Stripped pots

[spargo]

I was tightening a nut onto an Alpha PC mount pot today and tightened a bit too tight and the threads stripped rendering the pot useless.  Has anyone done this before?  What kind of pressure do you apply for tightening things, pots in particular?  I was pretty surprised because I wasn't tightening it very tight.  I also noticed that the threads of the PC mount pots look a bit more plasticy and not as tough as the solder lug pots.

[John Lyons]

Happens from time to time.
After a while you get used to the "feel" of how much they will take to get
tight but not strip. The pot bushings are quite soft metal. 
Depends on the tool you use to tighten the nut.
I use a nut driver.



Thread the nut slowly and be careful of cross threading, the bushing will
get chewed up pretty easily that way.

[Seven64]

i use needle nose pliers, and i cant get it too tight without them losing grip on the nut, but the pots seem to stay in place.

(i have also used wrenches before, but i have none of my own at the moment)

[ayayay!]

Anyone know of a good (cheap) suggestion for deep nut drivers.  I can get the deep well sockets at HF, but I'd really just like a set of (cheap) deep nut drivers.  Did I mention I want them to be cheap? 

[davent]

For the thin nuts used for attaching pots and jacks it's helpful to grind the end of the nut driver flat. As purchased,  nut drivers have an inner bevel on the socket (see John's picture) that leaves very little material inside the socket to grip the also usually beveled nut.

dave

[spargo]

I was using a ratchet.  I've used pliers in the past, but then they would slip and chip the paint of the enclosure.  I think a nut driver may be a better way to go since you can't get near as much leverage compared to a ratchet.

[John Lyons]

For the thin nuts used for attaching pots and jacks it's helpful to grind the end of the nut driver flat.
I looked at my drivers and they are flush. Good tip though.
I did grind down a socket that was beveled. 

I was using a ratchet.
That's probably part of the problem, too much torque possible

[boogietone]

I use a deep socket and tighten by hand mostly. An easy tug with a ratchet or socket screwdriver can snug 'em down if needed. It's a feel thing.

[therecordingart]

I use ratcheting box wrenches and apply just a little extra torque after the nut stops moving.

[petemoore]

  Suggests:
  Exact hole size, champhored edge holes [large drill bit takes off burrs, allows washer to sit flush/flat, keeps burrs out of the threads too].
   Gotta be careful, pliers easily have enough pressure to crush the nut into ovular shape.

[therecordingart]

  Suggests:
  Exact hole size, champhored edge holes [large drill bit takes off burrs, allows washer to sit flush/flat, keeps burrs out of the threads too].
   Gotta be careful, pliers easily have enough pressure to crush the nut into ovular shape.

Crushed nuts are never a good thing. 

[bluesman1218]

Anyone know of a good (cheap) suggestion for deep nut drivers.  I can get the deep well sockets at HF, but I'd really just like a set of (cheap) deep nut drivers.  Did I mention I want them to be cheap? 

It might be easier, and less expensive, to just make sure your nut drivers have hollow shafts. In most cases, the shaft will fit over the shaft you're threading the nut on.

[bluesman1218]

  Suggests:
  Exact hole size, champhored edge holes [large drill bit takes off burrs, allows washer to sit flush/flat, keeps burrs out of the threads too].
   Gotta be careful, pliers easily have enough pressure to crush the nut into ovular shape.

Crushed nuts are never a good thing. 

+1

[LucifersTrip]

I was tightening a nut onto an Alpha PC mount pot today and tightened a bit too tight and the threads stripped rendering the pot useless.  Has anyone done this before?  What kind of pressure do you apply for tightening things, pots in particular?  I was pretty surprised because I wasn't tightening it very tight.  I also noticed that the threads of the PC mount pots look a bit more plasticy and not as tough as the solder lug pots.

not useless...if you stripped it, you've killed the most lower thread. just leave the nut on there and tighten it with another nut. yes, you will have less shaft, but it should prob be enough to get another nut on there.

[Tony Forestiere]

Cheap box end wrench with the face ground flat (if it is not already so). Tighten the nut finger tight, then give it 1/8 to 1/4 turn with the box end to cinch it.

[zombiwoof]

I bought a cool T-handled deep socket tool years ago from Stew-Mac that is great for U.S.-standard pot nuts, I don't know if they still offer it but it has served me well.  I think the nut size on the metric pots is different, though, so I just use a deep socket of the right size for those, and use the socket without a handle to tighten the nuts.  Just using the socket by itself helps to keep from over-tightening the nuts, because with the handle you have to be very careful not to over-tighten, just holding the deep socket in your fingers to tighten the nut allows you to tighten them just enough to hold, but it's hard to overdo it.

Al