Reasonably Priced Aluminum Box Sources?

[The New Steve H]

A buddy of mine is getting over surgery, and he has decided he wants to learn guitar. I stupidly suggested he consider building an amp instead of buying a factory piece of crap. Even worse, I suggested he use my own design, since it's great for low volume. This means I will be helping.

The problem is this: we will probably need a custom chassis. The amp has a 5F6A front end and a Rocket output section, and I want to do the headphone test when situating the transformers, to avoid hum.

Is there anyone out there supplying boxes at a reasonable price? The best thing would be aluminum, of sufficiently heavy gauge to avoid flexing and wobbling. Is Dirty Dawg back in business?

[lord preset]

AFAIK Dirty Dawg is not back in business. For a nice heavy aluminum blank chassis Watts Tube Audio would be my pick. .090 aluminum and threaded nuts. They are reasonably priced for what they are.

But 1st you may want to check with stretch2011. He has been making chassis for Rockets. Expresses etc. Actual Rocket style chassis are not all that flexible re. transformer placement but he might have something that works

[Phil_S]

Amazon has blank Bud aluminum boxes for very aggressive prices. These are .050" thick, roughly the equivalent of 18AWG wire. Unless you are putting a pair of 10 pound transformers on the deck, they really should do very well. If you have a particularly heavy piece of iron, you can by a stick of L shaped aluminum at Home Despot for very little money to cut a couple of support brackets that span the width of the box.

If money isn't a consideration, go for the .090" stock.

I apologize in advance for veering off course now. I am having some difficulty understanding "good for low volume" in the context of a 4 bottle power section. Really? If you really want to give the guy low volume and cranked tone, would it be better to look at something like a pair of EL95 or 6BM8? I recognize this wreaks havoc on your concept of the 5F6A into a Rocket power section.

You might also look at RobRob's micro Bassman. https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?t=27468

We haven't seen you here in a while? Welcome back!

[didit]

Also Seaside Chassis. Offers now to punch holes & has 12 gauge 5052.

Best .. Ian

[rp]

I doubt you need custom dimensions. Can't beat Watts Audio for useful sizes and quality, though I do wish the corners were welded but I never had a rattle problem. They are thick Al so they are sturdy. Buds are a little thin if heavy iron is used.

http://tubeamplifierparts.com/

I would sort through all these first before going custom.

http://www.mojotone.com/ChassisCapPans_1#/

If it must be a custom Seaside sounds great if you don't have a set of punches and or step bits. Stay away from steel, hard to make big holes in and it'll blunt your expensive punches and bits.

The amp has a 5F6A front end and a Rocket output section.

How is that layout different from a stock Rocket layout, at least on top? I'd look over RJs options or other pre punched ready to go chassis first. Drilling extra small holes for 3/8" pots or jacks is easy enough.

http://rjguitars.net/rj-Chassis.html

You can get reducing plates from octal to noval, and you can make a novel octal with a step bit or carefully w/ a punch. If you want more room a 100W Marshall chassis with reducing plates would work too. Mojo should have the plates.

[The New Steve H]

Thanks for the help.

I don't need custom dimensions. What I would need is a box that doesn't have pre-drilled holes in it, so I can put the transformers and whatever where they need to be instead of where they go on factory amps.

[The New Steve H]

I don't actually know what a Rocket's standard layout is like. I used the schematic and made a chassis from aluminum channel!

[rp]

What I would need is a box that doesn't have pre-drilled holes in it, so I can put the transformers and whatever where they need to be instead of where they go on factory amps.

Factory amps worked. Think you can do better?

But yeah, I don't like transformer holes but because I like to keep trannie options open.

[stretch2011]

rp likes to keep his trannie options open XD
sorry buddy I couldn't resist.

Steve if you need anything I'd be glad to help, just shoot me a message anytime.

[The New Steve H]

Factory amps worked. Think you can do better?

But yeah, I don't like transformer holes but because I like to keep trannie options open.

I definitely believe I can do better. I have so far.

[rp]

rp likes to keep his trannie options open XD
sorry buddy I couldn't resist.

I actually wrote out 'transformer holes' instead of 'trannie holes' 'cause the latter was just too disturbing. Now it's out there for google to find - some one is going to be damn disappointed to find a tube amp forum.

[stretch2011]

I would have died!!! XD

[The New Steve H]

Get ready for the Internet police to call you a homophobe in 3, 2, 1...

[Reeltarded]

rp likes to keep his trannie options open XD
sorry buddy I couldn't resist.

I actually wrote out 'transformer holes' instead of 'trannie holes' 'cause the latter was just too disturbing. Now it's out there for google to find - some one is going to be damn disappointed to find a tube amp forum.

Plugging holes really depends on which way you go.

[stretch2011]

grown men who get kicks out of hand cuffing other grown men.....

wait that was sexist since women can be cops too....

looks like im going to get bashed by both pitty parties