Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on May 14, 2013 at 8:24pm

Use a scrap of paper, same as on a vintage one ;)

My knobs only got really good and right grip when I started being mindful of the material and drilling into it so that it tightens its grip with time rather than loosening off. Before that I did the grub screw thing a few times, the little wee screws inside old computers etc can do the trick if you can tap a thread

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Permalink Reply by Naz Nomad on May 14, 2013 at 10:00pm

Worth a read ... http://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1065818&sid=fc...

... or just a dab of hot-glue?

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Permalink Reply by jawbone on May 15, 2013 at 1:49am

Could you glue in a chunk of flexible hose or tube material??

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Permalink Reply by Rob (Treadstone Guitars) on May 15, 2013 at 5:54pm

Some good ideas there guys. Ideally, I'd like to make the knobs so that they can be removed if the customer wants to change them. 

If I can't find a way, I'll just have to make sure they are too awesome-looking to remove!

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Permalink Reply by Busyhands Slim on May 15, 2013 at 6:51pm

I have made knobs out of bottle caps. First, I used epoxy, which worked fine, but was really messy. Now I use two-part resin. You get it at hobby stores - it's the tan stuff they use to cast figurines and such. It pours easily, sets up in five to eight minutes, and drills easily.

I drill a hole that's about 1/32" smaller than the diameter of the fluted shaft. That makes it a snug press-on fit, but it's also removable if necessary. It's really helpful to do this on a drill press, because it makes getting the hole perpendicular to the top of the cap easier. But if you're working with only hand tools, just eye it carefully and if the knob wobbles a little as you turn it -- that's the charm of a hand-made instrument crafted with only hand tools!

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Permalink Reply by Randy S. Bretz on May 15, 2013 at 8:01pm

I just use a spot of glue

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on May 15, 2013 at 11:43pm

Heh.. Gluing it on before you install might present problems later unk :p

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Permalink Reply by Randy S. Bretz on May 15, 2013 at 11:50pm

lol...I would think most builders would know not to glue it on till the build was finished and ready to play. I just use a tiny drop and spread it around the pot post then let it dry, just enough to snug up the hole. I also take a tiny bit on my dremel and cut slots inside the knob hole to mesh up with the post flanges.

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Permalink Reply by Rob (Treadstone Guitars) on May 15, 2013 at 11:57pm

Bingo, that's the way!

I'll give it a try in the next few days. Cheers!

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on May 16, 2013 at 8:28am

I always liked wooden ones, like ted crockers..
Used scrap for a long time but found they always work loose over time
Then one day for some reason I started making em from sticks turned on their end.
Because the grain is radial it grips the post all the way around, and actually tightens over time, where with a bit of scrap the grain was linear and always had a weak side..
;)
Eg

(Look at the master volume, by the pickup, the stain makes the radial grain very apparent)

I personally consider this to have been te turning point with my knobs, where they started to really work. After the centre is drilled out I turn em on the sander by allowing it to spin on a drill bit I hold it on ;)

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Permalink Reply by Rob (Treadstone Guitars) on May 16, 2013 at 7:09pm

Christ-on-a-jetski they are NICE guitars!

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on May 17, 2013 at 12:31pm

:) shucks..
You just keep pushing yourself, trying new stuff, learn a little wee but with each one....
Try it with a good hard stick turned on its end, works great

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