Knobs

[maLx]

Hi, All.

I'm looking for a knob that will fit both of these parts. I have..

An ALPS 10k POT
ALPS 10KAX2 10K Ohm Audio Taper Stereo Potentiometer 6mm Shaft

And an NKK Selector Switch: HS13X NKK Switches | Mouser

I'm looking for a knob that can fit both. They are both 1/4 shaft diameter and require a set screw. The issue is that the NKK shaft is shorter than the ALPS pot and I want the two switches to match. Also, they need to be 1.25" in diameter around, but no larger.

Any help is much appreciated.

I'm posting a picture in the next comment of the height issue.

 

[maLx]

 

[drpro]

These folks make some really nice knobs. I am not sure if they will work, but worth a look. The usual suspects in the states carry them.
KILO INTERNATIONAL

 

[avtech]

I usually break out the hacksaw to resolve height issues with my pots...

 

[maLx]

These folks make some really nice knobs. I am not sure if they will work, but worth a look. The usual suspects in the states carry them.
KILO INTERNATIONAL

Those are nice, only one is tall enough but inside it’s still 0.510” deep and that will cause the issue as above. I’ll keep looking.

 

[maLx]

I usually break out the hacksaw to resolve height issues with my pots...

Oh yeah? Any issues with doing so? How do you hold the pot steady do you put it in a vice?

 

[avtech]

Yep, I just put them in a vice with soft jaws and just a gentle touch to hold (too much and you'll crush the case).

I tape the shaft, mark it for length then cut it to dimension with either a junior hacksaw or a dremel with a cut off wheel. I file the end of the shaft with a chamfer to make it easy to get the pot on, but it doesn't need to look good - it gets covered up anyway.

The only issue might come if you try to use the pot for a different project with a different knob - it might not be long enough any more.

Hope that helps.

 

[V8VHSLE]

If you're concerned about cutting the shaft another option is to mount the pots internally and use a coupler and extension shaft. That way you can cut the extension shafts to whatever length you want.

 

[cowanaudio]

I cut the shaft with a hacksaw too, however I always put the end of he shaft in the vice, no soft jaws required.

 

[avtech]

I cut the shaft with a hacksaw too, however I always put the end of he shaft in the vice, no soft jaws required.

Last time I did that, I failed to catch the pot......😱

 

[cowanaudio]

Oops. I do feel this is a superior technique to holding the body of the pot in the vice.

 

[avtech]

I'm sure you are right - any damage would be on the waste section of the shaft and you don't have to worry about the shaft turning as you cut.

I think next time I will put a cardboard box under the vice to catch the pot 🙂 (Or just be in less of a hurry!)

I like the idea of remote placement using extension shafts as well. Couplings can be had pretty cheap from the usual auction sites.

 

[PRR]

> I cut the shaft with a hacksaw too, however I always put the end of he shaft in the vice

Apparently there was a tool for this.
https://www.americanradiohistory.co...hop-Hints-Rider and Electronic-Technician.pdf (3MB PDF)
Note slot at left, presumably for a hacksaw. The two thingies must slide for shaft length (some older gear had quite long shafts to clear curvy housings).

I have never seen this thing in real life. I always clamp the waste and saw carefully.

 

[phase]

I would much rather clamp the shaft than the plastic body, and subject the internal mechanisms to the sawing forces.
As for catching the thing, maybe just not cut it off completely with the hack saw, break the last .010 off. I do that all the time with other parts.

A grinder with a cut off saw would put a lot of heat into the shaft, so I would lean towards a manual hack saw.

 

[jfetter]

Oh yeah? Any issues with doing so? How do you hold the pot steady do you put it in a vice?

I put the shaft tip in hard vise clamping hard.
pot is untouched.

 

[wiseoldtech]

I put the shaft tip in hard vise clamping hard.
pot is untouched.

Same here, plus I use a Dremel with a cutoff disk to do the cutting.