What's the best way to tighten a pot?

[HeIsAll]

I've always used Alpha pots in my builds and it seems that no matter what I try, I can't get the things tight on the enclosure without feeling like I'm about to strip the shaft.  The metal is so soft and I've ruined many by stripping them.  Am I trying to tighten them too snug?  I've used serrated lock washers and it seems to help a little but not great.  Any good advice?

[theehman]

I know most people just cut them off but I always drill a small hole off to the side for the locking tab.  After installing the pot I tighten it down using a correct sized nutdriver.  This has reduced thread-stripping quite a bit.

[Dragonfly]

I snip the tab, and use the appropriate size wrench to tighten them...in using thousands of pots, I've never had one break. You can use pliers to hold the underside of the pot steady while tightening.

If you break the pot, you're way past "tight enough".

[96ecss]

I break the tabs off too. I tighten with a nut driver and hold the underside with my fingers. I've never broken or stripped one and they don't usually come loose either. Andy is right, if you're stripping them, you're using way too much pressure.

Dave

[petemoore]

  I used a crummy drill bit, and it left some serious burring, that caused the pot to not sit flat, and also made tightening the nut much too challenging.
  The easy solution was to take a >10% larger drill bit and remove the chaff that the potsized bit left, plus enough champhoring to insure all the chaff was removed, I do this by hand [you should use a glove] using a large enough bit to torque the blade into the thick side of the burring...that or a nice slow drill [two rotations usually takes most of it off, lean harder to the thick burred side, angle the bit to dig in there..etc.].
  Then the pot installs much more easily, and the nut tightens and stays tight much more easily.
  I've drilled some rotate-limiting holes, pretty easy, I use the tab to mark where about the tab should go [with pot in hole], then take a really good look at the position of the mark it left and the tab...drilling right where it goes [even if the mark is slightly off, after-sighting before drilling centers them just fine] but pulled off many more side-tabs from pots.
  Extreme cases [such as a stripped plastic threaded jack, soldered to PCB] or even possible problem pots [such as in wood panel] I like to use adhesives in amounts that tack-fill-hold...whatever teh case calls for...glues ranging from Elmers to 2part epoxies.

[HeIsAll]

thanks for all the input guys   

[DougH]

Another good idea is to use a lock washer. I'm starting to use lock washers for a lot of things now, well... not pots yet, but I'm just saying it's a good idea...

[joegagan]

yeah, the metal on the bushing of the alpha pots is low quality, care must be taken when tightening. after a while you get a feel for how far you can go with each type of metal and thread quality.
the alphas also have shallow threading in my view.

oh, and their nuts kinda suck too.

compared to the 50s 60s 70s american spec stuff anyway.

[HeIsAll]

yeah, the metal on the bushing of the alpha pots is low quality, care must be taken when tightening. after a while you get a feel for how far you can go with each type of metal and thread quality.
the alphas also have shallow threading in my view.

oh, and their nuts kinda suck too.

compared to the 50s 60s 70s american spec stuff anyway.

Yep - they seem very soft even before you put much pressure while tightening.

[petemoore]

  especially when the pull isn't square on the threads..that can 'wrankle over threads, N/P.
  Have had luck with epoxy-ing damaged threads, potbody and enclosure hole, using 'mostly stripped nuts' to hold as tight as it could while the glue dries...tape-off, careful with the glue-dob amounts.
 

[tranceracer]

I know most people just cut them off but I always drill a small hole off to the side for the locking tab.  After installing the pot I tighten it down using a correct sized nutdriver.  This has reduced thread-stripping quite a bit.

I like to leave the tabs on the pots too but cut the tabs in half so I dont have drill so far into the case to keep the pot assembly from spinning. 

-bK

[Dragonfly]

oh, and their nuts kinda suck too.

[Dave Simpson]

I use a nut driver and a little drop of Loctite when tightening the nut. The Loctite keeps it from coming loose. Just don't use the blue Loctite or you'll never get it apart.

[arawn]

The blue loctite is Fine I use it all the time, It's the red you never ever want to use. It is permanent and intended for fasteners that are to never be removed. The blu is medium strength and will come loose!!

[cpnyc23]

I've found that  I really only have problems when I use rotary switches.  If I turn the switch and think it has one more 'click' to go but I am actually at the end of its travel, I've loosened a few, causing some wiring issues.

But when it comes to regular pots, I just don't apply enough force when turning the knob to move the pot inside the enclosure.

-chris

[Derringer]

I just grab the appropriate sized socket for the nut, hold the back of the pot with my hand, and tighten the socket with my fingers.  It gives plenty of mechanical advantage just using your fingers, no need for the socket wrench.

I leave the tabs off and only need to re-tighten once in a blue moon.

[davent]

I too cut the tab off but use an internal-toothed lock washer inside and then a nut driver to tighten. Also use internal-toothed lock washers on the in/out jacks (inside the enclosure) , makes it real easy to tighten them down as the teeth bite into the pot or jack and bite into the enclosure so nothing spins as you tighten. Also ensures good continuity between the parts.

dave

[studiostud]

Dunno if someone said this already, but I sometimes use a little hot glue.  This has worked for both pots and I/O jacks.  Just get em tight what a correct sized socket and then squirt just a dab of hot glue on the inside seal to keep it from jarring loose in the future.  works every time. 

[petemoore]

  I have a long schpeel about 'trusting the wedge'.
  At some point in time and tension, you must trust the wedge.
  It keeps your engine running and the wheels on your car.
  Some wedges are better than others.
  Old pots I have that are made of brass have like 1/4 the slop in the threads, and the threads themselves are about 8 times harder.