Another pedal mounting option from Lowe's hardware

[aab0mb]

I was putting together a new pedal board and wanted to avoid velcro. I had been scouring the hardware shops for a suitable mounting braket. 

This is what i found:
http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=364324-37672-884481&langId=-1&storeId=10151&productId=3478209&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1

It's a package of 6 "mending plates" that are found in the hobby section of the obscure hardware drawers. 

The plates can be cut to size with a tin snips and are thin enough to mount under the existing screws on the baseplate of a pedal allowing you to then screw down the pedal to the board without sticking velcro to the bottom. 

This is a viable replacement to the bike chain link thing and might be more available for some people.

My question is, if i use these mending plate as bracing in BETWEEN pedals, like the corner of one pedal is connected to the next via mending plate making for a strip of pedals that are all connected with plates, is this going to create some kind of addition ground loop as now all the cases are connected via the baseplates? Should i not have the pedals "connected" via the mending strips? Or is this basically making for one big "base plate" across all the pedals which isin't an issue...?

[amptramp]

If you do it this way, it all depends on the ground current feeding back into sensitive input stages.  If the leads are short enough and the mounting straps are the same size, you may get away with it.  I am a trained practitioner in the black art of EMI filtering, grounding and shielding and I still would only be guessing.  If you are feeding power through a supply with separate outputs, there could be a ground loop.  Eventually you would have a problem from contact between dissimilar metals - steel straps and aluminum boxes may present a problem.

There is another pedal mounting option:  Use the flanged lid version of the Hammond box so you can get four mounting holes to go straight into the pedalboard.

As an alternative, childrens' toys are sometimes wired into a display box with wires backed by strips that look exactly like this, but in plastic.  They are useful as mounting strips or as LED separators where you want holes at an accurate distance from each other.  Think of the original mounting of Cabbage Patch Kids or Tickle Me Elmo.

[aab0mb]

If you do it this way, it all depends on the ground current feeding back into sensitive input stages.  If the leads are short enough and the mounting straps are the same size, you may get away with it.  I am a trained practitioner in the black art of EMI filtering, grounding and shielding and I still would only be guessing.  If you are feeding power through a supply with separate outputs, there could be a ground loop.  Eventually you would have a problem from contact between dissimilar metals - steel straps and aluminum boxes may present a problem.

There is another pedal mounting option:  Use the flanged lid version of the Hammond box so you can get four mounting holes to go straight into the pedalboard.

As an alternative, childrens' toys are sometimes wired into a display box with wires backed by strips that look exactly like this, but in plastic.  They are useful as mounting strips or as LED separators where you want holes at an accurate distance from each other.  Think of the original mounting of Cabbage Patch Kids or Tickle Me Elmo.

Cool. Thanks for the info. 

The pedals don't need to be connected via the mounting strips.  The can each have their own 4 mounting feet and not be touching.  I suppose i'll try it both  ways. In any case, the mending plates are pretty useful as a cheap and easy replacement for the bike chain link "mounting plates" if you just cut them down to a small piece with 2 holes.

[CodeMonk]

There is this stuff as well:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Oatey-3-4-in-x-10-ft-Galvanized-Steel-Hanger-Strap-339232/100167964#.UkOZn8ZMToE

Lowes (Or most any hardware store) will have the same stuff.

And other varieties :
http://www.homedepot.com/s/webapp/catalog/servlet/Search?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053&storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&keyword=Hangar+strap&Ns=None&Ntpr=1&Ntpc=1&selectedCatgry=SearchAll

If you hunt around, you can probably find some that are coated.
Or coat it with this :
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Performix-Brand-11-oz-Plasti-Dip-Black-Rubber-Coating-Spray-11203-6/100131010#.UkObBcZMToE

[aab0mb]

Steel hanger strap looks to be a nice option.  The things we can think of when in a hardware store with the right eyes.... 

On the hardware store note: The "handy" sized junction boxes come in a blank version with no punch outs. Combine that with a blank top and you have a roughly 4x2x1.5 box perfect for a pedal. I've looked at both lowe's and home depot and none of them have the blank handy boxes....  sigh.

[Electron Tornado]

There is this stuff as well:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Oatey-3-4-in-x-10-ft-Galvanized-Steel-Hanger-Strap-339232/100167964#.UkOZn8ZMToE

One way to use that stuff is to take a couple of strips and mount it to the bottom plate of the effects case using the effect's own screws. (If those smaller holes are still too big, use washers.) Make the strips long enough that there is one or two holes overlapping the pedal enclosure and use them to mount the pedal to the board. It's a way to get the same result as having a flanged bottom plate.

Hmmm...hope i explained that clearly.

[Paul Marossy]

There is this stuff as well:

The only problem with that strapping is it's kind of flimsy. But I guess it's OK for your typical 1590B/1590BB size box. I wouldn't trust it for anything larger than those size pedals.

The other problem with that pipe strap is that it goes big hole, small hole, big hole, small hole - makes it awkward for securing pedals to a pedal board.

The only time I use that strapping is to secure a wall wart or something like a tuner to my pedalboard(s). And half the time I can't get the holes to line up like I want them to. 

[Electron Tornado]

The only problem with that strapping is it's kind of flimsy. But I guess it's OK for your typical 1590B/1590BB size box. I wouldn't trust it for anything larger than those size pedals.

For larger, heavier pedals, you can try a stiffer bracket type of thing, similar to the one in the first post. Either way, that stuff is secured to the pedal enclosure and then to the pedal board. Keep the amount of overlap short and my guess is it should be fine.

[CodeMonk]

There is this stuff as well:

The only problem with that strapping is it's kind of flimsy. But I guess it's OK for your typical 1590B/1590BB size box. I wouldn't trust it for anything larger than those size pedals.

The other problem with that pipe strap is that it goes big hole, small hole, big hole, small hole - makes it awkward for securing pedals to a pedal board.

The only time I use that strapping is to secure a wall wart or something like a tuner to my pedalboard(s). And half the time I can't get the holes to line up like I want them to. 

Picky, picky, picky.
That Vegas heat has warped your brain.
BTW...don't use that last line on your wife

Although, I supposed if you doubled it up, you might be able to get the right sized holes to line up?
I've never actually used it for securing pedals myself though.
But its pretty handy for a lot of other stuff.

[aab0mb]

There is this stuff as well:

The only problem with that strapping is it's kind of flimsy. But I guess it's OK for your typical 1590B/1590BB size box. I wouldn't trust it for anything larger than those size pedals.

The other problem with that pipe strap is that it goes big hole, small hole, big hole, small hole - makes it awkward for securing pedals to a pedal board.

The only time I use that strapping is to secure a wall wart or something like a tuner to my pedalboard(s). And half the time I can't get the holes to line up like I want them to. 

Are you strapping across the top of the pedal?  I was suggesting that we all use these items as two hole mounting brackets.  One hole for the pedal baseplate screw and one hole to put a screw through into the pedal board. The rigid mending plates are perfect for such an application.