[sdiy] Pot mounting etc was: Alpha pots group buy

[Mark Rivera]

> Panel-mounted (as opposed to pcb-mounted) pot size (12, 16, 17, 24 mm)

Depends. I go 24 mainly, but 16 is absolutely tiny and fun for the 
possibilities of condensed layouts etc.

> Pot type (Alpha cheapo vs Bourns/Spectrol break-the-bank)

Buttery Alpha all the way!

> Pot shaft length

I forget what I buy.

> Pot shaft style (smooth, knurled, split, D-profile, etc)

Smooth on the ones destined for ratshack cosmo-alike knobs. D for 
rubberized re'ans.

> Knob installation style (tension or set-screw)

Set-screw on smooth. Tension on D.

> Are these things a matter of choice, or more often a matter of expediency
> vis-a-vis what is available?

Choice, after a bit of buying different sorts.

> Finally, I'm curious, do most diy'ers clip off the positioning tab and rely
> just on nut tightness to keep pots aligned

I've considered drilling a 'through hole' for it, but what I do is clip 
it off in such a way that the cut is close to the base but at a slight 
angle. The resulting sharp-ish point seems to grab plenty well enough 
when the panel mount screws are tightened down and the panel is 
aluminum. Dunno about longevity for that sort of laziness, but it has 
worked fine so far.

Mark