Dr. ZEE and whoever else might have an idea...

[Beck]

The recent thread about the ART Tube MP got me thinking again about what to do with my PAIA dual tube mic pre. I built it in the stock 2-chanel rack, but I’ve never really liked it that way. I’ve always planned to split the channels up into to different units.

The plain project boxes from RS and most I’ve seen online haven’t inspired me too much, so I thought I would throw it out here to you guys on the chance you might know of some sources for project boxes with some character.

The pic below is one I’ve seen that I like, but I have know idea where to find something like that, or any other equally cool box. I just need plain boxes that I would have to drill and/or paint, etc. Any ideas?

[funkytonk]

Try Hammond MFG.
http://www.hammondmfg.com/scpg.htm


Ebay has some really generic stuff.
http://cgi.ebay.com/METAL-ELECTRONIC...QQcmdZViewItem


Or maybe check out a local audio repair/vintage audio shop to see if they have any electronic enclosures that you can salvage and make work. The one in your photo is really nice though.

[Beck]

That top one looks promising. I haven't seen it before... thanks for the link.

[Dr ZEE]

Tim, I have no clue about buying and hwere to buy boxes. Never done that
Funkytonk posted the link that looks like all you may ask for. a lot of boxes that look pretty cool. Non of them exite me personally for a second though heh heh.
That's so simply because (as I see it) making the unit's enclosue is the most important part of any diy gear project. And I like elements other than just metal. Building something totally original (just for the look of it and gaining some useless emotions over it) is important. Or is it? I guess it depends on who you ask. Otherwise, if it's not, then what's the point?
Well, you need to have some minimal basic tools, space, and a lot of patience or ability to simply enjoy the process. As I remember you are the guy who had (or has?) a fighter jet as a project. So????? I assume you've got some tools and stuff. Get some metal cuts, some wood (pine or maple or something), some stain , spray paint etc. Cut em, bend em', hummer and drill, design something.
The most pain in the neck is spray painting work. grrrrrrrrr
Well, I am not arguing here. Don't get me wrong. Just what I feel about it.
I 'd say: If build any piece of gear - the last thing I would want to do is to punish it and myself by making it look just like another 'project box'. That IS a cruel and unusual punishment
On the other hand, I can look at this from different angle. Philosophically, speaking, all this really doesn not matter. It's just a sort of a game. People like play games, though. Recording music and everything surrounding it is a game.

/respects

[Beck]

Originally Posted by Dr ZEE

Tim, I have no clue about buying and hwere to buy boxes. Never done that
Funkytonk posted the link that looks like all you may ask for. a lot of boxes that look pretty cool. Non of them exite me personally for a second though heh heh.
That's so simply because (as I see it) making the unit's enclosue is the most important part of any diy gear project. And I like elements other than just metal. Building something totally original (just for the look of it and gaining some useless emotions over it) is important. Or is it? I guess it depends on who you ask. Otherwise, if it's not, then what's the point?
Well, you need to have some minimal basic tools, space, and a lot of patience or ability to simply enjoy the process. As I remember you are the guy who had (or has?) a fighter jet as a project. So????? I assume you've got some tools and stuff. Get some metal cuts, some wood (pine or maple or something), some stain , spray paint etc. Cut em, bend em', hummer and drill, design something.
The most pain in the neck is spray painting work. grrrrrrrrr
Well, I am not arguing here. Don't get me wrong. Just what I feel about it.
I 'd say: If build any piece of gear - the last thing I would want to do is to punish it and myself by making it look just like another 'project box'. That IS a cruel and unusual punishment
On the other hand, I can look at this from different angle. Philosophically, speaking, all this really doesn not matter. It's just a sort of a game. People like play games, though. Recording music and everything surrounding it is a game.

/respects

Yeah, the F-4 Phantom jet is on the back burner for now. The Air Force doesn't even know one is missing, but I want to let it cool for a while. And with the price of jet fuel these days... well you know how it is.

I like the idea of making a project enclosure, or at least part of it. If I could get some perforated sheet metal and bend it into a hood and use part of a pre-made case for the frame I could get that old Heathkit look and see the tube glowing inside. How cool is that? A guy has to have atmosphere to make great music, ya know.

I’m going to be thinking about it for a while and looking around for ideas, so all input is welcome. I don’t have the woodworking skills of some folks around here, but I’m sure I can get by.

I could go for the 1930’s tube radio look with wood on it, or the 1950’s sci-fi Geiger counter look with metal. Oh crap! Did I just say F-4 Phantom Jet and Geiger counter in the same post? Last time my friends from the Department of Homeland Security dropped by to see how I was doing, I opened the door and told them Tim wasn’t home… and they left. They gave me a number to give to myself when I got back to call, but I never did. I don’t think they’ll fall for that one again.

[Dr ZEE]

heh heh
*************
so what's the price for those Hammond M boxes. I thought this site is a store. Where do you actually buy them?

My favorite "project box" is one of old oscilloscopes that I manage to score at eBay for ten bux ... I surf through from time to time and if I see one, I buy it. Worry what for later, sort of speak.
These models are most favorite, here are couple at eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Heathkit-Laborat...mZ190172670168
http://cgi.ebay.com/Heathkit-IO-30-O...mZ220168921060
You get nice case that made of soft type what ever luminum it is. It's easy to cut , easy to bend/drill, send and then prime and paint it. Make a box or controll panel(s), build wood sidings or the entire enclosure, what ever you can desing.
PLUS!!!!! You get bunch of goodies with it (if you need it, of course, to begin with): knobs, some switches, chassis, bunch of other stuff, and of course what ever tubes ... you never know what's inside ..heh heh (well , you do know, actually... but it's just a 'saying')
*********
a nice cut of perforated sheet is hard to find in the junk. Unless I just don't know where to look Bunch of small here and there.
Antique E Supply sell some cages, they are freaking thirty bucks or so: here: http://www.tubesandmore.com/, I never happen to buy anything from them, so have no clues.
Old computer cases are also a good source of metal to make a box, a panel or a chassis, older vcrs or bunch of other equipment etc

here are couple of enclosures i've built from some junk parts (attached).
you just cut, bend, drill and paint. That's all that is, really

/later

[Guitarer]

Nice multimeter. What kind of wood is that?

[SteveM]

Originally Posted by Beck

Yeah, the F-4 Phantom jet is on the back burner for now. The Air Force doesn't even know one is missing, but I want to let it cool for a while. And with the price of jet fuel these days... well you know how it is.

I

A military Jet?!
Those metal enclosures look cool to me.

And Mike, I like the enclosure you made for your tube tester on your website. Looks like one of the "TV" tube tester enclosures.

[Beck]

Originally Posted by Dr ZEE

here are couple of enclosures I've built from some junk parts (attached).
you just cut, bend, drill and paint. That's all that is, really

You make it sound so easy. By the way whatever those are in the pic, I'll have one of each.

Originally Posted by SteveM

A military Jet?!

And I kinda wish I had gone with the F-5E now... smaller... easier to hide, better mpg, and more stable in flight, but it was in a hanger and the F-4 was out in the middle of nowhere when the base was in the process of closing. It seemed like the better choice at the time. Live and learn, I guess.

On the plus side the F-4 shakes the ground and sounds like a tornado coming, which really helps when you don't have any guns, bombs or missiles to fire (but I'm workin' on that).

Being an 8th generation American and one of only two in my father’s line that hasn't fought in a war going back to The Revolution, I'm keeping my options open with the war on terror and all… or at least turn back a few illegals from our southern border, or somethin’. To my knowledge they haven’t tried buzzing them with fighter jets as they’re coming across the Rio Grande. My dad always said, If you want something done right, do it yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApM_f-jBlP0

Wish it was an F-16 though.

[Beck]

Here's something else I finally remembered... the old power supply boxes for some tube mics. There is something else similar I used to see around and it's right on the tip of my brain but I can't think of it. Looks something like the power supplies for old betacams.

Some hammered finish paint would make a fairly normal box look a little retro.

[Dr ZEE]

Tim, check this out
http://cgi.ebay.com/Lot-of-4-RCA-amp...mZ150181101692
plenty of perforated stuff for the whole lot of cages plus all the goodies
it shows $50 shipping to my location , gotta be heavy sh*t
or you can maybe search for some old amps to find something exotic like this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Soundmas...mZ180178548900
**********

Originally Posted by Beck

...I'll have one of each

the whole point is to make it so you don't have to mention it.
Only one of each exists.

[Dr ZEE]

Originally Posted by Guitarer

What kind of wood is that?

Not so clear pine, from the store that sais: "You can do it. We can help"

[Dr ZEE]

now, for final touch you gotta add these beauties:
http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-VU-METER...mZ300169802900
************
HP voltmeters and oscillators had similar body style as that power supply you've mentioned. They are pretty ugly, though. They are also FINE! voltmeters and oscillators, and I'd say, it's a sort of sin to destroy them for body parts

[analog aaron]

Originally Posted by SteveM

Those metal enclosures look cool to me.

And Mike, I like the enclosure you made for your tube tester on your website. Looks like one of the "TV" tube tester enclosures.

Yes Zee, You really do a fantastic job! And look at those tools in the background - all hanging up and organized. I think I'll go and clean my garage now. Keep up the good work ZEE!
Cheers!
A.A.

[analog aaron]

Man! There is a place in Orlando called "Skycraft".... Zee, you would LOVE this place! They've got just about every electronic part or gizmo you would need. I'd love to see what you could build with a $50 shopping spree to this place. Check it out!! www.skycraftsurplus.com


A.A.

[Dr ZEE]

first of all: How the project is going?
**********
second, I ran into this thing at eBay while looking for some useful junk and it looks like maybe a good "foundation" for some diy tube gear that can be rack mounted. the good thing is that the rack ears looks like can be mounted with those three screws on each side either way (front or back of the enclosure), and the front is a nice 'clear' plate (meaning no holes) and it has a perforated area which is a nice thing to have as a "windows" for hot tubes behind. And so you have the hole plate to drill the holes and place all the control knobs there and in/out if any etc... then spray paint it red, green or orange, or decorate it with diamonds or something
well, blah blah, I just wanted to share thoughts on that piece of junk
also you get some mayby useful parts of PSU (looks like one is there), some fans or what ever may be inside (not much to expect, btw, but if you are a DIYer, then you know what can be useful)
link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/CISCO-SYSTEMS-CA...mZ120202748842

**
btw, Advanced Recovery inc is a good seller of electronics junk, I 've got some good parts from them in the past, paying mostly just for shipping

[Somnium7]

I've gotten some really awesome chassis from old military test gear off of govliquidation.com. One auction I won for $63 and it filled the back of my 67' Econoline from floor to ceiling with big shock mounted rack cases filled with test equipment. I'm still using some of that gear in my workshop and I sold most of the rack cases except for what I needed for my live rig.

I scored this for $50 and it's now the chassis for my current synthesizer project.


I've stripped it down to bare metal so far and the next step is sandblasting and clear coat. Here's the original control panel...



I'm still designing the new panel and saving up to have it machined.

[Dr ZEE]

now that's a nice case of goods
Mike, thanks for reminding about govliquidation.com , I kind of forgot about that 'source', gotta look there more often.

/

[Somnium7]

Originally Posted by Dr ZEE

now that's a nice case of goods
Mike, thanks for reminding about govliquidation.com , I kind of forgot about that 'source', gotta look there more often.

/

NP
Look for the Electronic Test and Aviation Auctions on their calendar.
The Aviation ones are sealed bid so you cannot tell if you are winning but they are worth looking at for the really interesting test-sets like the one in my picture.
Once in awhile they have Musical and Photographic auctions too and I have seen some Rhodes pianos go cheap in those.

[Dr ZEE]

Yeah, well, browsing gov. liquid. is a trip, I must say. It'll be a while before if ever I may find something 'locally'.
I had to make a screen shot...
lofla-rofla-mofla
they sure know how to make you exited, don't they ....

[Somnium7]

LOL dang I gotta get me one o dem wit da quickness

I've had UPS pick up my auction winnings at DRMOs in different states. The cost wasn't too bad either.

[Somnium7]

Lookie lookie, picture 3! Nice chassis with a modular format. Looks to be 4 of them in this lot too!
http://cgi.govliquidation.com/auctio...tionId=1514299

hmmm, check out pics 4 and 5. Nice chassis for a larger project with tubes. The lot also includes the bigger brother of that modular unit above. http://cgi.govliquidation.com/auctio...tegoryId=e3181
There's actual useful gear in this lot though so it could become a bidding war.

Another modular unit and a handsome looking HP Pulse Generator chassis
http://cgi.govliquidation.com/auctio...tionId=1481345

I live about 6 miles from the Norfolk Naval Station so if anybody bids on stuff there I can retrieve it and ship it provided I get a piece of the action - like a nice chassis