Footswitch Boxes - Drilled and Undrilled

[smallbearelec]

http://smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/footswitch-boxes/

A customer requested, so I asked CIC to make. The enclosures are tanks, and adaptable for many uses. My only complaint is that the holes for the securing screws don't have PEM-nut "collars". I will ask for this in the future. Most people will find the existing securing arrangement workable, and it can be strengthened if you want with a few #4 nuts and J-B Kwik or similar.

To anticipate a couple of questions:

--The OEM switches are "X-wing" SPST latching, and I realize that some users will have other requirements. In the future, I can probably get the boxes drilled but without switches at a slightly lower price. For the moment, pls replace the switches if you need to.

--I don't have mechanicals, but the factory has promised to send and I will post in the Library.

Regards
SD

[Mark Hammer]

Hi Steve,

Regards from the north!
I was just browsing the site about 30 minutes ago and saw the switchboxes.  Very nice.  And decently priced.  It never ceases to amaze me when I see similar footswitches being sold on second-hand sites, and somehow the fact that the word Traynor or Fender or Crate or Peavey on the chassis of a very standard two-switch assembly magically makes it worth $30+.

BTW, at $8.50 a pop, the undrilled single-switch sized boxes would make VERY nice pedal chassis. Harder to machine, of course, being steel.  BUt if you have the proper bits and can pop a hole through an old EHX box with minimal fuss, you can pop a few through these as well.  The round-sloped front is attractive, and footswitch-friendly.

Nice score!

[smallbearelec]

BTW, at $8.50 a pop, the undrilled single-switch sized boxes would make VERY nice pedal chassis.

Hi Mark--

Thanks for the props! Yea, I think some people have used them as you describe. I was surprised, but pleased, that they agreed to make what is for them a relatively small lot. Probably the long relationship helps. If these sell decently, I will ask if they will make other colors.

[armdnrdy]

Hey Steve,

Thank you for bringing these enclosures in!

I was going to respond to your email, but decided to post here to get other members input.

You have a concern about the screw holes possibly stripping out if over torqued.

Are the holes flush on the inside?....or is there a dimple that extends the thread count?



I have seen this type of threaded hole used in applications that don't require the load bearing capabilities of pem nuts, rivet nuts, or threaded fastening clips.

I recently direct ordered ten, Takachi TS series aluminum sloped enclosures for larger builds, that have the same tapped extruded holes.
I have in my possession a Coron Jet Flanger & Filter Matrix from the early 80s. The steel enclosure also has tapped extruded holes.

I "borrowed" this description from the net.

I have seen manufactured parts where the punch used to form the hole extrudes a sleeve on the punched hole in order to support many more threads than could be supported by the thickness of the sheet metal. Web searches using keywords like "extrusion punch", "extrude punch tap" and "extruded hole" located a patent drawing and several tutorials.


Extruded threads would also eliminate component cost.

[smallbearelec]

Thank you for bringing these enclosures in!

Yer welcome! Thank you for suggesting the item! In order to maintain its niche, SBE needs to continue to be the place where you Can find oddments. So I always need ideazz about what to carry.

Are the holes flush on the inside?

Unfortunately, yeah. As I have noted, I will ask the maker to address this, possibly by the method you have suggested. That's the only issue I see, and, as I noted earlier, I don't see it as a fatal flaw.

[PRR]

> holes possibly stripping out if over torqued.

I can strip ANY hole. Can't make it fool proof, there are some strong fools out there.

Ford used a lot of those punched+threaded holes, and even in hardened steel they can be stripped (or the screw sheared).

OTOH, I'm thinking... how often will you go into a switch box? A matrix filter, sure, change filters every month, the holes will wear. Switch box not so much?

Unless the shop already has a dimpler-tapper, this could be so much extra cost that Bear will have to skip it until stripped-out customers roar.