What part of DIY do you HATE?

[SigloOne]

The thing I hate, as a tube newbie, is deciding what to build.

I don't want to start with the most basic design and yet there is so much out there to choose from.

Do I go SE or P-P? Kit or from scratch? Refurb? Mod?

AAAAAHHHHH! (That's my brain exploding)

Finally I have come to a couple conclusions:

1) If I can get a good deal on a stereo integrated tube amp I will start there.

2) I REALLY want to build a 25WPC (or so) P-P amp sometime this year. Thinking on waiting for George at Tubelab to finish his new PCB. Go George Go!

3) Keep drooling over tube porn and second guessing my conclusions!

I am so hooked, it's like heroin or something...


--Steve

[kvk]

Not having enough $$$ and time to try playing with everything you would like to play with.

[soundbrigade]

Running out of black and red PTFE-insulated wire ...

[Psychobiker]

Got the hell in this morning and redid the chassis in the metalworks lab. SO nice to have a drill press, cone cutter, pneumatic guillotine.....

Reduces 6 hours work to 0.5 hr
L

[sbelyo]

Hate:
Chassis Layout

Scratching the chassis when you've flipped it over to start soldering

Terminal stips that don't accept solder

Soldering Rhodium plated RCA's

Forgetting to put the RCA barrel on the interconnect after you've made the best solder joint anyone has ever seen

Love:
When you're layout is done and you've drilled all the holes. Then finding out you got everything in the right place.

Firing up your first tube amp that you built and hearing good sound

Big Honkin Tubes

Contemplating taking a weeks vacation to build an amp start to finish.

My father in law shaking his head when I ask him for a 70 year old tube. Then asking for what. I usually reply with headphone amp. Then he says I have too much time on my hands.

[despotic931]

Originally posted by djQUAN
having time but no money............


then at other times, having money but no time.

This is exactly my problem my friend...

[Anglo]

Here's what I hate about DIY.

The 2 camps in which you are categorically placed by others

First camp A low budget wanna-be that the "Elite Purchaser HiFi'st" look down upon as you want what they have but just can't afford it.

Second camp The HiFi'st industry leader just will not let himself be exposed to a sound that is not represented by today's HIFI trend represented by a "serious" company. The DIYers sound couldn't possibly be "better".


I have some buddies who don't think this way, but id this "way" of thinking didn't exist I would have a lot more fun in this, at times painful, hobby. When I read posts from guys like Lynn Olson, Bud and magnetar I feel hope but these guys are far away from me. This said, in order to improve on my system, comments from guys who have good ears and who have experience with the design I enjoy would be great to interact with. Unfortunately, it isn't reality!

Just thought I'd share.

[soundbrigade]

I find it very amusing and stimulating and GRRREAT to let a project go ahead, but I find it so hard soldering the last two or three wires in place...

[Michael Koster]

Love:

The sound of a new amp playing music (undistorted) for the first time.

The look of a finished project sitting on the bench (or in the rack)

When a wacky idea actually works, and works well

My new Metcal soldering tool, Cardas QE, and paste flux

All the great tools that have arrived on the scene since I last built amps: free Spice, PSUD, cheap used scopes etc.,

The great community of designers and builders available on sites like this one to share with.

I'm sure there's more I love than hate or I wouldn't be doing this; unless it's some kind of obsession or something


Hate:

Leads all over the place and still apparently not enough leads

Shelves and shelves of components and apparently not enough components.

Punching half the holes in the chassis, then inadvertently flipping it over and punching the other half on the wrong side...

Idiots on ebay who pay $300 for a pair of old repeat coils (that would be me...) The declining dollar does not help

No 12AX7 could be worth $50 Oh, I guess I already covered that...

Having the triggering fail on your old tektronix scope in the middle of learning something useful

Spending an embarrassing sum on a couple of old hunks of iron, aluminum, and copper, shipped from China (how did all of the UTC transformers end up in Asia anyway???) and find out they got too friendly with each other in the box during the long trip to America.
Of course, the transit time is longer than the feedback window on ebay (the seller was responsive on this one though)

cheers!

[badman]

Originally posted by Michael Koster
Love:

The sound of a new amp playing music (undistorted) for the first time.

When a wacky idea actually works, and works well

Hate:

Leads all over the place and still apparently not enough leads

Shelves and shelves of components and apparently not enough components.

Good selections mate!