Introduction: Atari Joystick Jewelry Box
Keep your jewelry or random trinkets in style* with this Atari box!
*Disclaimer: May only be considered stylish by a small, but fantastic, subpopulaton. Space invader not included.
Step 1: Materials and Preparation
Materials
Shellac
Paper
Sandpaper
Wood glue
Wood
1/4" Walnut (Box top and sides)
- 1 piece - 3 1/2" by 4"
- 1 piece - 3" by 3 1/2"
- 4 pieces - 3 1/2" by 1 3/4" by - Cut with mitre saw
- 3 1/2" by 4"
- 3 1/8" by 3 1/2"
- 1/4" piece
- 3 1/2" long
Cherry veneer (Top markings)
Tools
Mitre Saw
Chisel
Brush
Hole saw
Drill
Clamps
Scissors
Step 2: Chisel Box Sides
Cut sides so that the top will slightly overlap the bottom section of the box.
- Cut each of the 4 side pieces in half
- Cut 1/8' of length from the bottom four pieces
- Chisel out 1/4" from the inside of top 4 pieces
- Chisel out 3/8" from outside side of the 4 bottom pieces
Step 3: Stick and Button
Purple heartwood adds a bit of color without the need for paint or stain.
- Sand the 1/4" disc cut from the dowel. This will be the joystick button.
- To replicate the hexagonal shape of the stick, put 3 1/2" dowel in vise and chisel down to have six even sides.
Step 4: Center
Center piece
- Cut out a circle 3" in diameter and tab to create the shape on the base of the joystick
- Use this template to trace on the walnut veneer (2 pieces)
- Cut out and glue together
- Glue veneer circle on the top piece
- Mark center and drill out with a 3/4" hole saw
Step 5: Make Rings
Use walnut veneer to make three rings:
- 1 1/2" in diameter 1/4" high
- 1 1/4" in diameter 3/8" high
- 3/4" in diameter 5/8" high
- Cut veneer into strips approximately 10" long and 1/2" wide
- Steam veneer strips until pliable
- Apply thin layer of wood glue to one side and wrap around jar/dowel/etc (I used a dowel, spice jar and a nail polish bottle)
- Fix with a rubber band
- Leave until thoroughly dried (8+ hours)
- Remove and cut down
Step 6: Assemble
Assemble box
- Glue top pieces together in a frame
- Glue bottom pieces together in a frame on top of the base piece
- Glue piece of cherry board to the underside of the top piece to create upper section
- Glue 1/4" walnut piece to the underside of the lid (traced 1/4" around bottom of lid as guide)
- Sand corners
For a simpler (and possibly more practical) single section box, here you could skip gluing the cherry piece. Instead, just glue the top frame to the bottom frame. You retain the look of the seam, however, this will result in one 1 3/4" deep box instead of a box with a 3/4" lower section and 1/2" deep top section.
Step 7: Cut and Glue Veneer
Joystick has two arrows at each quarter and seven small rectangles between each. Okay, technically, there are only three sets of arrows and on the top of the joystick it says "TOP"...but i prefer the arrows (and cutting out letters that tiny wold just be crazy).
- From the cherry veneer, cut out 28 rectangles 1/8" by 1/16" and 8 triangles 1/8" by 1/4" (trim two points of each)
- Glue around the inner circle to mimic marking on the joystick
Step 8: Finish
Shellac it up and you're done!

Finalist in the
game.life challenge

Participated in the
MakerBot Challenge
13 Comments
6 years ago
I STILL HAVE MY ATARI THAT I GOT WHEN I WAS 10, I AM NOW 42 ON JANUARY 4TH....AND IT STILL WORKS!!!!!..................PAC MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
11 years ago on Introduction
where did you find the purple heartwood dowel. if you found it online could you give the site? i just can't find it.
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Just on eBay - there was a seller with 3/4" diameter dowels 36" long ($18.00 for 6) . However, you could also check for round pen blanks or cut off pieces to find smaller pieces for less.
12 years ago on Introduction
Amazing job! If I had a girlfriend I'd totally build a miniature version of this as a marriage proposal ring box!
12 years ago on Introduction
Beautiful! GREAT job, I make jewelry boxes too!
Now you should flock the inside of the box.
http://www.donjer.com/
Stuff really works GREAT!
12 years ago on Introduction
Yeah, Atari joystick isn't the first thing that comes to mind...........:)
12 years ago on Introduction
My kind of jewelry box!
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
Before I opened this, I thought it was one of your projects.
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
I hope you mean that in a good way : )
Thanks!
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
Ha! That's pretty funny.
12 years ago on Introduction
very cool !
12 years ago on Introduction
Great job!
12 years ago on Introduction
This is amazing. You are amazing.