Looking For Trimmers That Ain't Crap - Suggestions?

[rp]

Why can't I find a good trimmer? Is there no market for a trimmer that ain't dinky crap? I'm looking for a simple sturdy trimmer with some metal in it's construction, chunky enough for tube amp duty, single turn is fine but with solid resistance that doesn't drift. And mostly that won't melt down to shit when I hit it with an iron set for tube amp work. I want something current, easy to source, in various values, from Mouser Newark Farnell, not NOS on ebay or salvage places. I want just a little ~$2-$5 1/2W thing for mounting on a turret board or terminal strip, not some $40 mil-grade locking collar full sized chassis mounting Honeywell thing either.

I have some 20K I got 20 years ago same as the top image but need 50K and can't find anymore. Something like that would bring me joy.

The round one below that I have a few in 25K, apparently still made, they are passable but dinky ass shit nonetheless.

The 3rd down I saw on ebay, I might dish out for it but I still want something current I can order whenever I need it. It appears to be NOS too, sadly.

Anyone know if 4th down BOURNS 3362P is any good? Looks like dinky plastic pooh to me.

WHY ARE THERE NO GOOD TRIMMERS ANY MORE??????

Any leads from anyone?

[martin manning]

3362P is a 1/4" square... dinky-ass $hit. Better is 3386F, which are 3/8" square. These are 1/2W cermet, good quality parts and available from Mouser. As seen in the crappy pic they can be soldered to eyelets by bending the legs out and down. Some people like Piher 15mm round trimmers (PT-15), also available from mouser. They have carbon elements and are 1/4W.

[amplifiednation]

Try these from CTS. They make a horizontal through hole mount that is real sturdy.

http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/CTS ... ZF0qrBw%3d

[Turret]

Ditto Piher PT15's, large selection - horizontal, vertical, resistance range

High quality, acceptable price

Never had any problems with them

[Leo_Gnardo]

Been using the Bourns 3386. Several mountings are available. I pick the one that's 3 in a row across one end. Unless I manage to mangle one, never had a problem.

[rp]

Is something like this better since it costs more? Are those 12-25 turn things significantly better than single turn or actually more troublesome for our use?

I was looking at specs and rotational life for these things is like 200 cycles I know it's a trimmer but WTF! what does it say about construction and reliability? If the bias fails there goes $50-$150 worth of tubes, maybe more, maybe an OT.

I want something with some metal in its construction! Something I can solder and resolder and bugger to my incompetent heart's content.

Maybe I should only build cathode biased amps

Maybe I should dump tube amps and move onto pedals

Maybe I should just start hacking X-Boxes

[rp]

Looks like the Piher PT15 have 500 cycles standard and 10K for Long Life version. Now I just need to break out my secret decoder ring and look through their PDF and see if I can find a 50K Long Life one in stock somewhere. Still, looks like dinky poop to me. Better buy a bag full so I can melt them without frustration.

[Structo]

I like the Piher PT15, usually horizontal as I find it a bit safer.

I also use a plastic alignment tool/ screw driver to adjust.

[rp]

I like the Piher PT15, usually horizontal as I find it a bit safer. I also use a plastic alignment tool/ screw driver to adjust.

Just don't turn it more than 500 times! BTW load life is 1000hrs. WTF is with that too, so we should be replacing trimmers when we do recaps?

I've been looking around a lot, looks like after the 1980's someone decided no one would want a well made trimmer. Good thing we don't have to fight the Nazis or survive a Soviet nuke EMP with the trimmers we got now.

My beef is I go out of my way to use a nice thick chassis, teflon wire, Belton sockets, quality caps and resistors, NOS tubes, etc etc and then I have to put a dinky-ass generic trimmer in there? Super anal I know but the parts feng shui is part of amp building for me. I might just head to ebay.

[Phil_S]

I realize ordering from a USA source can be problematic for delivery in Italy. Weber sells a sorta decent but APOS (almost piece of crap) locking pot (25KB and 50KB) for $1.80 plus whatever it takes to get it across the pond. https://taweber.powweb.com/store/potsord.htm
wp253L-slot-lock Click for Pic

[rp]

I realize ordering from a USA source can be problematic for delivery in Italy. Weber sells a sorta decent but APOS (almost piece of crap) locking pot (25KB and 50KB) for $1.80 plus whatever it takes to get it across the pond. https://taweber.powweb.com/store/potsord.htm
wp253L-slot-lock Click for Pic

OOOH! At least it has some metal too it. I like it! Even if it's APOS it looks more the business than other trimmers. In this age of branding, hype, and wall to wall crap, looking like the real thing is all one can hope for. I got friends in the States that can fwd me stuff. Some companies are also ok shipping price wise with really light stuff they can just stick in an envelope.

I always forget to check out Weber, even though I know they march to their own drummer and have some unique stuff.

Anyone know anything about those Plastic Element Pots they sell? Good price.

FYI they also have these: "2 Meg Audio, standard rotating friction" some Tweeds used them like the 5C8. Hard to find.

Thanks!

[rp]

Try these from CTS. They make a horizontal through hole mount that is real sturdy.

http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/CTS ... ZF0qrBw%3d

Taylor, did you note those are 1/4W? That's enough for bias but I like a little more headroom given the stresses of guitar tube amps and the over-working of parts when trouble shooting.

[Phil_S]

I should have mentioned that I have used the Weber locking pots. it is not a bad pot at all. Just don't expect the heft or size of an old Ohmite or Allen Bradley. These are fairly compact as you can see in the picture next to a regular pot.

[pdf64]

Why not use a regular chassis mounting pot?
Cut the shaft real short, saw a screwdriver slot and hey presto!
Pete

[Phil_S]

Why not use a regular chassis mounting pot?
Cut the shaft real short, saw a screwdriver slot and hey presto!

I don't like to rain on people's inventive ideas. Unfortunately, unless it can be locked, it will eventually move and then bias will drift, with the risk that it causes poor tone or worse, red plating. The application really calls for something that is designed to stay put.