This has been very informative, many thanks.
Ange
What five tools have helped
Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal
Re: What five tools have helped
Angelodp asked me about my pot jig, and decided to put it here.
It's not all that complicated. Just take a flat piece of wood, such as a paint stirer, and tape to the inside of the chassis over the pot holes so it won't move around.
Grab a drill bit that replicates the hole size(s), and holding down firm the wood, drill into the wood from the outside, thru the chassis holes. This gives you the exact size holes in the exact places (in relation to each other). For the Trainwrecks, they're all in line, and I also added in the bright switch.
Attach all pots to this stick, position, and just start running wires and soldering. When you're done, lay the assembly flat, with the pot backs down, on another paint stirrer. Remove the pots from the hole-drilled-wood, supporting with the undrilled paint stirrer, and stick the whole assembly in the chassis all at once.
It actually works a bit better if you have larger pieces of wood. I'm lucky enough to have a pile of flat slats I took out of a junked partion door. That way you can scoot the edge up to the top of the inside chassis before you drill the holes, which gives you an eye gauge to make sure you are not going to touch the chassis lip (if it has an overhang).
It is a LOT easier than soldering them while in the chassis.
It's not all that complicated. Just take a flat piece of wood, such as a paint stirer, and tape to the inside of the chassis over the pot holes so it won't move around.
Grab a drill bit that replicates the hole size(s), and holding down firm the wood, drill into the wood from the outside, thru the chassis holes. This gives you the exact size holes in the exact places (in relation to each other). For the Trainwrecks, they're all in line, and I also added in the bright switch.
Attach all pots to this stick, position, and just start running wires and soldering. When you're done, lay the assembly flat, with the pot backs down, on another paint stirrer. Remove the pots from the hole-drilled-wood, supporting with the undrilled paint stirrer, and stick the whole assembly in the chassis all at once.
It actually works a bit better if you have larger pieces of wood. I'm lucky enough to have a pile of flat slats I took out of a junked partion door. That way you can scoot the edge up to the top of the inside chassis before you drill the holes, which gives you an eye gauge to make sure you are not going to touch the chassis lip (if it has an overhang).
It is a LOT easier than soldering them while in the chassis.