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Projects => Build Reports => Topic started by: selfdestroyer on January 23, 2014, 08:51:32 AM

Title: BB Ahoy!
Post by: selfdestroyer on January 23, 2014, 08:51:32 AM
Here is my nautical themed  modded Bluesbreaker. I have had the PCB for awhile and was between builds and decided to try it out. I ended up really liking it.

I am trying to pick some knobs for it and maybe you peeps have some suggestions?

Just after an etch bath and a good scrub later.
(http://music.codydeschenes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/20140123-003003.jpg)

First coat of paint and a light wet sand to reveal the reversed etch. I tend to do 3 layers of paint and I do a light wet sand between coats.
(http://music.codydeschenes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/20140123-003745.jpg)

Drilled and did 1 more coat of paint. Wet sanded and added 3 layers of matted clear coat to it.
(http://music.codydeschenes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/20140123-003924.jpg)

For the guts: I am trying a few things on my 3PDT board to get the soldier on the switch pins to take the solider better with out burning out the switch. I like how this one came out compared to my last build. I made the pads a bit bigger for the switch so there was more surface for the solder to flow on.
(http://music.codydeschenes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/20140123-004013.jpg)
Title: Re: BB Preamp Ahoy!
Post by: Cortexturizer on January 23, 2014, 09:31:25 AM
You are becoming one of my favorite builders on the forum (http://www.muzicki-forum.com/forum/images/smilies/mfsmajli-pivo.gif)
Title: Re: BB Preamp Ahoy!
Post by: stevie1556 on January 23, 2014, 10:45:08 AM
Great etch and clean guts. It lools really good!

Sent from my thumbs using Tapatalk!

Title: Re: BB Preamp Ahoy!
Post by: artstomp on January 23, 2014, 01:16:53 PM
..hi Cody...awesome etch you got there!...super like it!...
Title: Re: BB Preamp Ahoy!
Post by: Peteyboy on January 23, 2014, 01:56:07 PM
That pedal look gorgeous.
Title: Re: BB Preamp Ahoy!
Post by: slimtriggers on January 23, 2014, 02:06:02 PM
Very nice!
Title: Re: BB Preamp Ahoy!
Post by: pryde on January 23, 2014, 02:09:25 PM
Wow. Fantastic result with your etch/paint process. Huge fan here  :)

Title: Re: BB Preamp Ahoy!
Post by: Leevibe on January 23, 2014, 02:23:51 PM
Beautiful work!!
Title: Re: BB Preamp Ahoy!
Post by: gtr2 on January 23, 2014, 02:26:09 PM
Wow, that's nice!

The BB Pre is one of my fav overdrives.  I have one I built and I bought one used a while back.

Josh
Title: Re: BB Preamp Ahoy!
Post by: pedalhealer on January 23, 2014, 02:36:44 PM
Brilliant!!!
Title: Re: BB Preamp Ahoy!
Post by: wretched on January 23, 2014, 02:37:44 PM
Looks great, I would go with Black/Silver knobs Kinda like a Marshall or even this:
(http://www.taydaelectronics.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/211x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/a/-/a-1125.jpg)
Title: Re: BB Preamp Ahoy!
Post by: fendman on January 23, 2014, 03:00:01 PM
Sweet!! Love what you have achieved with that etch.
Great work Cody
Cheers
Mike
Title: Re: BB Preamp Ahoy!
Post by: jimilee on January 23, 2014, 03:12:15 PM
Wow that's a beaut! Be a shame to put velcro on the bottom and step on it. Belongs on a shelf!
Title: Re: BB Preamp Ahoy!
Post by: Bret608 on January 23, 2014, 03:44:05 PM
This looks awesome. Davies 1400-style for the knobs, perhaps?
Title: Re: BB Preamp Ahoy!
Post by: midwayfair on January 23, 2014, 03:44:22 PM
Wonderful etch, cap'n!
Title: Re: BB Preamp Ahoy!
Post by: jkokura on January 23, 2014, 03:58:43 PM
Brilliantly done there Cody!

I'd like to inform everyone, this isn't a BB Preamp. BB stands for Blues Breaker.

Jacob
Title: Re: BB Preamp Ahoy!
Post by: jubal81 on January 23, 2014, 04:47:03 PM
Love your style, dude. That reverse etch/paint style is brilliant.
Title: Re: BB Preamp Ahoy!
Post by: juansolo on January 23, 2014, 05:00:15 PM
That etch is magnificent  :o
Title: Re: BB Preamp Ahoy!
Post by: micromegas on January 23, 2014, 05:03:23 PM
Quote from: juansolo on January 23, 2014, 05:00:15 PM
That etch is magnificent  :o

+1. Your latest builds make me want to etch boxes again despite all the hardwork it involves...
Title: Re: BB Preamp Ahoy!
Post by: Ettore_M on January 23, 2014, 05:53:23 PM
Great etch! Well done, mate! ;)
You've done quite a lot of really nice ones lately, but this one is my favourite.

Hector
Title: Re: BB Preamp Ahoy!
Post by: selfdestroyer on January 23, 2014, 06:22:20 PM
Quote from: jkokura on January 23, 2014, 03:58:43 PM
Brilliantly done there Cody!

I'd like to inform everyone, this isn't a BB Preamp. BB stands for Blues Breaker.

Jacob

HAHA Fail on my part.. I should have know since I have built 2 Blues Breakers the last week. I feel stupid now. lol

Thanks so much guys for the encouraging words. It was nice that even my wife was impressed with the art work and that means a lot to me also as she has a great eye for that stuff.

Also, thanks for the knob suggestions. I have ordered a few to try and on the list are the silver Marshall style.

Quote from: micromegas on January 23, 2014, 05:03:23 PM
+1. Your latest builds make me want to etch boxes again despite all the hardwork it involves...

Thanks, I found that once i have all the stuff out it makes it easier to bust a few etches out at a time. I did a total of 4 enclosures in 2 days. Feels like I have accomplished a lot this week.
Title: BB Ahoy!
Post by: Jabulani Jonny on January 23, 2014, 06:59:00 PM
That looks fantastic. I haven't stepped into the etching waters yet. I'm afraid...

Great looking build!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk (http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1)
Title: Re: BB Ahoy!
Post by: Jean-Rock on January 23, 2014, 07:09:42 PM
Ohh ! Nice peace of art !
Title: Re: BB Ahoy!
Post by: trustybs on January 23, 2014, 08:31:54 PM
It is beautiful !
Title: Re: BB Ahoy!
Post by: rullywowr on January 24, 2014, 01:26:49 AM
That is one clean etch...you sir are an artist.  Almost too pretty to put your foot on!
Title: Re: BB Ahoy!
Post by: danwelsh on January 24, 2014, 02:50:21 AM
That is just totally wicked man.....what's your process for etching?
Title: Re: BB Preamp Ahoy!
Post by: Clayford on January 24, 2014, 03:32:13 AM
Quote from: wretched on January 23, 2014, 02:37:44 PM
Looks great, I would go with Black/Silver knobs Kinda like a Marshall or even this:
(http://www.taydaelectronics.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/211x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/a/-/a-1125.jpg)
I second those knobs
Title: Re: BB Ahoy!
Post by: blackedition on January 24, 2014, 03:39:33 AM
i'm curious, how much longer does it take to do the reverse etch as opposed to the conventional etch?  seems like an awful lot more material that needs to react... 

definitely looks killer.  i especially like the font that you used for the labeling...  definitely has that nautical vibe :)
Title: Re: BB Ahoy!
Post by: selfdestroyer on January 24, 2014, 05:36:49 AM
Quote from: danwelsh on January 24, 2014, 02:50:21 AM
what's your process for etching?

I am actually working on a tutorial like the PCB etching one on my blog. I will have it done by Monday since I have a few more boxes I am working on this weekend.

Here is the basic method I use.

Photoshop template posted http://www.madbeanpedals.com/forum/index.php?topic=12582.0 (http://www.madbeanpedals.com/forum/index.php?topic=12582.0)
Grab some art and font or create something from scratch. Reverse the template then print it out on my laser printer on presentation (glossy) paper.

All the hardware I use is the same as my PCB tutorial here
http://music.codydeschenes.com/?page_id=1388 (http://music.codydeschenes.com/?page_id=1388)

Give the box a quick bath and a light wet sand (600 grit) if needed.
I then iron on the reversed template on to my box. Take your time with this and keep moving the iron around. You do not need to apply wicked amount of down pressure. I probably spend 5-10 minutes just ironing. You will start to get a feel for it.
Let the box cool for about 15 minutes.
I then run water over the enclosure for 2 or 3 minutes to soften up the paper some. I then pull off the paper and use the green scrubby side of a regular sink sponge to remove all paper. Really take your time here and try to get all bits of paper out of the etched/metal areas.
I then dry off the enclosure and use plain ol' blue painters tape to mask off the sides and any areas I want to protect from the etching solution.
I then head to the bench where I have 2 Rubbermaid sandwich containers one with Ferric chloride solution (I still use the white bottle from Radio shack and it works fine) and the other with clean water. If you can do it without getting caught by you significant other, put the Ferric chloride solution inside the Rubbermaid container and put it in the microwave for 10-13 seconds. Not to long but the etch process will speed up by doing this. You can also just microwave some water in a container bigger than the container that has the Ferric chloride solution and place it in side the larger container of hot water. (I feel like that sentence did not make any sense. This is why I take pictures for tutorials).
I then dip the enclosure in the Ferric chloride solution with an up and down motion for about 1 to 2 minutes then I remove it and dunk it in the water. Keep checking your etch and you can feel very carefully with your finger how deep the etch is. Then just keep dipping it in the Ferric chloride solution until you achieve the look you want.
This etch with the ship took me 3 times of back and forth with Ferric chloride solution and water as an example.
I then scrub the etched area in a sink under water with a sponge scrubby side (wish I knew what this was called off hand) and remove all the tape that was placed on the enclosure.

That's the overview of the process. Wow it seems like a lot to do but it really is easy when you get in a routine.

I find it easier to do a bunch of builds at once since everything is out already to etch with.

Note: I use new Ferric chloride solution for all my PCB etching and I usually can get 5-10 board done before the Ferric chloride is taking FOREVER to etch with.. but save it.. I use a large Cranberry Juice jug from Costco to hold all mine. Old Ferric chloride is great for enclosures since aluminum is much softer and etches much faster than copper.

Hope this help.
Cody
Title: Re: BB Ahoy!
Post by: lincolnic on January 24, 2014, 06:56:05 AM
Really, really fantastic work on this one. Might be my favorite of yours yet!
Title: Re: BB Ahoy!
Post by: Mich P on January 24, 2014, 08:09:22 AM
Wow !! Super class !
Mich P.
Title: Re: BB Ahoy!
Post by: Hexjibber on January 27, 2014, 09:41:48 AM
Another amazing etch, really like the finish of this one, brilliant!
Title: Re: BB Ahoy!
Post by: Guitarmageddon on January 27, 2014, 11:10:05 PM
really very, very nice!