Question for those who test PCBs before deciding to box them

[szukalski]

This was my attempt a while back.

 

[comradehoser]

On the side of boxing vs. not boxing, my feelings do change quite a bit about pedals, and if I box things, I'm more likely to play the pedal and discover its interesting parts and good settings. This is especially true of pedals that don't shine by themselves, but work best paired with something else, like say, the Lycan Overdrive, or the Moonn 200 Sunny Sunns.

OP, just to be clear/er, I solder in everything before drilling, and I just making sure the bodies of pots and switches are flush and level with each other so there aren't differences and gaps between them and the enclosure. I broke two mini rotaries in the heterodyne receiver installing into the enclosure, and I'm pretty sure it was gaps/differentials between the switches and the pots that cracked the switch body apart.

If you pay attention to that, you should be good, then you can proceed to testing, and drilling the enclosure for the circuits you want via careful measuring, a good ruler, a step bit, and a hand drill. It's really the only thing I can think of to pay close attention to in preparation for possible boxing. I usually install the jacks and 3pdt as well, but you could do the auditorium route to save money on those as well. Disadvantage is that a lot of playing unboxed circuits with jacks and switches means usually one of the jack leads will break and need to be resoldered.

For the record, I also only install LEDs after drilling and boxing, if that.

 

[ThatDude]

On the side of boxing vs. not boxing, my feelings do change quite a bit about pedals, and if I box things, I'm more likely to play the pedal and discover its interesting parts and good settings. This is especially true of pedals that don't shine by themselves, but work best paired with something else, like say, the Lycan Overdrive, or the Moonn 200 Sunny Sunns.

OP, just to be clear/er, I solder in everything before drilling, and I just making sure the bodies of pots and switches are flush and level with each other so there aren't differences and gaps between them and the enclosure. I broke two mini rotaries in the heterodyne receiver installing into the enclosure, and I'm pretty sure it was gaps/differentials between the switches and the pots that cracked the switch body apart.

If you pay attention to that, you should be good, then you can proceed to testing, and drilling the enclosure for the circuits you want via careful measuring, a good ruler, a step bit, and a hand drill. It's really the only thing I can think of to pay close attention to in preparation for possible boxing. I usually install the jacks and 3pdt as well, but you could do the auditorium route to save money on those as well. Disadvantage is that a lot of playing unboxed circuits with jacks and switches means usually one of the jack leads will break and need to be resoldered.

For the record, I also only install LEDs after drilling and boxing, if that.

You make a good point about how feelings can change about a pedal. I guess its about balance though. Maybe not boxing everything, but giving a circuit that maybe you're not sure about a chance. In that way, maybe the argument of boxing vs. not boxing is like an analogy for life, love, and friendship? If you don't box it, you might be missing out on something that can be great... something that can really change you as a person and leave an indelible mark on you.

 

[comradehoser]

You make a good point about how feelings can change about a pedal. I guess its about balance though. Maybe not boxing everything, but giving a circuit that maybe you're not sure about a chance. In that way, maybe the argument of boxing vs. not boxing is like an analogy for life, love, and friendship? If you don't box it, you might be missing out on something that can be great... something that can really change you as a person and leave an indelible mark on you.

Wowww

 

[Erik S]

Box 'em all!

I'm in this game for the satisfaction of finishing something. Even if a pedal doesn't knock my socks off, it still feels good putting that back plate on and setting it in the drawer of finished pedals.

 

[Feral Feline]

Yeah, I'm more in the box-'em-all camp. Then if you really don't like it, you can sell it or give it away.

I hate wastage, whether it's food or PCBs. Just seems a shame to not have usable items unused.

Mind, a lot of people would say my backlog is a waste... I've clamped down on PCB buying, saVe for really interesting stuff such as the recent Deeptronic FOG and FREEZER. So, I'm making headway and getting through it.


As for Rockin'-Before-Boxin', I've employed numerous methods, cardboard templates, the Auditorium and even more often the Mini-Protoboard, also inserting symmetrical builds in their enclosure backwards with the guts outside and the pots (without knobs) on the "inside". Tack soldering or running pins and alligator clips when and where possible.

It all depends on the pedal and how involved the build is. I'm not about to stick backwards on top of its box an enormous PCB laden with knobs and switches (SuperHeterodyne Receiver, Parenthesis, War Scythe for example and for which I haven't a single one of the three mentioned. hmmmm).


Lately, more often than not, I just box it. I use "outie" power-jacks so it just means loosening nuts to get something back out of its enclosure.
Of course, LATELY, more OFTEN than not, I HAVE to take a build out for some reason or another. So, yeah, tightening/loosening a few nuts isn't a big deal — then the pots and switches and everything all line up in their enclosure when it finally (hopefully) works.

 

[pbrommer]

I’m an enthusiastic rock before boxer.

My process is similar to others here. Toggle switches I sometimes will just use a piece of bus wire and tack solder it to a default position. Otherwise I eyeball it and make sure the toggles are centered and straight, and then use the toggles to eyeball the offset for pots. For PCBs with non-mini rotary switches, like the kind that have a daughter board, those really need to be built into an enclosure or a jig of sorts.

I only box up stuff that I am into. If something doesn't turn me on right away, it stays in a card board project tray (like the kind that food cans come packed in) for a bit and I’ll come back to revisit it. Eventually if a circuit is still meh, it ends up in this box of broken dreams:

View attachment 89881

I sometimes will do a little pot and switch recovery session for the stuff I am sure I’ll never box.

My PPCB Auditorium has seen so much use I’ve thought about putting fresh terminal blocks on it

I kind of want to know what’s in there to see if it’s done so I can box it and rock it.

 

[ThatDude]

I kind of want to know what’s in there to see if it’s done so I can box it and rock it.

Maybe we should start a thread where we can exchange completed PCBs that are not boxed, and the person who gets your PCB has to do artwork and box it. That could be a fun mash up of each of our PCBs and everyone's design and aesthetic choices.

 

[spi]

I've always been committed to boxing it when I buy the PCB, but now that I have a lot of builds, fewer ones inspire me. Maybe I should consider the boxing it only if I really want it.

 

[Gordo]

I literally have hundreds of unboxed boards that are finished and working. I should really put them up for sale to see if anyone wants these. I went berserk during Covid and built everything I could get my hands on. Can you build too many overdrives and do-dads? Yes, yes you can. But I kept my sanity (well, it's open to interpretation) so it was time/money well spent.