looking for metal enclosure for custom preamps

[limey222]

I consider myself pretty competent when it comes to internet searches but i have been unsuccessful in finding what I need.
My mic pres (modded from vintage tube tape amps) are mounted on the back of rack panels 3/16" thick x 7' high x 19"wide. I am looking for an enclosure that i can mod to cover the amps for saftey and cosm,etic reasons. Something like 7" high x 8-10"deep and 17" wide, I need 2 of them and I don't want to pay for custom manufacturing. I have a machine shop at my disposal so i can modify (cut openings etc if necessary. Can anyone help here, I've bee looking for days.

[dsavitsk]

http://www.hammondmfg.com/dwg22.htm

?

[tubelab.com]

I have used cabinets by a company named Par Metal. They look nice and come in a variety of sizes and finishes. Look at the 20 series.

http://www.par-metal.com/

The same guy also makes the Antek toroid transformers suitable for tube and SS amplifiers. I use them too.

http://www.toroid-transformer.com/

He also sells both on Ebay under the seller name johnango.

As stated previously you can use a Hammond chassis.

I have also used aluminum plate (and even Diamond Plate) for the top with wood or channel aluminum for the sides. The specifics are outlined in Morgan Jones book Building Valve Amplifiers.

[grhughes]

If you had more than one you could modularize them vertically in a card cage that would rack mount. These are much higher grade and more expensive than the customary ham radio box. Both Schroff's and Pentair catalog are very complicated however! But they yield a very pro look. Premier Metal Products and Par are really into steel which is hard to drill pretty without painting or plating. Ray

[kevinkr]

AFAIK the Par-Metal 20 series as well as a lot of their other products are aluminum, and not steel.

Hope you all had a happy holiday!

[tubelab.com]

All of the Par-Metal cabinets that I have purchased are indeed aluminum. The quality is excelent, and each panel (except the cover) can be removed individually so that they can be easily drilled on a drill press. I think that I remember seeing some steel stuff in the catalog though.

[limey222]

Originally posted by tubelab.com
All of the Par-Metal cabinets that I have purchased are indeed aluminum. The quality is excelent, and each panel (except the cover) can be removed individually so that they can be easily drilled on a drill press. I think that I remember seeing some steel stuff in the catalog though.

Thanks for all of the info. I'm going to go with the Par-Metal units and just replace their front panels with mine. They will be perfect for the job shielding some high voltage circuits from from foreign objects etc since the amps will be mounted in my studio racks along with existing equipment (I iwould hate to accidently drop a phone jack accidently into the midst of a tube circuit while doing some repatching if they were not enclosed.