Turret board and lugs question

[Speakz]

This is my first time building and wanted to double check the turret installation.  I purchased the single channel Hoffman turret board and lugs.  I read people using a hammer to install them but mine have gone in simply by pressing with my finger.  About three of them come back out pretty easily. 

Is this normal or did I order the wrong size lugs?

[Jack_Hester]

Some go in easy, and some go in with a little encouragement by tapping.  But, you must swag the other end that protrudes through the backside, so that it expands in the hole.  As well as creating a flared end. 

Go here:

http://www.el34world.com/charts/toolhowto.htm

to see how it's done.

Jack

[Speakz]

Thanks.  It makes sense to me now.  Do people generally buy the tool or is there a work around to make it flair with something at home? A nail perhaps?

[HotBluePlates]

I bought the tool, and used a bench-top drill press for leverage, as it does the job neatly & easily.

The part of the tool used to slip over the bulk of the turret body supports the turret during swaging; if you didn't use it (and pressed the turret top against some flat surface) you run a very real risk of bending/deforming the turret, which will require you to drill it out and install a new one. Ask me how I know that will happen... 

[Stankfut]

These guys are right on!

The tool is worth every penny

[tubenit]

Make sure the turrets you purchased have the same gripping depth as the board material or they won't work. It the turrets are too long or too short, they won't grip like you need.

Here is a tutorial I posted about using a turret staking tool:

http://www.el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=9800.0

With respect, Tubenit

[Speakz]

Thanks I went ahead and ordered it with some of the other parts I need. Tutorial is great, always helps to see it a couple different ways.

[billcreller]

  Turret board are the best thing that's happened for home built amps !

 

 I used loctal tubes on this one, just to be different !

[Speakz]

Good looking amp Bill!  Very Tidy  How does it sound?

Oh and random question which maybe you might know.  Did Silver Mica for Treble Caps get used in the 50's and 60's for building amps?

[HotBluePlates]

Did Silver Mica for Treble Caps get used in the 50's and 60's for building amps?

Both silvered mica and ceramic caps were common in 50's & 60's electronics for values under 1000pF. Silvered mica usually (but not always) would be considered the better-quality cap.

If you want to know if a specific model used one or the other, you'd have to ask about the particular model.

[billcreller]

HBP answered that better than I could.  I likely recognize caps from "vintage" stuff without knowing what type they might be..

And the loctal tubes seem to sound like their octal counterparts.  Couldn't really tell the difference ....