New most terrible job ever.

[Mike_J]

I thought installing power cord strain reliefs was probably the most terrible job in the history of mankind. What kind of sadistic mad man would you have to be to assign the job to any fellow human being of installing two pairs of 18awg stranded wires to the heater pins on an eight pin socket. It is terrible beyond words. Just finished it myself and I can attest to the fact it was torture. Thank goodness it was only a pair of tubes and one of them had one pair of 20awg stranded wires coming from the preamp or my sanity may have left me.


Have attached a picture of the tubes so you can see for yourself.

[SILVERGUN]

While you're there I would strongly suggest putting a grommet in the hole I marked in the attached pic.
If those wires ever get worn through the insulation from heat, vibration, etc., you'll have high voltage on your chassis, and that's not ok

[Williamblake]

Did somebody forget a gromit? // so thats why i never find them.

[thetragichero]

18awg stranded is a lot nicer than 18awg solid core for heaters, although i generally use 20awg stranded because why make it difficult for myself?

[Mike_J]

18awg stranded is a lot nicer than 18awg solid core for heaters, although i generally use 20awg stranded because why make it difficult for myself?

You are wiser than I am but rest assured I will learn from your example.


Thanks
Mike

[Mike_J]

While you're there I would strongly suggest putting a grommet in the hole I marked in the attached pic.
If those wires ever get worn through the insulation from heat, vibration, etc., you'll have high voltage on your chassis, and that's not ok

Consider it done sir. There are other places where I will need to do the same thing.

[Mike_J]

Have grommets everywhere they are needed now. Thanks for the suggestion. Edges didn't seem sharp but given the voltages going through some of those wires an ounce of prevention is certainly better than a pound of cure.


Thanks again
Mike

[Mike_J]

Was so inspired by the calls for grommets in my chassis that I went one step farther. Rounded over holes in the board with the tools shown in the photo below. Tool on the left is a countersink made in Germany. Probably bought it and another one like it to knock off metal burrs around ten years ago. The cost was $35 each as I recall. Didn't need to buy two though because the first one is still sharp after at least ten years of use.

To the right of it is my drill master purchased new last week as I recall. It comes with 80 pieces and I have already used it for a few tasks. The latest being to round over the G10 where the hole was too large for the German countersink.

This is my second drill master. The first one met its match when the tool I was using started spinning in the shaft of the tool. Thinking this will not stand I went out and got the largest channel locks I had and started torquing. Well that silver button looking thing on the side of the drill master is what you push in lock down the tool while you are tightening it. Hear a pop and immediately realized I'm in trouble. Sure enough it broke.

Well the tool is under 90 day store warranty so no problem got the receipt from the Tupperware contained I use that is dedicated to containing the drill master and its 80 pieces and any and all receipts related thereto. People out there probably thought I was insane putting a $6.99 tool with accessories in a Tupperware contained that had to cost more than the tool. However, realizing there was no way I would be able to keep track of the receipt if I didn't have a container that would allow me to keep it with the tool.

So I take it to the store and grab another one that is right by the cash register. Get refund for the first one and purchase the second one. Guess what starts a new 90 day warranty. Now I knew the thing would never last 90 days which is why the need for the Tupperware but to find out every time it breaks I get a new one with the 80 parts and a new 90 day warranty, what a deal.

If I was a bookie I would take an over/under betting line for how many times I will need to replace this thing. I think I would set the line at 103.

[DummyLoad]

this, and this are better tools for that job.

respectfully,

--pete

[Mike_J]

this, and this are better tools for that job.

respectfully,

--pete

Thank you for the good advice regarding tools I was unfamiliar with. I am not at all opposed to spending the money for good tools. The tools you are recommending have great ratings which is important to me.


The rotary tool I go on and on about is an attempt by the Chinese to knock another good company, Dremel out of business. They obviously have targeted them because there is no way you can build a tool that inexpensively. Especially one that may need to be replaced perhaps 100 times at Chinese expense.  The only way to beat them in their game to replace American industry as I see it.


Never ever want to see another Great Falls, SC in my life.