What can I do with these frankenpots?

[Herr Masel]

I like the place I buy components from, it's run by an old russian guy and he's a little cheaper than other places, plus he always gives me alot of extra resistors for free. But all his 1k pots seem to be huge. I mean on the bottom they are ok but the shaft is about four times longer than on a regular pot. I don't understand why this is, and I don't want it that way because it's too big and ugly. I'm just asking to be sure, but if I cut the shaft shorter (with a cutter if I can, or a disc saw) it won't damage the pot will it? (other than the fact that I will no longer be able to tweak the knobs with my teeth when it is flat on the ground )

[Arn C.]

That should be just fine, I cut some of my older pot's shafts when neccessary.  I still have a few left that are about 4 inches long.   I put the end of the shaft in a small vise and support the pot side with anything to hold it from falling once you cut through the shaft.  I usually use a hacksaw blade.

Peace!
Arn C.

[Mark Hammer]

Do you mean the threaded part, or the part you attached the knobs to for turning?  If it is just the part the knobs attach to, cutting that is no problem.  Many pots, like many pants, are longer than you really need, so that the ends can be cut back to allow the knobs to sit close to the chassis.  As long as you make sure to keep the metal particles out of the inside of the pot, cutting the shaft is not a problem.  I've done it for years and never had a problem.

Cutting the threaded part CAN be a problem.  First, there is the risk of not being able to attach the nut on if the start of the thread is damaged orimpossible.  Second, there is a greater risk of metal particles getting into the pot.  Third, unlike cutting the shaft, you have to cut *around* something, instead of just cutting the end off, as with the shaft.

Why do some pots have such a long threaded part?  Easy, to fit through deep spaces and still have some thread showing out to attach a nut to.  For instance, regular pots will NOT do for Les Paul controls.  You need special one with a long threaded section (collet) to reach from the control cavity, through the body, out to the surface of the guitar.

[Herr Masel]

Hey thanks alot, yea it's just the shaft I want to cut so it's no problem. The strange thing is though that only the 1k pots are that way, all his other pots are normal. By the way, you mentioned guitar pots, well amplifier pots don't seem to have a long shaft but have two bases/cases sandwiched on top of eachother. Is there a good reason for that as well? I haven't built an amp yet (save the ruby, though I will eventually) but I have never heard anyone say anything about pots that are specially made for amps..

[Mark Hammer]

Sometimes, you want the pot itself to sit closer to where it needs to be, but unfortunately, you have only one front panel.  The shaft will need to be longer to be able to reach the front panel and have a knob attached.

Not all pots are secured to the chassis.  In some cases, the pot is soldered to the PCB, and the shaft pokes out through a large hole.  The knob fits into the large hole so that it sticks ito the chassis and does not sit on top of it.  If the body of the pot has to absorb all the pressure placed on the pot (instead of the pot being secured to the chassis or face plate and THOSE taking the pressure), then the pot may have extra lugs/tabs for soldering to the PCB, to give it strength.

[Eric H]

Cutting the threaded part CAN be a problem.  First, there is the risk of not being able to attach the nut on if the start of the thread is damaged orimpossible.

If you thread the nut on before you cut the ferrule, the nut will do a decent job of chasing the threads as you remove it. This works with any bolt, as well.

-Eric

[Mark Hammer]

Thanks!!  That one is right up there with Heloise's household hints.

[Herr Masel]

Cool, I was talking about something else with the amp pots, but thanks peoples.

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

This is as rough as it sounds, but... my trusty assistant once cut a couple of thousand 1/4" pot shafts down with boltcutters. By the end, I think she had better biceps than me. (hell, before too, probably!)
Seriously, it worked. I don't want to do it again, though.