fatman, glowing cables, etc.(plastic faceplates)

[Hcabnivek at aol.com]

In a message dated 98-11-06 12:25:40 EST, you write:

> I think I'm going to start using clear lucite or some other clear,
>  thick, sturdy plastic for front panels.  Does the front panel of the
>  FatMan have to be alluminum for grounding purposes? 

Plastic can be used, but one thing that you should be careful of is getting
tuner/pot cleaner on it at some later date when you have to spray out a noisy
pot.  Most plastics used in sheeting (acrylic, polycarbonate etc.) seem to be
pretty well impervious to these types of cleaners, EXCEPT  (I found out the
hard way)  where you have drilled holes through it.   I was a little over
zealous with the cleaner once and got some in around the bushing of the pot
and the hole in the plastic, and within a minute or so, long cracks started
radiating out from the hole.  In the end I had 20-30 cracks up to 2 inches
long, with lots of smaller ones crosslinking the larger ones.  Damn!  :-(
I think this was caused by a rapid expantion and then contraction of the
plastic around the hole. The plastic never softened or clouded, it just crack
all to hell!  I use only aluminium face plates now.  If I had a way to engrave
all the control labels into the back side of the plastic and then edge light
it, you bet I'd only use plastic, all other drawbacks aside.  Sound quality is
of primary importants, but aesthetics runs a close second.

>  Does the front panel of the FatMan have to be alluminum for grounding
purposes? 

As far as grounding goes, if you do use plastic, and unless you want the panel
to be see through, I'd stick some self adhesive aluminium tape to the back
(inside) of the panel, and seat all the pots and switches onto it.  This tape
also works great for shielding the inside of guitar cavities, although
remember that you can't solder to it and must use a mechanical fastener to
ground to it.  I find that the cheapest way to buy it is at a large lumber
yard/hardware store;  it's used for taping the joints of foil faces foam
insulation board.

Hope this helps
Kevin