratching yourself.

Tip: The Velcro doesn't need to be strong, don't get the industrial stuff as you will struggle to remove the x55 at all.
 

Antmax

Antmax
Rennard said:
I have an x55 and I use sticky back Velcro. Just put soft side down so that you can still use the desk without scratching yourself.

Tip: The Velcro doesn't need to be strong, don't get the industrial stuff as you will struggle to remove the x55 at all.
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Yeah. I have clear industrial velcro just two horizontal strips and it's quite tough to remove the stick and throttle. I probably should have used 4 of the strong strips that still have the softer fluffy side to put down on the desk like you did.

I also tried the 3M/scotch version of bluetac. That worked very well too, only it was a pain to keep rolling 8 balls and resticking it down every time I wanted to use it.
 

Sanderson

Sanderson
Sanderson said:
Silicone tape. Works like charm.
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Also called mounting tape.

[edit] This is the stuff: http://www.amazon.com/Scotch-Heavy-Duty-Mounting-Clear/dp/B00004Z4BU Been using it for years on RC helicopters and planes to hold electronics in place and still being removable with no damage, marks or residue. Holds up to 2lbs.

I attached my X52pro to a laptop knee table and can turn it upside down and shake it, that's with four pieces on each barely big enough to cover the rubber "feet" on the bottom. It can be removed in seconds. Great stuff, cheap too.
 
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Sandmann

Sandmann
I'm gonna be using the "piece of wood clamped to the desk" method a d a ciuple of screws thru my X52 and throttle. You don't have to use G clamps as they're slow and heavy... you can get the lighter, faster trigger operated clamps quite cheaply. They're not quite as strong but since I've been able to play quite well with them floating free so far, how strong do the clamps really need to be... you won't be hanging from the joystick. :)

The other option is to modify your chair and attack the HOTAS to the arms... plenty of mods online to do that.
 

jinja

jinja
Zallibik said:
ok so jus started elite standard beta single player missions, and my x55 is secure but not secure enough, is there anyway I can hold it in place on my desk without using screws? (the desk is solid pine and I really don't want holes in it)

not sure if this is the correct forum for this post sorry if it isn't.. but it says anything related to elite and I'm only concerned about this for elite lol.

thank you for any input.
Click to expand...

Blue-tak... works a treat with my rather plasticky F.L.Y. 5. (though will work best on a shiny finish, not rough/matte wood)

The secret is to give the base a slight twist/wiggle under pressure, after placing it... this greatly improves contact and, therefore, adhesion.. Also, twist laterally to remove, don't just pull up.

Cheap, effective, and leaves no fixtures.

Antmax said:
...

I also tried the 3M/scotch version of bluetac. That worked very well too, only it was a pain to keep rolling 8 balls and resticking it down every time I wanted to use it.
Click to expand...

Weird, I don't have that problem. The blue-tak stays on the base... maybe it's the twist to remove technique, or tthe relative finishes of the base vs. the desktop. I only have to re-mould the blue-tak about every 30 uses.
 
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Yaffle

Volunteer Moderator
Yaffle
You could get a large section of wood/MDF and stick some material to the back. Bolt your throttle and joystick to the other side (put the material over anything that comes through, but try and keep it all flat).

Here's the clever bit.

Make it so big that your keyboard/mouse will sit in-between the two (as most people have them) on the piece of wood. In other words, just add a new layer to your desk you put the liftable stuff on when playing. Material on the back stops scratches, pick one that won't slide around, like a rubberised table setting. Something that big won't flip over.

Your controls will aways be in the same relative position too, so once set they will be where you like them.

Downside - will be a right old pain to store, and awkward if you need to keep removing it to do work or whatever.
 
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