Hoffman Turret Board with Black G10

[EL34]

How do you like the first black Hoffman Turret board?

I now stock black on this page
http://hoffmanamps.com/MyStore/catalog/parts12.htm

It is non conductive G10 for those that are afraid of it 

[labb]

Been some issues with black boards  being conductive. Might want to check.

[HotBluePlates]

It takes decades of humidity for black fiberboards to become conductive. It should take many more decades for a black glass/epoxy board to become conductive (if it ever happens).

[tubenit]

My understanding is Doug has already checked out the "conductivity issue" on the black board and there is reportedly no concern with these boards. 

I think the black boards look really great!  Populated they'd look even better.  The black contrast with caps, resistors, etc... should look pretty cool!

With respect, Tubenit

[Mike_J]

I like the look and will be ordering some soon.

As a side note, years ago I bought the metal tool with the holes in it from your store that I use all the time to space my layouts.  I routinely use 1/8" eyelets in addition to the turrets and haven't had any trouble with the spacing.  I think I read recently that you only recommend that spacing for the turrets.  Am I correct in that?  Glad I bought one before you quit selling them.  Very good tool to have for amp building.

Thanks
Mike

[DummyLoad]

apparently some of the G10/FR4 is treated to be anti-static and therefore semi-conductive, however, not all black G10/FR4 is anti-static treated.


--pete

[kagliostro]

Cool Board   


K

[EL34]

I like the look and will be ordering some soon.

As a side note, years ago I bought the metal tool with the holes in it from your store that I use all the time to space my layouts.  I routinely use 1/8" eyelets in addition to the turrets and haven't had any trouble with the spacing.  I think I read recently that you only recommend that spacing for the turrets.  Am I correct in that?  Glad I bought one before you quit selling them.  Very good tool to have for amp building.

Thanks
Mike

I think you are talking about the 1/4 inch thick aluminum drilling template.

Nothing has changed, I still use that same spacing on my CNC machine
As long as the eyelet rims are not too close to each other, it should work just fine for eyelet spacing

[EL34]

apparently some of the G10/FR4 is treated to be anti-static and therefore semi-conductive, however, not all black G10/FR4 is anti-static treated.
--pete

This board is not conductive
Fender type fiber board is way more conductive than this G10

When I get time, I'll take a scrap of the black board and hook it up to 400+ VDC and see if I can get a reading to another lug next door

I get zero reading with the test leads 2mm apart using a meter checking for resistance

[SILVERGUN]

I'm the guy that started the conductive black board scare of 2013.
When I first started doing amps I bought 6 of these boards (pictured) from AES because I liked the "universal" punched board idea, and I liked the look of the black board.
Luckily, I found the conductive board on my first build and sent the other 5 boards back. It pissed me off as much as anything I have ever experienced because of the amount of time that I had spent trying to achieve a super clean board look, with nicely bent components and all of that rigmarole.
When I completed the amp I found that I had DC on one of my pots,,,and after a short diagnosis (and coupling cap replacement), I disconnected everything form the suspect turret and I almost broke my hand on my workbench when I measured 100VDC from a turret to ground with the turret touching nothing but the board. I am 1000% sure of what I experienced and even brought over one of our repair techs to confirm I hadn't lost all of my marbles.

I kept a piece of the board material to compare it to black G-10, and it is not the same material. The stuff from AES just feels cheaper, and does not have the high quality appearance of true Garolite.

Since that time I have bought a sheet of G-11, and I've been using black G-10 from one of Doug's competitors. 

I am thrilled to see Doug now carrying the black G-10, and will be ordering my next piece from him in the very near future.
 

This is the crap board that I had to warn my fellow forum members against using:

[EL34]

Excellent report

I think the black board I did today looks great

It goes with both my black fully carbon bikes

[labb]

The boards that I was thinking about did come from CE. I am sure Doug's are fine. Take a look at this video--This was a CE board.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-c3nTyobds&feature=youtu.be

[EL34]

Good video


I am not sure why CE is selling these boards?


Do they still sell them?

[labb]

The guy that posted that said he contacted them and returned the boards he had. They replaced them and took the black ones that they had out of stock.

[HotBluePlates]

I am not sure why CE is selling these boards?

Do they still sell them?

Yes, they do. They claim it is glass/epoxy, so no idea if it is still the same stuff SG had a problem with. Regardless, seems not all boards are made equal. 

[DummyLoad]

Good video


I am not sure why CE is selling these boards?


Do they still sell them?

perhaps someone mistakenly spec'd the anti-static treated material.

[EL34]

Hoffman 5F6A Black Bassman


I don't know if I can ever go back to plain old Natural after seeing the black with lugs installed

[tubenit]

That looks really sharp!

With respect, Tubenit

[EL34]

Thanks Jeff