I hate metalwork, especially working in steel. I have got a set of specialk drills from www.vt4c.com that will solve some of that problem.
I also hate to finish a project - the last 5 wires to go. That takes years for me.
I definitely hate when things don't work and I am a lousy troubleshooter.😡
I also hate to finish a project - the last 5 wires to go. That takes years for me.
I definitely hate when things don't work and I am a lousy troubleshooter.😡
Re: Re: Re: What part of diy...
No single malt was close at hand, unfortunately, when I spent the better part of an afternoon crouching on the ground looking for misplaced SMD components, sweeping grit onto sheets of paper, and examining the mounds of debris under an illuminated magnifier. Fun! Out of the corner of my eye I saw one of my cats catch a flying SMD resistor in its gaping maw.
EC8010 said:
No single malt was close at hand, unfortunately, when I spent the better part of an afternoon crouching on the ground looking for misplaced SMD components, sweeping grit onto sheets of paper, and examining the mounds of debris under an illuminated magnifier. Fun! Out of the corner of my eye I saw one of my cats catch a flying SMD resistor in its gaping maw.
soundbrigade said:
It's called the problem of the last ten percent, known to every undergraduate, project manager and DIY enthusiast. The project is not half done when it's halfway done, it's halfway done when its 90 percent complete.
Thanks for that! I thought something was totally wrong with me.
I have a EL84PP that was almost ready and I have already dissembled it to use the transformers elsewhere and have sold the tubes ...
But apart from that there's just one amp (The MAD Stealth) that isn't really finished.
Another obnoxious thing is to find suitable components, not normal stuff but odd stuff you cannot find anywhere or when you find it there's a minum order sum. Like looking for 270pF/630V-caps or 6,8K/10W-resistors.
I have a EL84PP that was almost ready and I have already dissembled it to use the transformers elsewhere and have sold the tubes ...
But apart from that there's just one amp (The MAD Stealth) that isn't really finished.
Another obnoxious thing is to find suitable components, not normal stuff but odd stuff you cannot find anywhere or when you find it there's a minum order sum. Like looking for 270pF/630V-caps or 6,8K/10W-resistors.
when your working on a proj and you dont have the correct value resister. and its 9pm on Sat. so you gotta wait till Monday to get anything descent.
..... and on Monday morning you have reconsidered your project and tear everything down to start anew .......
I ALSO HATE CHASSIS WORK!!!!
Like having your dremel (while going at 35,000 RPM) fly out of the hole and buzz right across (what was) your lovely brushed aluminium chassis.
Then realising the wooden sides you cut were 7mm too short.
But then it's okay - I'll chop the back off and make it removable, easier than having to take the whole top off to get at the guts.
Oh, and rectification stage testing in a lab where there are 10 very interested (but not au-fait with high voltage) people making fingers in the general direction :S
L
Like having your dremel (while going at 35,000 RPM) fly out of the hole and buzz right across (what was) your lovely brushed aluminium chassis.
Then realising the wooden sides you cut were 7mm too short.
But then it's okay - I'll chop the back off and make it removable, easier than having to take the whole top off to get at the guts.
Oh, and rectification stage testing in a lab where there are 10 very interested (but not au-fait with high voltage) people making fingers in the general direction :S
L
Discovering that one trace I misplaced on my PCB layout AFTER I order prototypes! GRRRRR!!!!! I just had this happen to me yesterday!
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
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
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
Reduces 6 hours work to 0.5 hr
L
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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!
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!
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