DIY Pedal Enclosures

nahfuten

New member
What kind of enclosures do you (the ones that build your own pedals) use? I've heard people say Hammond makes good metal enclosures, but what size/quality/price are yours?
 
Re: DIY Pedal Enclosures

It depends on the build? Small Bear has a good selection of enclosures ,And he gives the dimensions.So you have to figure out yourself what's the best fit. They usually run from $8 to $15+.
 
Re: DIY Pedal Enclosures

I buy a big sheet of 22gauge sheet metal and make my own. Wayyyyy cheaper. Not quite as sturdy as those Hammonds though. Then again.. those hammond enclosures could survive the atomic bomb. If you're going to buy enclosures, I'd definately go with hammond. They're a great product, just a little overpriced in my opinion.
 
Re: DIY Pedal Enclosures

I buy the Taiwanese Hammond copies from Steve at Small Bear....These boxes are sturdy and would outlast most of us!
 
Re: DIY Pedal Enclosures

Also, take a look at Pedal Parts Plus. Kirk uses the Taiwanese cast aluminum enclosures as well, but what he does with paint is nothing short of art! I've bought two of his painted boxes so far, and I'm about to standardize my entire Pedalboard Junction line with his work. Cuts the price of a genuine Hammond down by almost half, and with the finish included.
 
Re: DIY Pedal Enclosures

STRATDELUXER97 said:
I buy the Taiwanese Hammond copies from Steve at Small Bear....These boxes are sturdy and would outlast most of us!
Exactly what I use too. I've picked up a couple Hammonds from Fry's Electronics, 1590A, 1590B and a 1590BB as well. I like the Taiwanese Hammond copies better though because they're a little deeper. It can be a PITA squeezing a circuit in to a 1590B (same size as MXR boxes like the Phase 90, Dist+, Wylde OD).
 
Re: DIY Pedal Enclosures

ErikH said:
Exactly what I use too. I've picked up a couple Hammonds from Fry's Electronics, 1590A, 1590B and a 1590BB as well. I like the Taiwanese Hammond copies better though because they're a little deeper. It can be a PITA squeezing a circuit in to a 1590B (same size as MXR boxes like the Phase 90, Dist+, Wylde OD).

I normally use the 1590 BB so I have that extra room...
 
Re: DIY Pedal Enclosures

STRATDELUXER97 said:
I normally use the 1590 BB so I have that extra room...
For bigger circuits most definitely. My one-knob thumbnail size booster builds are perfect for the Taiwanese Hammond copies. I've yet to even use the 1590BB I have although I do have a project planned for it. Just haven't had time to build it.
 
Re: DIY Pedal Enclosures

ErikH said:
For bigger circuits most definitely. My one-knob thumbnail size booster builds are perfect for the Taiwanese Hammond copies. I've yet to even use the 1590BB I have although I do have a project planned for it. Just haven't had time to build it.

I built a whole bunch of pedals awhile back and now it all came to a screeching halt! Busy doing other stuff basically. :laugh2:
 
Re: DIY Pedal Enclosures

STRATDELUXER97 said:
I built a whole bunch of pedals awhile back and now it all came to a screeching halt! Busy doing other stuff basically. :laugh2:
Yeah, me too. I pretty much have to deal with what I have for a while. No problem really. I've got parts I can mess with until I can order more.
 
Re: DIY Pedal Enclosures

ErikH said:
Yeah, me too. I pretty much have to deal with what I have for a while. No problem really. I've got parts I can mess with until I can order more.

Erik....I'd really like to build a nice sounding Dallas Range Master type booster pedal...Just haven't gotten around to it yet...
 
Re: DIY Pedal Enclosures

STRATDELUXER97 said:
Erik....I'd really like to build a nice sounding Dallas Range Master type booster pedal...Just haven't gotten around to it yet...
That is a must build. You won't be sorry. I made mine in an evening. Great circuit. The only problem I ran in to with it is RF interference. Tried the usual solutions of caps/shielded wire. It's better than it was but still there. More so at my brother-in-law's where we practice. A few pedals pick up RF there though, not just the Rangemaster. It's the area.
 
Re: DIY Pedal Enclosures

Slightly expensive way to solve RF problems in pedals: Use a groundplane. I've had a few PCB's fabricated with ground planes in them. About $40-50 with my engineering student discount :)
 
Re: DIY Pedal Enclosures

nahfuten said:
Slightly expensive way to solve RF problems in pedals: Use a groundplane. I've had a few PCB's fabricated with ground planes in them. About $40-50 with my engineering student discount :)
I perf all my stuff so that's not an option. There is a common ground plane across one side though. All ground points are tied together.
 
Re: DIY Pedal Enclosures

ErikH said:
Yes. Both the Hammond and the Taiwanese copies are aluminum.

Sometimes very small oscillation caps at the base of a transistor takes care of that RF stuff...Base or emitter,I'd have to check my notes,but I've seen these in some CryBaby wahs and I use them also...Like a 10 to 20 pf cap..
 
Re: DIY Pedal Enclosures

STRATDELUXER97 said:
Sometimes very small oscillation caps at the base of a transistor takes care of that RF stuff...Base or emitter,I'd have to check my notes,but I've seen these in some CryBaby wahs and I use them also...Like a 10 to 20 pf cap..
I need to mess with that stuff in my RM clone. Problem is, I don't have RF issues here at home but I do at my brother-in-law's so I'd need to take all my stuff there. I think the issue is more than just he pedal but in the wiring as well. There is a tower close by their house.
 
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