if you've been frustrated by stand-offs....

[csmatt45]

I know they are simple little plastic (this post assumes we're talking about the plastic s-bear types, not metal etc.) things with double sided tape, but not too far back, these little buggers would f#$k me up at the end of a build more often than not. I'd peel the tape, get the stand-offs situated in my cir-board, stick them down, and half the time they'd be just a hair this way or that, but enough to have to yank them out and start over, or they'd stick to a wire or something else.

Here is my new method that works beutifully:

1. drill out the holes on your board.
2.populate your board
3. get all of your other components in place.
4. I usually wire in all my board connections at this point.
5. Get some epoxy, the kind that has two tubes and you have to stir them together. I use the Radio Shack brand epoxcy. Some use JB weld.
6. get rid of all the double sided tape on your standoffs. I found out the hard way that if the double tape gets too hot, it will come undone. Just trash it, the epoxy is your new friend.
7. Lightly sand the surface, back of the pots, enclosure metal etc., where-ever you plan to mount them.
8. Mix your epoxy and slather it in the general vicinity where you want the stand-offs to be.
9. now place your board on the stand-offs
10. Now you have about 3-4 min. before the epoxy sets to move your stand-offs into just the right place so it fits nice n' cozy with your other components. I have never had a crooked board since, and the epoxy is just about bullet proof in a few hours. Your board ain't go'in anywhere.

thats it! just giving back to the DIY community, hope this helps someone else!!

[Cliff Schecht]

I'm going to start using stand-offs whenever I get back to Austin and have the setup for doing PCB's again, so I'm going to try this. Thanks.

[rockgardenlove]

I try and use the sticky stuff the first time around, but if I mess up I take off the sticky stuff and either hot glue it, or cut off a new piece of sticky tape from a roll I have.  Epoxy is just too permanent.

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

I've never had any trouble with the adhesive standoffs myself... though I'm not using them these days. One way to make sure they line up with the holes in the PCB, is to put them in the holes, then peel & stick! Like drawing the bullseye around where the arrow lands...
Hot glue? I never has any luck whatsoever with that stuff on metal. Are there different grades or do you have to preheat the metal or what??

[rockgardenlove]

I use some alcohol to make sure there isn't crap on the surface I want to glue to, then squirt some glue onto the base of the standoff, and push it down.  Done.

Nothing too special about it.  You have to put it on the plastic though, and not the metal, otherwise it cools too quickly.  This way it cools when it comes in contact with the metal, which is fine. 

As for what it is...it's a little gun I bought at the neighborhood grocery store.

[Elektrojänis]

Hot glue? I never has any luck whatsoever with that stuff on metal. Are there different grades or do you have to preheat the metal or what??

There are different grades of that stuff too. One of my local stores has hobby grade that is supposed to be the normal stuff, and then industrial grade which looks like the same but to me it seems to stick better to various materials.

[markm]

I usually do the JB weld method.
Drill the mounting holes in the board, attach the standoffs to the board, apply a generous amount of JB Weld to the bottom of the standoffs and set in place. Pretty simple indeed but it works. I like the security of a screwed down PCB if possible.
Here's a look;

[csmatt45]

Hi Mark, I may try the screw downs, looks nice and pro. BTW, your enclosure holes look perfect, how do you get them so neat?

As far as the other folks posts, Hot glue I am a big fan of, but when trying to use it for the stand offs, it would sometimes set too quick, especially if it was cold (no heat in my shop, just an electric mini heater). Also hot glue I don't trust for stand offs because it isn't permanent enough. During the summer here in LA it can get very hot in the summer, so I always ask myself: will this hold if its in my trunk, in sweltering heat, for 6-10 hours? hot glue can gum up undersuch conditions.

I like the epoxy because it gives that extra couple min to see if maybe you want to move it a bit because your layout in the box may have come out a bit different than what you planned. very forgiving, for the 3 or 4 min, then not forgiving at all!

thanx,

matt

[Pushtone]

Having enough open box space to lay down a PCB and use adhesive stand-offs is often not possible.
I find I'm fitting the PCB over other parts like LEDs, jacks and pots and need a way to hold it at a certain height.

So when you HAVE to make you PCB hover over pots and jacks, the "nylon bolt as stand-off" trick works great.
Works well when you want the PCB to sit in the lid. Insulate the lid. Cut the nylon bolts so they are slightly compressed when the lid is screwed on.



http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=47579.0





I used this to do a Dual Small Clone Chorus. The PCB hovers over the two LEDs.
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=52149.0

[markm]

I've said this before when you've posted this Pushtone but, I gotta say it again.....
Great Idea and a nice professional wat to mount a PCB. 
Nice!!