My latest Tayda and Stomp Box Parts pots have also been coated in this sticky residue. I'm not too worried about it as long as the solder tabs accept solder well.
I've used a big box step drill that goes up to 1/2" for years and many hundreds of holes. It's worked very well and the only issues have been user error. Inspecting it, it's got a decent amount of aluminum stuck to it, but it keeps on cutting like a champ.
I bought a Harbor Freight larger set...
I've used blue 3PDT switches from a few different sources a long time ago and couldn't feel or see any difference between any of them.
Now there are a bunch of choices and I'll probably go with ones that aren't the cheapest but not the most expensive either next time I order.
Question: Do more...
It can be maddening for sure! I remember making a small batch of pedals and a handful of them just didn't work right. Facing the daunting task of retracing my steps and checking all those connections was a challenge.
Here's a few silly things I've done to screw up pedal projects:
Wiring input...
Learning stripboard/Veroboard opened up a TON of new circuits for me. No more using legs from resistors and capacitors to act as traces. Just make sure you have your orientation correct and make all of the trace cuts and you're in business!
Here are a few tips that I use when I solder up...
How long should say a Xicon 16volt electrolytic last in a parts bin, not subjected to any temperature or humidity extremes? I know that electrolytics crap out in amplifiers after decades through watching repair videos on youtube, but hadn't given a thought to my own parts stash.
I struggled with an 8-pin socket while soldering it onto the pcb. I had taped it flush (or so I thought) and it slipped and ended up crooked. Try as I might, I couldn't get all 8 legs hot enough to keep the solder in a liquid state and I just gave up and decided to live with it. I always use...
Love your pedal artwork! Brings me back to my youth and my brother's GI Joe collection.
I've got this one soldered up and just have to box it. I have high hopes for it.
I've used small alligator clips on diodes in the past when my soldering skills were pretty sub-par.
Now I'm better at getting the heat to the necessary spots quick and efficiently and don't use them.
The layout posted above looks very do-able and I've got a few extra enclosures laying around...
I'm planning on building a JHS Little Black Buffer clone or possibly a dual one to put near the front and also at the end of my signal chain so I guess I'll be covered.
As people build these, I'd...
So I'm building a handful of pedals with the end result being a grab-and-go pedalboard for jam sessions with friends. I intend on these pedals (or something similar):
Fuzz (not certain which one)->Diamond Compressor clone->Neutron Envelope Filter->Hotcake clone->Blackstone Mosfet Overdrive...