small drop in circuits

[birt]

i had a little spare time so i made some buffers. no print, vero or perf. i just soldered components and wires right on the jFETs. it took about 8-10 minutes for one buffer. maybe i'm gonna do the same with big muff tonestacks or other small circuitry you can throw into stompboxes.

ideas to fine-tune this idea or just suggestions are welcome!

here's a pic:

[O]

1.- test them all make sure they work
2.- label all the wires, make sure none of the labels fall off
3.- dip them in epoxy/goop/or jb-weld for that extra mojo

[John Lyons]

Pretty cool. I don't trust solder and fine component legs to hold up much though. As mentioned, get out that epoxy and guard yu secrets!!!

Here's my little guy. A mid cut T-notch  circuit. Cuts a somewhat narrow notch centered around 2K. I put this in a DOD OD 250 circuit just before the output to get rid of some of the  nasal and upper mids. Dig the oldschool  Radio Shack perf.


John

[birt]

i already inteded to cover them in epoxy but i need to test em first so i don't get nasty surprises.

the wires are easy: red is +9v, black ground, white input and something colored (whatever i have at hand) is output.

[Meanderthal]

 Heh- Is there a reason to squeeze the transistor? Looks like one's being tortured Medieval style...

[Ben N]

The original board-less FET preamp:

http://www.till.com/articles/PreampCable/index.html

Ben

[John Lyons]

What meanderthal! don't you know about squeasing the last bit of headroom out of your buffers?

There is quite a movement against the barbaric midieval throw back of squeasing them. If you put them in a tiny Iron Maiden you can get similar results but that turture device is the source of the difficulty in getting them to give up the good tone.

This simple hold down clamp above will work if you are in a pinch (Pun... ouch!) but is not as oldschool and therefore does not quite release the mojo. I can't believe you didn't know this!!!

John

[petemoore]

  I thought about using wax, make a cup around the little circuit, wires strapped a bit somehow, pour in the hot wax for a 'potted' circuit/no epoxy mixing. Wouldn't stand the heat very long if you were trying to hide something in there, but would eliminate wiggling wires.
  I don't know what the melting temp of wax is, I don't think it'd burn components, but the circuit could be cooled, dipped in wax, cooled, repeat until it's thick enough.

[Pushtone]

I've been holding onto a mini ice-cube tray from a mini fridge.
It's the perfect size cups for potting buffers and you can pot several at one time.

I was planning on using petroleum jelly to keep the epoxy/wax from sticking to the tray.

You photos are inspiring me to get back on track with that.

Labeling the wires would be a good idea as mentioned.
For that I would print out labels on plain paper in a small font.
Then cut them out with scissors and put them under clear heat-shrink.
I tried that with my Brother labeler but the medium must be thermal
because the label turned black when hit with the heat gun.

[birt]

i guess hot glue would work too instead of epoxy. and you can allways remove hot glue.

[petemoore]

 color coded wiring.
  

[Dragonfly]

You can check my layout gallery for small drop in/ add on Big Muff tone controls...

AC

[rockgardenlove]

The potting idea is a great idea.

What would I want to pot them in though?  Pushtone mentioned epoxy, are there better ideas?  Not a big fan of epoxy.

[petemoore]

  didn't you see 'wax' ^?
  Outside...or on non flammable.
  Stick the circuit in the corner of a baggie, start dripping wax in, continue until the wires are bound well, use hot water to heat and final shape the waxed, bagged circuit.
  Maybe insert the wires through a plastic collet or tube first.
 

[rockgardenlove]

Missed that somehow...

Seems to me the wax would tend to crumble and make quite the mess though...

[petemoore]

Seems to me the wax would tend to crumble and make quite the mess though...
  Actually where the wires come out, if stressed, might cause minor crumbling, a waxy mess [even a small one] if it gets in a pot would be a drag, I would fill half way up the wire collet, then close the baggie around the top of the collet, maybe ziptie it.
  skip the wax, ziptie the wires as you close the baggie opening around the top...on to the next one.
  Bondo epoxy still stinx and is sticky', but is cheaper by volume. quick dry sets up pretty fast.
 
 

[birt]

i think i'm gonna go for hot glue and use the "baggie method" to squeeze it in between all the wiring before it gets cold.