My Softpad Mod...with a twist!

[Trexxen]

Hello all; I'm just your average DDR home player wanting to mod his softpad, but I'm tossing in a twist (that may get me flamed, but I don't care.). I'm doing three things differently:

1. The top: Instead of regular old hardwood floor plastic, I'm using a thick plastic mat cut to fit the pad. It's hard, too; almost as hard as plexiglass, but more flexible.

2. The bottom: Instead of stapling this pad, I'm using screws on the sides so I can take off the top to switch out softpads if need be. I'll have to find something to cover them with during gameplay, though - if anyone can help me with this I'd greatly appreciate it.

3. The back: This is where my model differs from most in the most dramatic way: I'm setting up a bar. It'll be 2 inches taller than the arcade bar to accomidate my height, and I'm trying to find a sturdy holder that will also make it removable (for trips). Suggestions here would also be nice.

I'll post pictures if I can as the project goes underway. Wish me luck! =P
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EGI wrote:

Huh, I didnt know Oasis had freezes.

[Flazh]

He's a crazy man! Somebody stop him before he hurts someone!

Haha, I doubt anyone is going to flame you for trying your own thing. What you are making doesn't actually sound like a softmat mod per se, but more of a container type add-on for softmats? Anyway, good luck with this you crazy crazy, um, person, you...
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[ceraf]

sounds good. I like the idea of being able to remove the pad; you can go through several soft pads (if they ever stop working) with the same base.


i'd like to see this done! gl!

[Trexxen]

Thanks! Nice to get some support on the idea.

Flazh: I actually was thinking that the fact that I was adding a bar would bring along a couple of bar/no bar debates, which is why I posted the no flaming part. =P

And yes, it's a kind of container mod, since everything's removable right down to the bar and pad itself for easy part replacement and transportation.

Ceraf: Thanks! I actually mainly did it because I remembered my softpad won't last too much longer (already ripped in two places, which is why I'm modding it), but since I'm getting a SuperNOVA CS bundle and maybe a flux for christmas (I have a way to get one cheap...), I decided to make the pad removable would be the best thing.

By the way, if anyone wants to know the dimensions if they're trying this too:

35x38x1 Plywood Sheet
Large Plastic Mat (Trust me, if you have the right kind, it'll be big enough to go over the pad with quite a bit of extra, so you'll have to cut it.)
I'm not sure what the bar will be made from yet; I'm thinking plumbing pipe with two bases at the bottom and good-ol' duct tape as the grip.
And the misc. items (Screws, etc.)
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EGI wrote:

Huh, I didnt know Oasis had freezes.

[DarkCore]

That idea seems alot better than the regular mod. Since softpads usually lose their sensitivity from three months and up after frequent Heavy/Expert use. My softpads are already experiencing pad misses after roughly 2 months. It'd be much better if you could just take the pads out and still use the base.