Stuff you wanted to know but were afraid to ask

[bluedmc777]

Question…do any of you use the cheap pre-wired leds of Amazon? I see a lot of build that appear so. Seems to me something like that would be a descent time saver and you don’t have to keep up with as many parts since most of them already have the bezel included.

 

[bluedmc777]

@owlexifry Here’s a snapshot of what I’ve been using. It currently out of stock so I don’t see all the details. I went with it based on recommendation. I don’t build near as much as you guys so I don’t really need a pound but I’m willing to try anything better.

 

[owlexifry]

Question…do any of you use the cheap pre-wired leds of Amazon?

nah. i get most of my stuff from tayda.

@owlexifry Here’s a snapshot of what I’ve been using. It currently out of stock so I don’t see all the details. I went with it based on recommendation.

im sure there's nothing wrong at all with this.

don’t really need a pound but I’m willing to try anything better.

i didn't need a pound either. not sure about sourcing smaller quantities, but i can certainly vouch for the chipquik 'no clean'/water soluble option that ive linked earlier.

 

[bluedmc777]

@owlexifry Do you buy leds already installed on the wires or just do it the standard way?

 

[Aentons]

@owlexifry Do you buy leds already installed on the wires or just do it the standard way?

I've never seen whatever you are talking about. Do you have an example?

 

[jessenator]

I've never seen whatever you are talking about. Do you have an example?

https://www.amplifiedparts.com/products/led-bezel-cup-shape-prewired-red-led

https://www.amazon.com/Ltvystore-Prewired-Colors-Emitting-Diodes/dp/B0B2L89W9C

Haven't gotten them but once... I think from amplified parts? I'm on a LED-on-switch-PCB kick.

edit: it was this one: https://www.amplifiedparts.com/products/led-bezel-low-profile-prewired-diffused-black-metal

 

[Feral Feline]

Amplified Parts website hasn't worked for me for the better part, if not all, of 2025 — so I can't see the links.
I'm on a 3-year-old Mac Powerbook, software is up-to-date and AP's web pages just show up blank.
It was suggested by AP that the problem is at my end; maybe so, but I don't have ANY problems with any other website.
I used to enjoy buying stuff from AP — from transistors to transformers ... maybe down the road again once they sort out the freq'n website.


To the point of the preceding LED-post(s)...

I get LEDs of different colours and types and sizes to suit the project's aesthetics. Sometimes they're mounted on the 3PDT board, sometimes on the PCB (which I hate), most of the time they're offboard wired for ease of installation and to put them where they'll integrate with the planned graphics for the pedal that I never seem to get to. (2026 goal = get some kind of graphics going on builds, any kind of decor will do.)

 

[Diynot]

Tariffs are applied at source? I only see it when shipping to the USA.

View attachment 108558

This was happening before the tariffs went into effect and only appeared in the PayPal app

 

[jessenator]

Since there's continuity, is there any reason other than tradition to solder the pickup wires to the pots instead of the extra lug (red) on the switch chassis? I suppose the metal on the pot is thinner, easier to solder to…

 

[tegendemuur]

Anyone ever tried a halftone design with water slide? Going to have to print it via an online service, as I need white for lettering.... Just curious if there's anyone who tried this, and if it comes with any problems I need to look out for? It's going to be quite a bitch to turn this into vector, I am afraid. The red will be transparant. It's just here to show the result for when the otherwise black decal gets set onto a painted pedal.

 

[Hal Harvey]

Anyone ever tried a halftone design with water slide? Going to have to print it via an online service, as I need white for lettering.... Just curious if there's anyone who tried this, and if it comes with any problems I need to look out for? It's going to be quite a bitch to turn this into vector, I am afraid. The red will be transparant. It's just here to show the result for when the otherwise black decal gets set onto a painted pedal.

View attachment 109390

I've done halftone styles with film free.

 

[tegendemuur]

I've done halftone styles with film free.

View attachment 109391

Oh, that's an unexpectedly awesome recommendation! Especially since it asks for a laser printer. And I got a black laser printer! Then it just needs a layer on top of that for the white lettering.

Edit: Or, maybe copyshops here in the city allow me to stuff my own paper in the machine...

 

[LukeFRC]

Anyone ever tried a halftone design with water slide? Going to have to print it via an online service, as I need white for lettering.... Just curious if there's anyone who tried this, and if it comes with any problems I need to look out for? It's going to be quite a bitch to turn this into vector, I am afraid. The red will be transparant. It's just here to show the result for when the otherwise black decal gets set onto a painted pedal.

View attachment 109390

I’ve vectorised halftone stuff on illustrator, I can’t remember but there’s maybe even a filter to do it - takes a bit of processor power mind.

 

[giovanni]

Dumb question, what’s halftone?

 

[temol]

Dumb question, what’s halftone?

It's when you set the Tone knob at noon

But it's also a printing technique that simulates grafients, continuous colors/shades of gray with small dots (of various sizes).

 

[tegendemuur]

Dumb question, what’s halftone?

Think of how images look in newspapers. That's the greyscale one. A way to produce gradient with just black. If you look closely at magazines like you might see the color halftone variation, via the four basic colors that consumer printers are loaded with.

 

[jessenator]

And then of one wanted to get more pedantic, the different inks' screens/plates are commonly oriented at different angles to help with blending. Creates those weird circle artefacts when you get in close



Really noticeable on soda vending machine front displays (not meant to be seen as close as paper goods, so the dpi is lower)

 

[tegendemuur]

And then of one wanted to get more pedantic, the different inks' screens/plates are commonly oriented at different angles to help with blending. Creates those weird circle artefacts when you get in close

View attachment 109402

Really noticeable on soda bending machine front displays (not meant to be seen as close as paper goods, so the dpi is lower)

Ah! That's where the cicles come from! I wasn't careful and ended up learning a thing today.

 

[giovanni]

That is very cool. I love halftone! I just didn’t know what it was called.