Pot shaft lengths

[Ron Worley]

I've searched the board all over and cannot seem to find an exact number on the required shaft length for the pots.

Using an Allyn Meyers chassis and a typical wooden face plate uses about 1/4" of shaft. Room for a star washer between the pot and chassis and a beauty washer and nut on the faceplate side is another 3/16". All told, that would lead me to think that a 1/2" shaft would work.

My real unknown is the thickness of the wooden faceplate.... Any ideas from your builds?

Thanks in advance,

Ron

[drhulsey]

... Any ideas from your builds?

My pots had .335" shaft length (exposed shaft), which was fine, but the .25" threaded collar wasn't long enough for my Allynmey chassis and faceplate thickness. My face plate was .125". A .0625" faceplate would have worked. The jacks and switches had plenty of threaded length. I used them to secure the faceplate and countersunk the back side of the faceplate to accommodate the pot nuts, and secured them to the chassis.

[Lonely Raven]

Ahh, I finally understand what your saying about counter sinking the BACK of the faceplates! You affixed the pots directly to the chassis, and made a cut out for the mounted nuts and washers to fit into! Ahhhh, that makes sense to me now!

The faceplates I make are 1/8", and for the Alpha pots that Ceriatone uses, I have to countersink them (on the front for me) to get enough thread length to lock the pots down.

I forgot what pots Allyn says he uses, but he told me that no countersinking is needed for his longer shaft pots.

[Ron Worley]

Right, so I guess what I really need to ask is what thread length is needed for a 1/8" faceplate, Allyn's ~3/16" chassis and 3/16" for the hardware....

The math says 1/2", but I'd love to hear from Allyn or a member who's done a build with his chassis to make sure....

Ron

[Allynmey]

I use PEC pots for all my builds. I have used 2W Clarostats in the past also. They have longer bushings and shafts.

[Ron Worley]

Thanks Allyn, I understand... but the facts are that there are different shaft / thread lengths spec'd by the OEMs for any given pot value per their spec sheets.....

I'm trying to understand the physical dimensions so that I procure the correct parts, regardless of the manufacturer I choose to use.

I would like to avoid having to do surgery on the chassis or faceplate by obtaining the right part from the beginning.

Thanks,

Ron

[drhulsey]

... I'm trying to understand the physical dimensions so that I procure the correct parts...

The .335" exposed shaft length is plenty. 1/2" would be fine, as well. More importantly, the PEC pots have .375" of threaded bushing which allows you to use a 1/8" thick face plate and still have enough thread for the nut. I doubt anybody is using a faceplate thicker than 1/8". I'm not sure about th thickness on Raven's face plates, but they are countersunk on the front to allow room for the hardware.

[Allynmey]

... I'm trying to understand the physical dimensions so that I procure the correct parts...

The .335" exposed shaft length is plenty. 1/2" would be fine, as well. More importantly, the PEC pots have .375" of threaded bushing which allows you to use a 1/8" thick face plate and still have enough thread for the nut. I doubt anybody is using a faceplate thicker than 1/8". I'm not sure about th thickness on Raven's face plates, but they are countersunk on the front to allow room for the hardware.

What he said!

[Lonely Raven]

What they said!

[Ron Worley]

Thanks for the info guys... Now I know what to procure.

Lonely, I will definitely be using one of your plates (once you get it set up for Allyn's chassis dimensions)- this info make me comfortable that I won't buy a set of $12 (ea) pots that won't work!!

Ron