Flush Pedal Knobs

[amptramp]

To answer the OP's original question, I had two pots (both 2.5K) with long shafts.  I chucked the shafts in a drill press and marked the correct length.  Then I switched on the drill press (lowest speed) and used a hacksaw to cut on the marked line.  The end was slightly conical but a perfect fit and length.  So start with a pot wth 4 inch shafts rather than something that is almost the right size - it is much easier.

[petey twofinger]

hate to hijack

i have split shafts here , out of ignorance mainly . some of the nicer knobs i have purchased use set screws . those knobs never seem to be level after i tighten the set screw they sit at a bit of an angle , causeing the dreaded " knob wobble " .

this is what drives me nuts , well that " way too high knob " effect really stinks too ...

[chromesphere]

Thanks for the responses!

Ive noticed that too (knob wobble).  So how do you get around that?  Using push on knobs?  These commercial pedal knobs looked sooooo slick...i've just suddenly realised an area i need to improve on!

Thats a good tip with the drill press amptramp!  I'll have to try that!

I'm thinking though at this stage, its another reason to buy that long awaited dremel.  I'm going to get one for my bday in april.  I think thats certain.  All these little jobs that i'm thinking up lately, a dremel is the right tool.

Paul

[cloudscapes]

Drives me crazy when i see floating knobs.

I have the opposite problem. 

I hate having my knobs flush to the finish, in fear of them rubbing against the thick and sometimes uneven finish. Plus I think it looks weird. Sometimes I even "lift" the knob a few millimeters before I tighten the screw, so that there's a gap.

[chromesphere]

Fair enough cloudscapes, but i think a 2mm gap is much less then some of the knobs i have on my pedals!  I'm talking more than 5mm.  They look stupid trust me lol 2mm is perfect for what im aiming for.
Paul

[kodiakklub]

+1 on the washers. cutting the shaft seems excessive.

[chromesphere]

Actually forgot to mention last night i was putting a few pedals together and 1 x nut, same size as you get with the pots / threads properly.  This was pretty much the perfect height and there was still maybe...3 turns of the nut on top to grab on.  Not the best outcome, but i tightened the hell out of it, i dont think its going anywhere...

But if i was to use lock washers...well, would i just use multiple lock wasers?  3 or 4 of them?  I agree, washers (or an extra nut) seem far simplier then hacking at the shaft.

Paul

[cloudscapes]

Fair enough cloudscapes, but i think a 2mm gap is much less then some of the knobs i have on my pedals!  I'm talking more than 5mm.  They look stupid trust me lol 2mm is perfect for what im aiming for.
Paul

7-8 whole blasphemous millimeters here  
http://nearworlds.org/stuff/PB010795.JPG

Though even I think this is too much. 3-4mm is fine for me. These aren't pots though, they're rotary encoders with longer shafts, and there's no room to add washers since there's a jack on the upper-left sandwiched between the PCB and the back cover with literally not a millimeter to spare.

[davent]

hate to hijack

i have split shafts here , out of ignorance mainly . some of the nicer knobs i have purchased use set screws . those knobs never seem to be level after i tighten the set screw they sit at a bit of an angle , causeing the dreaded " knob wobble " .

this is what drives me nuts , well that " way too high knob " effect really stinks too ...

Couple options, the expensive purpose sold brass bushing that slips over the splined shaft to bring it up to 1/4" in diameter, works great and costs as much as the Tayda pot you'll be retrofitting.

http://www.guitarelectronics.com/product/BSH/Guitar-Bass-Control-Pot-Adapter-Bushings-2.html

I've had good results cutting a rectangle from brass shim sheet (couple mil thick) that i use to line the wall of the knob hole. Anal solutions for the anal soul.

dave

[Jdansti]

Drives me crazy when i see floating knobs.

I have the opposite problem. 

I hate having my knobs flush to the finish, in fear of them rubbing against the thick and sometimes uneven finish. Plus I think it looks weird. Sometimes I even "lift" the knob a few millimeters before I tighten the screw, so that there's a gap.

Lay sheets of paper on two sides of the pot to maintain clearance above the enclosure until you finish tightening the set screw.

[CodeMonk]

When *I* saw the title, I thought Paul was advocating universal disposal of all knobs via the sanitary facilities....  

I'm a big fan of jigs and templates generally, so I'd suggest once you know how long the shaft needs to be to suit the enclosures and knobs in use, that you drill a suitable close-fitting hole (maybe even a stepped hole such the bush of the pot  also enters,  (and a small hole for the lug) so that the body sits flat) in a piece of some material (say hardwood) and thickness the material so that a) it is easy to gauge the amount to be removed, and b) keep the swarf/filings away from the body of the pot while you cut/file/sand/grind/machine the top of the shaft. Also... ink/paint the face of the jig so that you know when it's worn out from contact with the cutter.

david

Are you my long lost twin?
I'm almost anal about making jigs for whatever I am working on. Especially if I plan on making more than one of something.
I haven't made one for this task though...YET
But its now on my list.

[greaser_au]

Thanks for the responses!
Ive noticed that too (knob wobble).  So how do you get around that?  Using push on knobs?  These commercial pedal knobs looked sooooo slick...i've just suddenly realised an area i need to improve on!
Thats a good tip with the drill press amptramp!  I'll have to try that!
I'm thinking though at this stage, its another reason to buy that long awaited dremel.  I'm going to get one for my bday in april.  I think thats certain.  All these little jobs that i'm thinking up lately, a dremel is the right tool.
Paul

you're not mixing splined pot shafts and set-screw knobs, are you?....       (sorry, that is one of my pet hates, but the shaft bushes davent linked would take the curse off it...!  Why, yes,  I AM a Virgo, how ever did you know?!!!  )   That said, some of my earliest childhood memories are of the TV and the fan having no knobs because knob set screws naturally work loose (unless you *WANT* them to come off, of course!!!) - an appropriately placed shallow drilling into the flat of the shaft and a spot of threadlocker will help a bit!

As was outlined in the 'what...did you get for xmas' thread, beware the loose taper fit DP chuck if you're going to rotary-cut your pot shafts- you'd likely be safer using a normal power drill.

david

[duck_arse]

^ I've got some of those white knobs, and they look HORRIBLE everywhere I try them.

I like sub-panels, which is a different kettle of fitch entirely. shafts need to be longer for a start.

tape over the workings and hacksaw, usually with a string of oversize nuts and a washer up the shaft, "to length". I'm also quite keen on sticking felt onto the underside of my knobs. I think it adds class, but nobody ever seems to notice or comment.

[davent]

Drives me crazy when i see floating knobs.

I have the opposite problem. 

I hate having my knobs flush to the finish, in fear of them rubbing against the thick and sometimes uneven finish. Plus I think it looks weird. Sometimes I even "lift" the knob a few millimeters before I tighten the screw, so that there's a gap.

This is a job for felt washers.

... I'm also quite keen on sticking felt onto the underside of my knobs. I think it adds class, but nobody ever seems to notice or comment.

I've used the felt washers available here on a hifi preamp and they protect the faceplate fine. http://www.tubesandmore.com/products/P-H200

Has to be punches available somewhere allowing you to cut your own, maybe scrapbooking places have something suitable.

dave

[roseblood11]

When I read the thread title, I thought of this:



If this idea was easy to copy, I would use it for all pedals that I use on stage...

[chromesphere]

When i read the title i thought of this:



Sorry i was feeling left out

Heaps of really good ideas in this thread! 

My first attempt i've used a extra nut on the inside of the enclosure.  Man...they just look so much better at a lower height.  Amazed i didnt pick up on this earlier....

Paul

[Pyr0]

I also sometimes cut the tops of the shaft so the knobs are a bit closer to the box, but it's a real PITA.

So I bought a load of knobs on ebay with collars at the bottom to hide the shaft, and also some with longer sides. The are also made specially for the knurled split shafts, so are just push on and you never get the dreaded knob wobble from using the ones with grub screws.

[chromesphere]

Like the washer on the purple pedal!  Looks like a metal washer?  Certainly not thick enough to be white plastic.  Looks good.
Nice color too!
Paul

[Pyr0]

Thanks, I use metal washers on all of them, they are not too thick, got them from musikding and also smallbear,  I just hate those white plastic washers. If you're looking for any extra white plastic washers I have loads to spare
Yeah I like that metallic purple - It brings back good memories of spray painting my first motorbike - an old Yamaha 125 Yazi with a two tone metalic purple and metalic blue - but that was a long long time ago, so sorry for sidetracking the thread.

[chromesphere]

Thanks Pyro, i checked out musicding's, says they are inner diameter 12mm (obviously) outter diagmeter 20mm.  Might see if i can find some of these at my local hardware store.

Thanks again!

Paul