Use Lock Washers For Jacks?

[Steve Mavronis]

I bought some 3/8" lock washers for the jacks in the pedals I'm building. I read someone here saying that would be good for a better ground connection to the inside of the enclosure. Does this make sense to do as standard practice or is it unnecessary to bother?

[Ronsonic]

It's good practice, especially if the jack has a grounded sleeve. It does help keep them from loosening.

[MikeH]

At some point (if not multiple points) the jacks on a pedal come loose.  Using a lock washer, or a serrated washer, will reduce this greatly.  So if you're the sort that hates having to re tighten things, then I'd say it's worth it.

As far as the ground connection goes, I don't think it matters that much more.  In amplifiers it's really important to use locking nuts/washers on chassis-ground connections.  You don't want those coming loose.

[petemoore]

  If the ground wedge [washer or not] is to be trusted, tighten it, ok, if it stays tight.
  Otherwise run a ground wire to the jack, solder it.

[John Lyons]

I use em on every build.

[imbuedblue]

I use em on every build.

Me too. 

[ericohman]

I hate when the input jack on guitars gets loose too. It's constantly loose on my guitars, I never tighten them properly either, just give the nut a twist with my hand each time before I insert the plug. Should be a tool for tightening it properly without having to open the lid on the back...

[G. Hoffman]

Should be a tool for tightening it properly without having to open the lid on the back...

There is.

Jack the Gripper.


Personally, I can't think of any reason not to use a star washer.  They cost me 8 cents a piece (I buy them by the 100), and make things much more reliable.  The time it takes me to fix a loose jack once is worth more than the 8 cents, so why not use it?


Gabriel

[DDD]

Lock washers - very good stuff.

[Steve Mavronis]

I bought both kinds but which makes a better jack ground connection to the enclosure - 3/8" internal tooth or external tooth lock washers?

I'm thinking internal tooth is better because it grips against both the jack and the enclosure surfaces. The external tooth version only grips against the enclosure side.

[John Lyons]

Yes, internal tooth is the one you want since it grips both the box and the jack.
I use a nut driver and REALLY clamp them down.

[zombiwoof]

You're talking about star washers, right, not the split lock washers?.

Al

[Steve Mavronis]

Right, not split washers. I only use split washers with the LED bezel since it came with it but I generally don't like them.