Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: 3choplex on January 03, 2011, 07:14:55 pm

Title: Cheap turret board construction
Post by: 3choplex on January 03, 2011, 07:14:55 pm
I've been thinking about using a turret board for the project I'm working on. I was wondering if there was any reason not to just use little bolts through PCB material as the turrets--with the nut on the top of the board? I'm wondering why I haven't seen people do this--the only down side I can see is the nut.
Title: Re: Cheap turret board construction
Post by: Willabe on January 03, 2011, 07:56:40 pm
A single turret/eyelet costs what, $.02, $.04  depending on how many you buy, and you need to buy what for each new build, 20, 40, 60, so why not buy at least 100 to 200 at a time?  Now add up what it will take to use a bolt with a wing nut, to make the same connection. It's not only the problem of trying to hold the "connection" in place , but also holding the bolt in place to the board. It will take  -- more -- parts and will not be as solid connection wise,   The turret/eyelet schem is time proven, 40/50 + years,  and has, still worked out well.

So all and all, it does'nt pay off in the end, by far, which is why we have this "standard" type of constrution of build.    

IMHO, it's good that you'r thinking about different ways of doing things, keep doing that IMHO.

Also, I think what you'r suggesting might just make a very good proto. board! for working out new builds. Just my $.02.

Doug has time/build proven pre drilled boards, pluse the eyelets/turrets, and the "setting" tools at a very good $$$ to make your own.

If you don't want to make your own board, Doug has board builders listed in his store, that he approves and works with.

If you need more info on "tag/turret/eyelet" boards look in Doug's tube amp library. Lots of very good info there, on many things tube amp !!!!


      Hope this helps you,      Brad           :smiley:   


            Brad        :smiley:  
Title: Re: Cheap turret board construction
Post by: Fresh_Start on January 03, 2011, 09:23:22 pm
If you want generic, pre-made turret boards, search Mouser or your favorite electronics supplier for Keystone products.

Chip
Title: Re: Cheap turret board construction
Post by: Tiny_Daddy on January 03, 2011, 10:21:27 pm
Have you tried soldering to those little bolts? Usually doesn't work so well. Long ago I built an amp using solder lugs bolted to plexiglass. I was in Puerto Rico and it was all I could get at the time. It's better to just use terminal strips.
Title: Re: Cheap turret board construction
Post by: PRR on January 04, 2011, 01:08:25 am
Copper tacks. Oak board. Pre-drill. Don't need standoffs.
Title: Re: Cheap turret board construction
Post by: stingray_65 on January 04, 2011, 02:00:44 am
Quote from: PRR on January 04, 2011, 01:08:25 am
Copper tacks. Oak board. Pre-drill. Don't need standoffs.

I've used this method for a few fixtures like my OT impedance checker. works real well except I prefer Baltic birch plywood, Oak is HARD and brass soft, I have a heavy had even with a tack hammer :angel so I bend them in oak a lot.

I'm a cobbler and scrounger by nature and I've found the cheapest way to make a good board is the way Leo did, fiber board and brass grommets.

You can find fiberboard in a lot of different places. I've bought an old suitcase from Goodwill for $3 and it was lined with the stuff. most fabric stores have brass grommets in the scrap booking section that are small enough. I recently have used Arimid gasket material I bought at a local machinery salvage store.

In general I have to say, buying some board and a couple hundred turrets from Doug is by far the best and easiest way to go.

in the grand scheme of things you can save the most money buy using salvaged tranny's. PT OT and choke usually end up being about a third of total cost. Speakers are the next big chunk and can be another third. so a Cab, chassis, tolex, faceplate, pots, hardware, caps, resistors, wire, sockets and tubes together cost the remaining third.

So if you've got some iron and a speaker your more than half way home.

THE CHEAPEST BUILD

Find an old organ. Craigs list, Goodwill, Salvation Army are the usual hunting ground. PLEASE don't dismantle  old tone wheel hammonds for parts. all else are fair game in my book.

You'll still want to buy new filter caps and resistors for reliability.

LOL I noticed I was saying YOU a lot, I don't mean to come off like I'm ordering you around, what I mean to say is I do things this way and have had good success in building a few frugal amps.

Ray
Title: Re: Cheap turret board construction
Post by: supro66 on January 04, 2011, 09:25:32 am
Quote from: PRR on January 04, 2011, 01:08:25 am
Copper tacks. Oak board. Pre-drill. Don't need standoffs.

Getting down to brass TACKS

50 for $884.00
That is what it says :shocked:
http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=1942&familyName=Brass+Brads
Title: Re: Cheap turret board construction
Post by: FYL on January 04, 2011, 10:05:37 am
Quote
Getting down to brass TACKS

50 for $884.00
That is what it says :shocked:

Designed for king-sized builds at 14 x 3/4" ea.
 :smiley:

Title: Re: Cheap turret board construction
Post by: supro66 on January 04, 2011, 10:08:53 am
Quote from: FYL on January 04, 2011, 10:05:37 am
Quote
Getting down to brass TACKS

50 for $884.00
That is what it says :shocked:

Designed for king-sized builds at 14 x 3/4" ea.
 :smiley:



I think that guy NOAH used them on the ARK :smiley:
Title: Re: Cheap turret board construction
Post by: 67polara on January 04, 2011, 10:11:16 am
 :laugh:Bet they don't sell many of those :laugh: 

Tony
Title: Re: Cheap turret board construction
Post by: sluckey on January 04, 2011, 10:15:18 am
Quote
50 for $884.00
Ugh, that's 50 pounds, not 50 brads.
Title: Re: Cheap turret board construction
Post by: 67polara on January 04, 2011, 10:19:05 am
I used a piece of massenite for a shower wall and eyelets from the hobby shop for my first build the darn eyelet pliers cost the most out of the whole deal.  

Tony
Title: Re: Cheap turret board construction
Post by: supro66 on January 04, 2011, 11:43:16 am
Quote from: sluckey on January 04, 2011, 10:15:18 am
Quote
50 for $884.00
Ugh, that's 50 pounds, not 50 brads.

That is $17.68 a pound

Not as high as Kobe Beef
Title: Re: Cheap turret board construction
Post by: 3choplex on January 04, 2011, 02:10:15 pm
Thanks for the replies. I'll probably just go for turrets or eyelets. First I need to figure out my layout.
Title: Re: Cheap turret board construction
Post by: EL34 on January 04, 2011, 06:04:38 pm
Turret are not .02 each.
At least, not the ones I have made for my customers.

Eyelets are cheap because they are just a thin piece of flat material pressed into a cylinder shape.
(or however it is they make an eyelet)
Have to wait for the How's it made episode so I know for sure

Turrets are made on a screw machine.
Turned down from a piece of solid brass
Then they are sent off to be plated
So that's why turrets cost a bunch more to make than an eyelet.

If you are going to try and go cheap, use something you can solder to, like brass, or copper.
Nuts and bolts are not what you want, unless they are brass nuts and bolts.
Title: Re: Cheap turret board construction
Post by: Willabe on January 04, 2011, 06:28:18 pm
Yes, I was wrong on the $$$. I should have looked in your store first.      :rolleyes:

Got to keep up with the world, it seems to turn faster than I do.      :laugh:


    Brad       :smiley:
Title: Re: Cheap turret board construction
Post by: 67polara on January 04, 2011, 07:45:03 pm
Just buy your parts from Mr. Hoffman here and the board will out live us all.

Tony
Title: Re: Cheap turret board construction
Post by: PRR on January 04, 2011, 07:58:29 pm
Well, Jim's Hardware used to have copper "boat tacks". Of course Jim went out of business when Home Despot came to town.

HD's website is stupid. I tried "copper tacks" and got only light switch plates. "copper nails" gets a few odd things. There may be more stuff in the store.

(http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/300/5d/5d3f13e8-b36a-4175-8a6a-d95f0698a5b4_300.jpg)
#17 x 3/4 in. Weather Strip Nails, Copper
Store SKU # 608851         
$1.61/EA-Each
Copper
17 Pieces
Item Package Type : Bag
Item Weight : 0.11025 lb
Product Weight (lb.) : 0.0688
10 cents each

(http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/300/c8/c8e3caff-b517-4d02-86cf-e0a002d2c1ea_300.jpg)
Shanko Copper Finish Cone Head Nails 1 lb. Size .135 in. H x .008 W x 1.25 in. L (490 ct. per box)
Internet # 202106101         
$79.93/EA-Each
16 cents each

Bring a magnet. A LOT of "copper" stuff is copper-color. Even if copper-plate, the stuff is so thin that solder may not like it ("see" the iron through copper-pores).

OTOH......

Hoffman:
Turret lugs
$0.15 each (cheaper for 500+)

The copper nails are NOT sure to solder well without cleaning the oil and tarnish first. They need to be drilled-in for any wood worth building on. Hoffman's solderable-plated customer-tested for-the-purpose turrets seem to be a better deal, and his eyelets are cheaper when eyelet construction is appropriate.

> Cheap turret board construction

On my last build, a very-deluxe pre-loaded turret board was less than 3% the cost of the total project. And the ready-to-use and fully re-solderable features were worth every buck. I'd rather spend time with testing and tweaking than screwing loose screws and trying to solder cheap steel.

The Keystone lug-strips are very traditional alternative for build-only construction. Not THAT bad for repairs, but Leo-style build is a lot easier.
Title: Re: Cheap turret board construction
Post by: RicharD on January 04, 2011, 09:56:40 pm

(http://www.ntwiga.net/linked_to_images/Konono_No_1-Congotronics.jpg)
Makes me think of Konono No1,
a band from the Congo who've made all their instruments
(including electronics) from whatever they can get their hands on. 
Amplifiers made from car radios. 
Microphones made from car speakers and pipe.


There's some quick gear shots in this video.

Title: Re: Cheap turret board construction
Post by: kagliostro on January 05, 2011, 03:34:28 pm
Butterylicious that is really an interesting group !

About turrets and eyelets I've seen this

http://cgi.ebay.com/Terminal-Board-40Lug-Tube-Amp-2A3-300B-12AX7-6922-211-/260635853656?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item3caf1b8358

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260635855328

$ 5.00 for 40Lugs Board - $ 6.00 for 44Lugs Board

As I can see it isn't a Turret Board nor an Eyelet Board

seems to be an intermediate, looks like Turrets but are thin like eyelets

Sure Doug's Board are much much better but this are for jobs near to be "on the cheap"

Kagliostro