[sdiy] easy turn pots

[Jim Patchell]

    Pots...This is a big subject.  We had a minor discusion about this a
couple of months ago...here is what I learned...TANSTAFL...

    I just purchased a huge batch of pots made by Xicon
(http://www.mouser.com), specifically part numbers 31VA401 (10K Linear) and
31VA501 (100K Linear) for $0.87 (100s) each.  Now, I am sure that you get what
you pay for, but these pots have a nice feel and they seem to be long lasting
(I have some of these in stuff I built 15 years ago and they still work, which
I cannot say about some of the other pots I have purchased).

    The other big problem is Knobs.  I just also purchased a bunch of 1900H
Davies knobs from Radio Shack.  These are 1/2" diameter knobs for 1/4" shafts,
and they ran me $0.72 each (200) (which by the way, this is the best knob deal
I have found, thankyou to the person who pointed me in this direction).

    For my VCO's I purchased Bourns 3590 10 turn pots (I got the Metal Shaft
and Bushing) for $10.02 each and the knobs were $9.10 each...I think you kind
of see the patern here...The knob and pot always seem to cost the same!!

    I have pretty much resigned myself to the fact that if you want quality
parts on your panel, it is not going to be cheap.  The front panel seems to be
the most expensive part of the entire DIY experience.  When you combine the
pots, knobs, aluminum panel, switchcraft 1/4" jacks and cables you can really
run into a serious peice of change.

    -Jim

"Brett, Bill" wrote:

> Greetings,
>         I am on the final stage of assembling several ASM-1's and have not
> yet figured out what pots to use. My biggest concern is that they are easy
> to rotate. I have seen some pots made by bourns that fit this description
> but the cost was close to $10. That would be several hundred bucks for my
> ASM-1's (ouch). $1 to 2 would be great. Does anyone have a suggestion?
> Thanks
> -Bill