a source for "alternative" knobs?

[barret77]

Hi

Does anyone know a online source for alternative knobs? I mean not-chicken head nor boss style... I wanted a big one for a volume control... I know that these things are better found in hamfests or radio repair places, but I can't find any place like that around Boston...

[bwanasonic]

How big do you need? Radio Shack stocks a nice 1.25"  diameter knob that seems to be the same that I received as samples from Davies Moulding:



It is easily foot manipulated.

Kerry M

[snorky]

That giant auction site can be good for knobs.  Look for Daka Ware or there's another similar company whose name escapes me at the moment...

I've also gotten some cool knobs from here:

http://leedselect.com/parts-knobs.html

I found 'em online, but they're kinda local to me...

- Mark

[Ge_Whiz]

I've rescued and modded some novel large control knobs from kitchen junk - food mixer, microwave ovens, junk like that. Really old TV channel changers, even food jar lids glued to smaller knobs or wooden inserts.

[R.G.]

You can use polymer modelling clay, Fimo and Sculpy being two brand names, and overmold these on top of an existing knob. Once the sculpture is done, you bake them in a kitchen oven and they turn hard and set. You can make any knob you like with them - flowers, skulls, body parts, clouds, trees, logos, etc.

You find the stuff at hobby and crafts stores.

You can also crack open other knobs and get the brass insert out for better adhesion to the insert part that turns the knob.

[barret77]

thanks for all the answers

one day I'll design some knobs out of resin, there are interesting possibilities on that... but for the amp project I'm after the old radio look, and that leed site is perfect! some of them are expensive, but there are cheaper ones...

I salvaged some old tv knobs too, but I definately need to find an old radio parts store in my area to browse around... it hurts to pay a huge shipping fee to a few knobs you buy online...

[ryanscissorhands]

You could also look around at pawn shops and get a REAL old radio or something.

[Nasse]

I did a cheesy "lathe" job for a diy bass guitar, I bought small amount of suitable diameter "nylon" (polyamide) axle, drilled suitable 6 mm hole in the centre (as precisely as I could) for pot axle and put it over 6 mm drill bit on my electric drill, and used that as a lathe. I could do just as ergonomic knob as I wanted.

I searched the word "lathe" and google found this: http://www.mini-lathe.com/thumb.htm (I still have all my fingers but cutted my hand with a knife yesterday)

Few weeks ago I noticed one knob was missing, and I made quick and dirty replacement , I used plastic stuff called "polymorph", it melts nicely in hot water and you can model it with your fingers, non poisonous stuff.