I would be happy to help with a general FAQ on buying a stick from a custom maker. As well as a way to do the whole quality assurance thing, I think thats a great idea!
And yea its probably a good idea to clean up the front page of this of some retired stick makers.
Also if we could unify the names for things like which side is the front or back of the stick, descriptions of sticks parts and terminology, that would help.
I tried to make a simple document. It is at the joystick vault. Perhaps someone could review it, edit it and pretty it up a bit?
iViva la Stick Builders Guild! [/dorkiness]
I am also a custom joystick maker. Here is a link to my thread here
http://forums.shoryuken.com/showthread.php?t=147834
and my website where you can order one now
http://www.arcadechamp.net
Here is a sample of my work
TMO, Axis, next week you guys free to get the faq sorted?
welcome to the crazyness matt.
Yea that would be good just let me know when where and how we do it, it would solve us all a TON of work on the front end by making it easier on people who want to buy
Thanks for the warm welcome. I am glad to make controllers for everyone :wgrin:
BTW, hey have I played against you on Xbox live? Your name is familiar. I am imurd3r3r
Prob, as of late I haven’t logged in, due to time constraints, but I used to be a notorious Halo 2 sniper, and I played alot of fighting games on XBL, especially Street Fighter 2, and 3S ;).
Either Aim, or Skype, if we all want to chat, or MSN messenger.
TMO has the right idea on his diagram, I would just say, it needs to be standardized, as it reflects to much his work (IE Project box, great idea though, etc.), its great, but we need to make sure this FAQ, doesn’t remind anyone of any of our work, until the end, where we can make some plugs. Otherwise, I seen your writings, Axis, on explaining, I seen TMO’s, and I myself wrote alot on joystick building, compiling that would make one heck of a faq.
Plus some throw backs to the RealNeoGeo, RonTendo, etc, seals the deal.
Just wrapping some tests, and work, and well get on it ;).
The United Stick Builder Alliance
The USBA seal of quality and approval ;).
IE Front Page:
Finkle (Active) (Seasonal) USBA Seal of Quality and Approval
http://forums.shoryuken.com/showthread.php?t=90296 - Toronto, Canada
timoe (Active) (Premade) USBA Seal of Quality and Approval
http://forums.shoryuken.com/showthread.php?t=133687 - Rancho Cucamonga, CA
pc1x1 (Active) (All Year) USBA Seal of Quality and Approval
http://forums.shoryuken.com/showthread.php?t=135551 - Pembroke Pines, Florida
Kaytrim (Active) (All Year) USBA Seal of Quality and Approval
http://forums.shoryuken.com/showthread.php?t=136610 - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Axis (Active) (New) Pending USBA Seal of Quality and Approval
http://forums.shoryuken.com/showthread.php?t=140273 - Danville, CA
Mattnin (Active) (New)
http://forums.shoryuken.com/showthread.php?t=147834 - Grand Junction, CO
Away List: (Contact builder prior to making a purchase)
Koi (*Currently Away/ 3 weeks?) (Seasonal) USBA Seal of Quality and Approval
http://forums.shoryuken.com/showthread.php?t=116690 - Long Beach, CA
Hahano (*Currently Away) (Seasonal) USBA Seal of Quality and Approval
http://forums.shoryuken.com/showthread.php?t=137970 - Langhorne, PA
Multi (*Currently Away) (Feedback?)
http://forums.shoryuken.com/showthread.php?t=137331 - College Station, TX
Jaxel (Away until March) USBA Seal of Quality and Approval
http://forums.shoryuken.com/showthread.php?t=137121 - Edison, NJ
Retired:
Kuenai (Retired) (Pending Refunds)
Thread Locked, See Feedback - Mt Vernon, WA
PaintedPale (Retired until further notice) (Pending Refunds)
No New Orders on Thread, pending closure April - New Braunfels, TX
DH020 (Retired) USBA Seal of Quality and Approval for past work.
http://deansserver.serveftp.com/~Darren/ - London, UK
Mikei (Retired) USBA Seal of Quality and Approval for past work.
http://forums.shoryuken.com/showthread.php?t=120393 - Los Angeles, CA
Before you scream Controversy, and OMG lookzzz at PCsz (Insert LOLcat) s editing, and making pepolzzz (Insert bad grammer here) messed up, and taking advantage of it. If your one of the builders, and your status is different, etc, let me know, and well change it. This is a quick and dry assumption, and based on experience and my own personal research. I put what each builder in known for etc. If theres something that needs to be changed, let me know.
A seal of approval is one that either always delivers, or refunds if need be or works out the problems in his stick design etc. IE no negative feedback, nor ever left customers etc. We all have our problems, its how you deal with it. A Seal does not mean quality, as theres difference price points, designs, etc, it does however mean that the builder is consistent, and their products (seem) to be of good quality, however that is very subjective. A sealed builder just means the odds of getting a good stick are better due to records, and history. However there are exceptions, IE See Painted, thread, I am confident that he will rectify his situation, and Kuenai, seems to be refunding people now, so they may get their seals back eventually, though most likely not, however that will be up to debate by the most stick builders.
Finkle, and TMO, and Koi, are right now the senior stick builders (mostly active), so they have alot of weight in what they say. Also previous famous, builders can also have a say. Following them, Its me, by (seniority) and then everyone else. And Since I motioned for this to happen , you will see alot of my input, unless I get voted out of the island ;).
Also can someone add color and make this pretty ;).
ps. Committee is currently, TMO, Me, and Axis, anyone else want to join the Empire, let me know.
I’m a little late to the party mostly because I don’t read this thread. However I agree that this is a good idea. I am currently only partly active. Only Hardwood cases, no painted MDF until spring. My activity on the forums has dwindled quite a bit because I need to keep the day job going. 
It might be an idea to contact all the current builders via email and get things set up right.
My location, Grand Junction, CO
Added
Im thinking we should have not only a Faq on parts and terms, but a FAQ on the entire process from a builders and buyers point of Veiw (the ordering, deadlines and things of that nature) so that people have a better insight on what we do so that it makes the process of ordering sticks more streamlined for everyone. Ill write a mock up of it when i get some extra time and Ill see what you guys think
:tup:
How long is it taking everyone to build your boxes so far? On this last one I built, I cut the top and bottom panels, the top lexan and glued that together and that alone took about 3-4 hours. I can’t even tell you how long I spent on that artwork, maybe a full week in my spare time? Maybe even more. Countless hours there. I am still spending time on it! I actually became quicker at soldering up the PCB, that took about 45 minutes, and another 45 minutes soldering on all the QDs. Staining the box I’d say is another 45 minutes of work, but over 24 hours in curing time over several sessions. Then putting it all together is another hour at least right? So I’d say each controller is running me 7 hours to put together, 8 probably, and counting the artwork, weeks!:wonder:
Pc1x1. I am not too good with graphic design. Would you be willing to change up/modernize/prfessionalize my standards diagram?
Don’t say how many hours of actual work time it takes. Instead look at the average time from start to finish. My sticks usually take 2-4 weeks some take a little longer. Depending on the finishing steps and real life it can take up to two months. Now if this was all I did it would be easy to crank out a stick in a week to 10 days.
TTFN
Certainly, though I beg to differ I think your quite good.
Sounds good :tup:
I think that is the most important thing people who are buying sticks need to remember, is that CUSTOM sticks are just that…one of a kind and no two sticks will take exactly the same amount of time
For example
I did this artwork (and by did I mean took the famous ken art from Udon and photoshopped the hell out of it) in about 45 minutes, and its the most commented on photoshop work I have done; so when it comes to things like that Time isnt really the issue, its moreso an effort of inspiration and creativity.
And the second most important thing people need to remember is that none of the stick makers on this forum (as far as i know) do this for a living…
And there is a reason for that. No one is getting rich of doing this, most of us do it because we enjoy doing it and helping out fellow gamers, while maybe making a few bucks on the side, so please keep that in mind when ordering.
You have PM
Responded.
Also two new things to address, looking at this thread.
Apparently ZombieCPT also has a customer wondering where his stick went.
I know He’s a great guy, as I chatted with him before so not worried, but now more than ever, the list needs to be rebuilt. I really hated retiring Painted, but seems we have to address another possible one.
This leaves to my knowledge, TMO, Me, Koi, Finkle, (finkle had some delays much nothing that wasn’t resolved to my knowledge) Kaytrim, and now Axis as the only ones that never had an issue.
To clarify by never having an issue, I mean, once a refunded was requested, or a stick delivered, it never escalated past that. I personally refunded sometimes, and its simple, I had other factors that went in, and when I had the funds, a refund seemed the better idea, sometimes that took time to do. But was done. Anyhow, I been late myself on deadlines, so thats not the issue, I think we all have in some form. Except our premades.
IF your a builder, we need confirmed feedback, etc, we may have to tighten the reins a bit, until we get everyone structured. Theres is to many thread popping up with wheres my stick, or what happened etc. Also CUSTOMERS, don’t post on the creators thread first, email then first, or get in touch with them.
In my personal case, I am still pissed people posted crap on my thread once, when they have my CELLPHONE number. If they called me first, their situation would have been resolved, and no slander, or misinformation would happened. This will be added to the FAQ on dealing with this situation.
Anyhow everything is fine otherwise.
Lastly, Orochi, stop posting on asking every builder for your stick, we all know, we all most likely helped. Its becoming spam, keep it at PM, and I don’t want to see people asking multiple makers for the same thing.
PICK your builder FIRST, then send specifications. DO RESEARCH, DONT MAKE US DO IT! All of us waste our time, checking emails, logging on etc, checking your specifications and when you are doing this with all builders, your 1) promoting inhouse competition, your making the builders go vs each other, and wasting their time. Theres nothing wrong with asking for simple questions or a basic quote on how much a stick would cost, etc, thats fine. But asking repeated questions to ALL the builders, do that on the Image Request thread, you will get your butt owned, we will enforce that here too.
I don’t want to see Builder SPAM, again, pick the builder you relate to, and is on your budget, then go from there, don’t spam or force in house competition. All of us builders know each other in some way or somehow, and this initiative that is in motion is to protect all of us. Theres is to much time and work put into this from the builder side also, and I think I can speak for everyone, that that time is from our leisure time, its not work. Alrighty, be back later, looking forward to your guide Axis.
Ephidel is the go to moderator for this forum, I know him pretty well, as my contact with him has been numerous, hes way way to nice on you guys, and with Shoo on hiatus right now, things loosened up a little, but don’t worry, you break the rules or don’t pay attention to how this forum works, your @#^%@ will be ours, trust me, Ephidel takes a while to get annoyed, but when he does, your most likely banned than anything else, and I will make sure things go smoothly, so thats a warning, once the rules are up and for all to see, Follow them, I urge all builders to come together and enforce “common” courtesy. Alot things I mention I think all builders deal with, and if you have any issues you experience yourself, pass along here, and well address them.
ps. Megaman is the overlord on this forum, but we normally reach him, if things are really really bad ;).