Here comes the Valvecaster!!

[ACS]

So finally tracked down some 12AT7's that weren't exorbitantly priced, and have got a truckload (well, for a very small truck) of other components on the way - to build, amongst other things, my very own Valvecaster!

Not being one to hang around while waiting for parts to arrive, I've dived straight in to building an enlosure.  Here's what I've come up with so far...

3PDT is going to be located front right.  Input on right hand face, out on left hand face, both at the back.  Currently deliberating on placement for pots, but assuming that I build this sans-tone control, I'm thinking gain on right hand face at the front, with the volume on the left hand face.


and underneath...


Can't wait for the rest (all?) of the parts to get this up and running now

[frequencycentral]

HAHAHA! That is one seriously INDUSTRIAL looking pedal man!

I like it! Good luck with the build!

Makes my idea for a barbed-wire tube protector look not so daft!

Rick

[ambulancevoice]

wonderful

[Grizz]

wish I would have thought of the u-bolt idea for my shaka tube instead of the door handle.

[jalien21]

that's so good. i love seeing enclosures that people made themselves. quality work.

[ACS]

Cheers guys, I'm stoked with how it's looking so far.  Full credit to my wife for coming up with the U-bolt idea!!

I'm going to paint the enclosure and the U-bolts flat black I think, leaving the nuts on top in the galv finish for some thing a bit different.  Yes, definitely industrial   This is my first crack at the 50c enclosure concept with steel section framing - and I've gotta say, I'm impressed!  Easy to do, good finish and very robust (and of course, VERY cheap ).  I'll definitely be doing that again...

I'll update this as I go, build report style.  And no doubt the debugging as well

Aidan

[earthtonesaudio]

Cheers guys, I'm stoked with how it's looking so far.  Full credit to my wife for coming up with the U-bolt idea!!

I'm going to paint the enclosure and the U-bolts flat black I think, leaving the nuts on top in the galv finish for some thing a bit different.  Yes, definitely industrial   This is my first crack at the 50c enclosure concept with steel section framing - and I've gotta say, I'm impressed!  Easy to do, good finish and very robust (and of course, VERY cheap ).  I'll definitely be doing that again...

I'll update this as I go, build report style.  And no doubt the debugging as well

Aidan

How did it go with de-burring the corners/edges?  I've been doing this technique for a while and it seems like I spend most of my time filing the edges, and they're still rough enough to do some damage to clumsy hands...

[ACS]

I used a cut-off wheel attachment on my (no-name el cheapo) dremel - took all of five minutes and gave a great finish.  In fact I used the cut-off wheel to do the whole lot - cut to length, cut out the 'checks' for the end bend, and then the cleanup of course.  I'm thinking I'll fill the gaps on the exterior corners with solder, then use the same attachment to clean it up - like you'd do with a weld - before I paint it, to give a cleaner finish.

[Michael Allen]

I've looked around everywhere for steel framing members and had a heck of a time finding any. Where'd you pick yours up? I'm in seattle and i know there has to be a place that carries it but i've yet to find it..

[ACS]

I was lucky - there was a new partition wall going up at work.  I collected all the offcuts!  Reckon I've got enough for 10-15 enclosures...

You could keep your eyes open for any new residential buildings in your neighbourhood that are going up in steel stud, and ask them if they have any offcuts...

[Incubus]

I hope your wife realises how fortunate she is to be married to you.

[Dragonfly]

I'm going to paint the enclosure and the U-bolts flat black I think....

If it were me, I'd leave them "plain metal"...looks far more industrial.

But that's just me....

[earthtonesaudio]

How thick is that metal?  The stuff I found at the salvage yard is probably less than .030" (or smaller than 20/22 gauge) but the stuff in your pics looks pretty sturdy.

[aron]

That U bolt idea is great!

[ACS]

How thick is that metal?  The stuff I found at the salvage yard is probably less than .030" (or smaller than 20/22 gauge) but the stuff in your pics looks pretty sturdy.

What's that in mm dude?   As mentioned in the original tutorial about this kind of enclosure, it's 'relatively' thin - in that it flexes 'just a little' is you push down hard in the middle.  I figure if you locate the stomp within 20-30mm an edge at all times, you will never even notice this.  In the bottom pic, the left and right edges are cut edges, with the top and bottom edges being the 'factory' folded edges if that helps.  I don't have a micrometer unfortunately, but I reckon it's in the vicinity of 0.6-0.8mm thick... but that's a guess!

Actually, through the wonders of Google, 0.033" is around 0.8mm, so yes, you're fairly on the money there...

[earthtonesaudio]

Cool, from the looks and your description, that sounds about the same as the stuff I'm using.  Would you mind posting a pic of the cutting wheel you're using?

[ACS]

No worries mate, will do when I get home tonight.

[ACS]

Actually, I can go one better: http://www.toolbarn.com/category/dremel/cuttingwheels/

The one's I'm using are top of the list - they do wear down, so good thing they're cheap!  Trick is to use the speed of the wheel to do the cutting, rather than pressure.  More pressure just wears them down faster without really cutting much better.  On the framing material one wheel will do about one enclosure...

My dremel came with the fitting to attach the wheels to, but I'm sure you could buy one if you needed...

Aidan

[earthtonesaudio]

Cool, thanks.  I tried using similar cut-off wheels when I first started making enclosures out of steel studs, but it took a long time and was LOUD!  I also had problems with the amount of razor sharp metal shards it left.  That could probably have been improved with more patience and better technique, but ah well...

Since then I've switched to tin snips, which is much faster and accurate (for me anyway).  However after making about 10 enclosures in one day the tin snip method leaves you with very tired hands.  Moderation is key.

[AL]

That U bolt idea is great!

That's exactly what I thought too. That's a nice looking enclosure so far. Keep us posted.

AL