Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: labb on July 06, 2019, 08:26:37 am

Title: 6V6 Plexi build
Post by: labb on July 06, 2019, 08:26:37 am
Just place parts orders for a 6V6 Plexi build...Cost in case anyone is interested....I split the orders with part going to Tube Depot and part to Mouser. Totals are less the Power Transformer,the chassis,  the eyelet board (which I build myself)  and the Cab or any speakers. $315.86. Throw the PT and the chassis in and you are probably looking at about $420 for parts for this build.    Guess I am committed to the build now.
Title: Re: 6V6 Plexi build
Post by: sluckey on July 06, 2019, 08:38:59 am
Looking forward to following your progress on this project.
Title: Re: 6V6 Plexi build
Post by: labb on July 06, 2019, 08:58:45 am
May need some hand holding before it is over..I modified your board layout to put all of the e-caps on the board in lieu of the can cap..Will be slow process. Working in the spare time that my slave driving Wife lets me have.. The resistors are coming from Mouser. They had to put the (1 watt) 100K ones on back order..Saying delivery July 25.
Title: Re: 6V6 Plexi build
Post by: sluckey on July 06, 2019, 12:15:58 pm
I didn't use any 1 watt resistors in my 6V6Plexi. Neither did Hoffman.
Title: Re: 6V6 Plexi build
Post by: labb on July 06, 2019, 12:41:51 pm
I started using 1 watt in place of 1/2 watt years ago. Don't have a good reason. Just what I do. Kinda like rabbit hunting with a .338
Title: Re: 6V6 Plexi build
Post by: purpletele on July 08, 2019, 11:38:09 pm
I started using 1 watt in place of 1/2 watt years ago. Don't have a good reason. Just what I do. Kinda like rabbit hunting with a .338

I like using the 1 watt resistors as well, I like the thicker wire on the 1 watt, it looks just a little neater for my style of work.

Title: Re: 6V6 Plexi build
Post by: tubeswell on July 08, 2019, 11:43:19 pm
... Kinda like rabbit hunting with a .338


LoL - blow them bunnies 🐰 heads off
Title: Re: 6V6 Plexi build
Post by: labb on July 14, 2019, 05:23:43 pm
Well I have made some progress on the build. All of the chassis work is done. Just a couple of mistakes. One being the IEC cut out..I really messed it up. I may cover with a plate and redo. We shall see. Waiting on order from Mouser to populate the board. I have all the hard part (to me) done. Now the fun starts.
Title: Re: 6V6 Plexi build
Post by: sluckey on July 14, 2019, 05:28:19 pm
Now that you know how to attach a pic file maybe you can work on attaching a big pic. 320x240 is like a postage stamp. Can't really see anything.   :icon_biggrin:
Title: Re: 6V6 Plexi build
Post by: labb on July 14, 2019, 05:36:46 pm
That pic is the small on my phone, it has small, medium and large...What you think, try medium or just jump to large...I don't know what the actual sizes are..I have an I-Phone..6 I think it is.
Title: Re: 6V6 Plexi build
Post by: labb on July 14, 2019, 05:51:24 pm
This is the large selection.
Title: Re: 6V6 Plexi build
Post by: PRR on July 14, 2019, 06:19:32 pm
> This is the large selection.

Thanks. If you have a "medium", that may be better.

We now know your iPhone gives:
small: 320x240
medium: ??  (maybe 700x500??)
large: 1632x1224

A modern PC monitor runs about 1900x1200 pixels. Many devices are smaller. Your large pic comes out vertical so the 1632 dimension is bigger than the height of my PC monitor, much bigger than my ChromeBook (even though it is the biggest one made).

When I do those crayon-sketches for in-line viewing I often scale to 600 or 800 pixels wide so they fit comfy. A good photo of a chassis may deserve more detail than my sketches, though.

Title: Re: 6V6 Plexi build
Post by: labb on July 14, 2019, 06:36:12 pm
Thanks. I will give medium a try next time.
Title: Re: 6V6 Plexi build
Post by: sluckey on July 14, 2019, 07:04:59 pm
The large selection is what you'll want to post when you're ready to show off your work. Also really helpful if you get into trouble and need some more eyes to try to spot a hiding gremlin.
Title: Re: 6V6 Plexi build
Post by: labb on July 14, 2019, 07:28:11 pm
Thanks Sluckey. When I get this built, if it is worth looking at I will get my Wife to take the pictures. She has a Nikon D5100. She doesn't like for me to even pick it up to move it.
Title: Re: 6V6 Plexi build
Post by: sluckey on July 14, 2019, 07:30:28 pm
Smart woman. Rosin is hard to clean off a nice lens.    :l2:
Title: Re: 6V6 Plexi build
Post by: labb on July 15, 2019, 10:15:47 pm
I wired up the heaters today. I have always used 20 ga. solid core wire on my amps. Decided to go the stranded route on this one. Now I remember why I have always used solid wire..Started out going to use 18 ga. stranded all the way. The two 6V6's were no problem. The 12ax7's were impossible for me. Ended up going to 20 ga. stranded on them. That was not so bad but I would say that it took me twice as long as normal with solid wire..What happens when you stray from what you know. Good news is that my Mouser order has shipped..
Title: Re: 6V6 Plexi build
Post by: labb on July 16, 2019, 08:22:38 pm
order from Mouser came in so I got the board populated...Am using ultra fast 5408 diodes for the rectifier. they have large leads. May have to do something with them. They are large for the eyelets. Pic is medium size from my phone.
Title: Re: 6V6 Plexi build
Post by: newguitarsmell on July 17, 2019, 01:37:23 pm
Looking good. I got so frustrated making mine work I pulled it all apart to start over. I will follow your build!
Title: Re: 6V6 Plexi build
Post by: labb on July 19, 2019, 04:36:26 pm
I know that most of you have really nice shops to work out of..Just thought I would show you what use poor folks have...You have heard of shade tree mechanics, well say hello to a shade tree amp builder.
Title: Re: 6V6 Plexi build
Post by: Tony Bones on July 20, 2019, 10:47:27 am
Looks like a pleasant place to work. I've brought a soldering station out to the back porch lots of times during the summer. Pro tip: wear pants for protection.
Title: Re: 6V6 Plexi build
Post by: Ritchie200 on July 20, 2019, 04:57:43 pm
Pro tip: wear pants for protection.

 :l2:

Jim
Title: Re: 6V6 Plexi build
Post by: labb on July 24, 2019, 12:11:46 pm
The trials and tribulations of part time amp builders..Ready to fire this baby up. Got out my speaker, cables, light bulb limiter and hooked it all up. Threw the power switch to on and the light bulb did nothing. Check for voltage at the power switch. No voltage. Dang, forgot to put in the fuse. Went and got a fuse and started to put it in. Heck. No cap for the fuse holder. Lost somewhere. Had to order another. $3 buck part. $7.50 to ship. Wife laughing at me...I don't think it is funny.
Title: Re: 6V6 Plexi build
Post by: shooter on July 24, 2019, 03:16:59 pm
Quote
Lost somewhere
the bright side, you have a spare now  :icon_biggrin:
Title: Re: 6V6 Plexi build complete
Post by: labb on July 26, 2019, 06:52:06 pm
Fired the amp up today. Only issue was phase of the plate leads. Had to swap them, then off to the races...This is a good amp. I tried to compare it to a 18 watt Superlite TMB (thank you Zaphod Phill) but if is a different animal..Pic to follow I hope.
Title: Re: 6V6 Plexi build
Post by: sluckey on July 26, 2019, 06:57:14 pm
That's just plum purtie!   :thumbsup: