Potentiometers in the UK

[T1bbles]

Hey guys,

I'm from the UK and have been building pedals for a few months, built an LPB-1, a fuzz factory, a ring modulator etc.

I was just wondering if anyone else who resides within the UK could help me with sourcing potentiometers. My main issue is the length of the shaft, I can't find any with a decent shaft length that will allow me to put decent sized knobs on, I simply buy ones with long plastic shafts and hack-saw them down to size, which is a right hassle! Also, I can't find any PCB mountable ones that will mount at 90 degrees to the PCB, which is annoying because it's often not possible to bend the pins to the right angle without damaging something, and that's if they'll reach!

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Martin L.

[DryRoasted]

Hi Martin,

From what you have said, I'm guessing that the standard 16mm alpha type pots don't have the length of shaft you need, soooo my advice would be to try www.rapidonline.com.  Many of us use them and they have a pretty good selection of the 16mm and the larger plastic shaft .  Your local Maplins are good if (stupidly) expensive for small quantities not worth a mail order.  I have yet to find a source of the PCB mount pots in the UK and get mine along with most of my parts from Small bear electronics.  Don't worry be nevious about ordering from the US, the postage is pretty quick considering and the exchange rate more than makes up for the shipping. 

Jim

[T1bbles]

Do you ever have any problems with customs and handling or import fees? I remember buying a guitar from the states and it was a nightmare!

[moose23]

Hi Martin,

From what you have said, I'm guessing that the standard 16mm alpha type pots don't have the length of shaft you need, soooo my advice would be to try www.rapidonline.com.  Many of us use them and they have a pretty good selection of the 16mm and the larger plastic shaft .  Your local Maplins are good if (stupidly) expensive for small quantities not worth a mail order.  I have yet to find a source of the PCB mount pots in the UK and get mine along with most of my parts from Small bear electronics.  Don't worry be nevious about ordering from the US, the postage is pretty quick considering and the exchange rate more than makes up for the shipping. 

Jim

Which pots do you recommend from rapid?

[Hanglow]

my favourite pots are the http://www.rapidonline.com/Electronic-Components/Resistors-Potentiometer/Control-Potentiometers/Miniature-16mm-potentiometers/65225 from rapid,   otherwise I just get the standard cheaper metal 16mm ones. The 24mm ones are ok too if you have space, they have solder tags instead of pins.

[bigchasbroon]

Do you ever have any problems with customs and handling or import fees? I remember buying a guitar from the states and it was a nightmare!

For smaller items there isnt ussually any problems I spent £70 on guitar strings and I had to go to the post office and pay VAT plus import duty plus a handling fee, but thats the only time I think taht its ok if it is less than £40.

[DryRoasted]

Do you ever have any problems with customs and handling or import fees? I remember buying a guitar from the states and it was a nightmare!

Never had any issues what so ever with small bear, or to be honest Pedal parts plus, the customs label clearly states whats in side the box so HM customs and excise are not too fussed.

[MetalGuy]

In UK you have a very interesting company where you can custom order even small quantitiy of pots in retail quantity:

http://omeg.co.uk/

[dthurstan]

Hi Martin

I've been stung by import taxes too, when buying from the US. I got some stuff from Smallbear, which I didn't get charged tax on, but I think it can be a bit of a gamble. Have you heard of this company http://www.banzaimusic.com/? They may have some pots that you can use. I haven't bought from them yet but coz thier in the EU no imports, they have alot of stuff that smallbear has, and the prices arent 2 bad (I wish the euro would go down  )

Dave

[T1bbles]

That BanzaiMusic.com looks the best bet, they've got some very good alpha pots with the right sort of shaft length

Thanks alot guys!

[rackham]

Alternatively, jnr hacksaw + vice = pots with the right length shafts on.
 

[StephenGiles]

In UK you have a very interesting company where you can custom order even small quantitiy of pots in retail quantity:

http://omeg.co.uk/

You beat me to it, they have been very helpful to me in the past. I still have a 4.7 meg pot they sent me as a sample. They were in East Grinstead, I'll look them up.

Yes, they are still in East Grinstead just off the A22, about 20 minutes drive from junction 6 on the M25, on second thoughts that's probably 40 minutes with increased traffic. I last went there over 20 years ago!