Twin Face Silicon/Germanium Fuzz

[Roanacho]

Silicon/Germanium fuzz

I had bought some russian transistors a decade or so ago, but hadn’t really had much success building a Fuzz Face style pedal until now. I had previously only built this style fuzz on breadboard and wasn’t happy with the results and never boxed one up. Both sides clean up well with the volume control.
It’s not quite finished, I have to install an LED. Again, like my other builds, I am copying the Fairfield style enclosure. I can’t do it exactly like theirs, but I think this came out really nice. It’s really just the easiest way for me to put labels on my pedals and I really like the simplicity of it.

For this one, I oxidized my enclosure to darken it so that I could use a white paint for the lettering. After oxidizing, I polished it with steel wool. It looks better in person than it’s coming across in the photo’s. I might look into some other patina’s for aluminum to see what they have to offer since the aesthetic of this style is pretty plain.

 

[jcpst]

I like the way it looks!

But you know this means people will bug you for gut shots!

 

[owlexifry]

looks great. love that lettering.
+1 submitted gut shot request

 

[swelchy]

no guts.. NO GLORY!.. let's see'um!

 

[Roanacho]

I like the way it looks!

But you know this means people will bug you for gut shots.

no guts.. NO GLORY!.. let's see'um!

 

[Roanacho]

I’ll upload a picture of the guts as soon as I install the LED. I think I’ll have to use a different breakout board to put the LED where I want it.

 

[Joli65]

Nice, what did you use to oxidize the enclosure?

 

[Roanacho]

Nice, what did you use to oxidize the enclosure?

I used Sodium carbonate, sodium carbonate peroxide. In other words Oxiclean. I think you can use a product sold for washing brewery equipment too called Five Star PBW but Oxiclean is easy to find. I stumbled upon a store online called sculpture depot and there are a few things there I’m interested in trying to see what they’ll do to an aluminum enclosure.

 

[Joli65]

I used Sodium carbonate, sodium carbonate peroxide. In other words Oxiclean. I think you can use a product sold for washing brewery equipment too called Five Star PBW but Oxiclean is easy to find. I stumbled upon a store online called sculpture depot and there are a few things there I’m interested in trying to see what they’ll do to an aluminum enclosure.

Nice, I had considered fun blue but man does it stink for a while. May have to give this a try.

 

[swelchy]

I’ll upload a picture of the guts as soon as I install the LED. I think I’ll have to use a different breakout board to put the LED where I want it.

Just note you can just run wires from the LED spot on the PCB and drill/install the led anywhere you want… Just keep the wires clean! the 4k7 resistor on the PCB is for the led.. as long as that is populated you don’t need another breakout board for that..

 

[ThatDude]

For this one, I oxidized my enclosure to darken it so that I could use a white paint for the lettering. After oxidizing, I polished it with steel wool. It looks better in person than it’s coming across in the photo’s. I might look into some other patina’s for aluminum to see what they have to offer since the aesthetic of this style is pretty plain.

Cool build! I really like the aesthetic you got here. It is super clean. Can you tell more about the process you used to oxidize the enclosure?

 

[Roanacho]

Just note you can just run wires from the LED spot on the PCB and drill/install the led anywhere you want… Just keep the wires clean! the 4k7 resistor on the PCB is for the led.. as long as that is populated you don’t need another breakout board for that..

Thank you, I know I can run it from the board, I was wanting to reduce the distance from where its soldered to where it will end up on the pedal. I have a few breakout boards and was thinking of using one for the led to lessen the distance.

 

[Roanacho]

Cool build! I really like the aesthetic you got here. It is super clean. Can you tell more about the process you used to oxidize the enclosure?

It was simple. I filled a container large and deep enough to fully submerge the enclosure with water (maybe warm to help dissolve the Oxiclean). Then added the Oxiclean, a decent amount to where it was bubbling and visibly active in the water. With the enclosure pictured in the build report the reaction was almost immediate. I imagine experimenting with the ratio of Oxiclean to water may help to get the result you want. I did a second enclosure that didn’t react as quickly and darkened more gradually. I think I used less of the detergent.

 

[Roanacho]

Nice, I had considered fun blue but man does it stink for a while. May have to give this a try.

This works really well and doesn’t seem like you’re using harsh chemicals.

 

[Joli65]

This works really well and doesn’t seem like you’re using harsh chemicals.

Thanks a lot man.

 

[Roanacho]

Gut shot and final photo of finished build with LED. I can’t believe how good this enclosure looks in person, I’m really happy with how it turned out.

 

[CheapSuitG]

Gut shot and final photo of finished build with LED. I can’t believe how good this enclosure looks in person, I’m really happy with how it turned out.

Pics look great! Ordered some Oxy Clean from Amazon, should be here tomorrow!

 

[Roanacho]

Pics look great! Ordered some Oxy Clean from Amazon, should be here tomorrow.

Good luck! Hope you get results you’re happy with.