What’s on *YOUR* workbench?

so last time I wanted something I couldn't buy a PCB for I learned to lay it out myself in KiCad and built it - it was awsome...

So offered the rest of the PCBs to guys on a local forum for the price of postage.... awesome
Then a couple of friends wanted ones made up... well that was a pain in the arse, all the stress of making a pedal with none of the personal reward, they loved them though so there was that.

This time, PedalPCB's PCB was too big, so I tried PCB assembly, shrunk it all down, printed pretty enclosures here in the UK and decided to do a batch of 6...
So mine is finished... and again everything from there is a bit painful!
Two work great
One works ok, but. one of the switches doesn't have as strong effect as others
And two need the drill holes for the top jacks fettling...

Oh and I finished my solder, so I decided to get some lead free stuff, for the safety I guess, and a new hotter iron... but it's a whole learning curve again of pain and stupid stuff not doing what I want...

And I kinda lost interest once I had finished mine. It's awesome btw.

(and I've got 4 PCB made up with everything but pots jacks and switches , goodness knows what I'll do with them)
 
Just wrapped up this mic repair. Had a broken cable, and someone had seriously chowdered the mic mount. They stripped the threads, then drove in a self tapping sheet metal screw, snapped that off, then tried drilling it out but missed and went sideways.

I cut off that whole mess, bored it out on the lathe, and made a new threaded stub. Made the stub .001” oversized so it would slide in when the mount was hot, but stuck tight once it cooled.

The mic sounds nice, and I wouldn’t mind having one, but for what they’re going for on reverb, I think It makes more sense to sell it to someone who cares about the mojo and buy myself an sm7b.


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Just working on my first build in almost a year – a stripboard variation on the Runoffgroove Tri-Vibe. All of the wires are still super long and a rat’s nest because I wanted to make sure I like the effect before putting effort into an enclosure. So far, it’s pretty cool – I added a rate LED by tapping into pin 8 of the TL064, and I also put a second switch in to switch between a red LED and three 1N4148s in series because I think each of those two options sounds better than the other on the three effect modes. Geez, I’ve forgotten so many basic skills in my (almost) year out of the game.


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Since I liked it, I’m also now working on the enclosure.

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Mike
 
As anyone who's ordered something online knows, every vendor wants you to subscribe to their mailing list for news, special offers, etc. I hate that, as it's always opt-out. Half the vendors hide the opt-out button in a tiny font in an awkward place, and the other half ignore your opt-out selection anyway.

But I make a few exceptions, one of which is for Love My Switches. Even if I'm not interested in any parts, I always find the emails amusing.

I'm also signed up for LMS's limited-run powder coat enclosure announcements. This month it's Party in Pink. At first, I wasn't really interested, and I showed it to my wife, jokingly asking, "Should I make myself a sparkly pink pedal?"

And without missing a beat she said, "Yeah, you can put a taco on it!"

I'm waiting on some PCBs from JLCPCB, and once I get those... keep your eyes peeled for a pink taco build report!

Edit: this wasn't the original plan, but upon further thought, I feel a Big Muff clone might be the best circuit to put in the pink taco enclosure...
 
Hopefully it all works when assembled…
technically on a bench now.
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Eventually (soon) I want to mount this permanently. This parts washer I was gifted about a decade ago is irreparable (by me), and I don't wrench intensely enough these days to necessitate one, so repurpose time. Planning on mounting through the pan, plywood on either side, maybe dampened with some linoleum scrap. Makes a perfect shavings catcher (at least in the test drilling I did last night.

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Works great. Also helps having decent bits.
 
It just now occurred to me that I might want to thoroughly clean out the dregs of that washer, since it's likely a concentration of rust particles…

I don't think my homeowners policy covers thermite disasters.
 
Shavings collector, brilliant.

Metal shavings scare me beyond belief, know a metal fabricator that lost an eye from one. I vacuum my table, the garage floor, all my clothes, shoes, everything. Having a collector would really help the clean up.



technically on a bench now.
View attachment 91357

Eventually (soon) I want to mount this permanently. This parts washer I was gifted about a decade ago is irreparable (by me), and I don't wrench intensely enough these days to necessitate one, so repurpose time. Planning on mounting through the pan, plywood on either side, maybe dampened with some linoleum scrap. Makes a perfect shavings catcher (at least in the test drilling I did last night.

View attachment 91358

Works great. Also helps having decent bits.
 
technically on a bench now.
View attachment 91357

Eventually (soon) I want to mount this permanently. This parts washer I was gifted about a decade ago is irreparable (by me), and I don't wrench intensely enough these days to necessitate one, so repurpose time. Planning on mounting through the pan, plywood on either side, maybe dampened with some linoleum scrap. Makes a perfect shavings catcher (at least in the test drilling I did last night.

View attachment 91358

Works great. Also helps having decent bits.
I like that and will probably steal the idea :D Cleanup after drilling enclosures always sucks.
 
You guys clean up after drilling?
Oww. What's stuck in my toe?
I have a shop vac next to the grizzly drill press. I cleanup just to keep the dogs from testing to see if it's edible..... Especially if I've been drilling G10 for a circuit board. I use a fan behind and slightly to the side me to blow the toxic fumes away, AND I wear a acid vapor approved mask. Nasty nasty stuff....

I do have it permanently attached to the floor with 1/2" studs in the cement, since it's about 6' tall. Pain in the BUTT to get those straight with a hammer drill, but I managed to do it without having to ream out the holes in the base!
 
It just now occurred to me that I might want to thoroughly clean out the dregs of that washer, since it's likely a concentration of rust particles…

I don't think my homeowners policy covers thermite disasters.

Yes, clean and tidy! — lest Empire troops accuse you of smuggling contraband from black-market begot Merr-Sonn Munitions Inc's thermite to manufacture thermal-detonators.

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Twas my favourite weapon playing Dark Forces.
 
Twas my favourite weapon playing Dark Forces.
now I want to play Dark Forces... Except for the phrik mining planet level. Cool fog effect, wretched level. Those freakin phase-1 dark troopers (Terminator T-800s via MK II Baraka) will h*ck up your day quicker than almost anything apart from those kell dragons Jabba kept as pets.

edit: no, Jabba's Ship was far worse...
 
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