Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Richey Kay on March 20, 2014 at 6:56pm

Most people pot with candle wax. Traditionally 80%  candle wax and 20% beeswax. I use just candle wax with no problems. Have a look at these blog posts on the topic:

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/profiles/blogs/my-first-2-weeks-of-pi...

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/profiles/blogs/my-continued-adventure...

I believe you can use shellac. I think Bob Harrison uses epoxy, and so does Ted Crocker I think. Like you said you want to make sure there are no loose windings as these pick up more noise than necessary. Wax is used traditionally because you can heat it and it'll soften so you can make repairs/unwind the coil.

Some believe it's the loose windings etc which give a handwound pickup it's character, so potting could potentially take some of that away. I think they sound fine after potting though :)

Good luck Mel!

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on March 21, 2014 at 1:03am

I dip mine in polyurethane.

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Permalink Reply by Skeesix on March 21, 2014 at 4:07am

The insulation is various things. Modern insulation is polyurethane. Older insulations are Formvar (polyvinyl formal), and enamel.

I use the 80/20 paraffin/beeswax combo, as do a lot of people. Fender used to use lacquer. Some people use epoxy.

Potting helps with microphonics and also helps solidify the coil.

I've looked into shellac, but supposedly it doesn't dry well and that could cause problems.

I've cut apart bobbins dipped in wax, and they don't necessarily coat all the way through, which is probably good for the sound. I think you would need to use a vacuum system to get it all the way through.

My other concern is the toxicity of the products being used, as I'm sensitive to chemicals. Wax is pretty non toxic and it does a good job.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Lindsay on March 21, 2014 at 6:27am

Let me preface this by saying that I've never wound or potted a pickup. I'm going to eventually, but not so far.

I do, however, know a bit about shellac. If the "insulation" on the coil wire is in fact shellac, the possibility exists that potting in shellac will dissolve the layers of shellac on the wire. When you apply additional coats of shellac atop one another, the new layer "melts" (for the lack of a better term) into the previously applied layer, bonding them together. My concern would be that dipping the shellac coated wire into more shellac would cause the alcohol to melt into the shellac insulation, thus shorting out the whole thing.

Again, I don't know anything about winding or potting a pickup, so I may be way, way off base here - and if I am, somebody please correct me. Still, my experience with shellac is such that it is something to be concerned with and ask about.

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on March 21, 2014 at 7:00am

I do know that the coil wire seems to be very sensitive to super glue, and super glue can melt the insulation.

Be careful to keep it away from the coil wires.

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Permalink Reply by Richey Kay on March 21, 2014 at 8:18am

That's interesting Dan. I use superglue to fix the magnets in but obviously its cured by the time I wind the coil. haven't had a problem so far. I'm guessing you mean its no good for porting?

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on March 21, 2014 at 8:35am

I would not use it for potting, I use urethane. But, if you are not careful and wait for the glue to be completely cured (like you say), it can eat through the wires. I just had one I had to strip and rewind for that very reason.

Just pointing out stuff that could damage the winding wire.

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on March 21, 2014 at 9:14am

Superglue does not damage my coils, I use it all the time.
Ted pots with it too, because of it's wicking properties it does a great job

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on March 21, 2014 at 9:29am

Interesting. OK.

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Permalink Reply by Mel Ristau on March 21, 2014 at 4:28pm

Well I only thought I was ready to pot them. Messed them both up trying to solder the ends. Thanks for thoughts on potting though. I'll try wax when I get there. Might as well strum a bit without pickups.

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Permalink Reply by Mel Ristau on March 21, 2014 at 5:07pm

Minus the pickups, here's a shot of my box.

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Permalink Reply by Richey Kay on March 21, 2014 at 6:44pm

The guitar looks great Mel, everything seems to be in place. How do you mean messed them up?

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