Volume pot in enclosure

[themainevent]

Hey guys, sorry if this is a stupid question but I have something on my mind that is nagging me. I'm about to start building a lot of pedals, but I've run into a small problem with volume pots. What is the notch on the volume pots supposed to be used for? It seems like it's used to keep the pot from moving, but there's no way I'd want to drill a hole just for the notch. Am I missing something here?


Pic for those who need them (notch on the left):

[Akridosity]

Most of us just cut it off. It cuts right off with a pair of pliers

[BAARON]

Some people DO drill a small hole in the enclosure for that tab to slide into, to prevent it from rotating and breaking wires off if the knob starts getting a little bit loose.  See: all of ElectroHarmonix's tube pedals.  They have holes for the locating pins.  It's a pretty good idea, but it'll show if you don't use knobs that are at least 3/4" (19mm) in diameter.  Again, see EHX's tube pedals.

[nbabmf]

I've drilled holes for those pins, but recently I've been clipping them.  Sure beats measuring!

[themainevent]

How do you keep the pots stationary in the enclosure if you clip the notch?

[Cliff Schecht]

How do you keep the pots stationary in the enclosure if you clip the notch?

Lock washers.

I don't clip off the little tabs with cutters, I rip them off with a pair of pliers. They always seem to come off nice and flush this way.

[effectsbay]

How do you keep the pots stationary in the enclosure if you clip the notch?

Lock washers.

I don't clip off the little tabs with cutters, I rip them off with a pair of pliers. They always seem to come off nice and flush this way.

Is there a specific type of lock washer you like to use?

Thanks!
hank

[jacobyjd]

I don't even bother with lock washers--it's pot metal on aluminum--no slipping there.

[John Lyons]

3/8" internal tooth lock washer.
A littlersmaller if you can find em.
Gotta have em!
Makes the knob sit low on the box and
your pots are much more solidly seated.

Use 5/16" on the Jacks.

[mth5044]

I clip the little post guy off with a pliers and I throw away that little nuisance of a teeth'd circle that comes around the shaft of the pot 

[Steve Mavronis]

You don't really have to 'clip' it off. Rather if you grab the tab with the pliers and go to bend it outward it will snap clean off. At least that's what happened when I did mine. Besides a lock washer for inside the box, also add a little flat washer over top of the shaft's hex nut outside the box so your knob rests on the washer and not the nut. When I tried rotating a knob without this little extra washer the plastic molding would catch on the hex nut underneath. Otherwise you may have to stick a couple guitar picks under the knob to raise it up as you tighten it to the shaft, if it uses a set screw.