Because I thoroughly trust Richards experience in this, perhaps I should clarify. I'm fairly certain that the #5 o-rings I bought at Home Depot were either the wrong size, either by being mislabeled or placed in the wrong bin or whatever. While they would fit onto the pots (either 16mm or 24mm alphas - they're the same size collar), there was no way these particular o-rings were going to fit into 3/8" holes, tight squeeze or no.
The next time I'm at LOWES I'm going to try again!
Actually my current practice is to always specify 0.3125 inch holes for pots in my FPE panels, as I seem to be using alpha pots most of the time now, and if I feel the need for using spectrol or whatever bigger pot (after I've sent the design off) I can just drill out the hole slightly.
--- In ModularSynthPanels@yahoogroups.com, Richard Brewster <pugix@...> wrote:
>
> Maybe we're talking about different Alpha pots. I use the 16mm diameter
> ones, and the bushing looks to be about 7mm. Example Mouser part
> #313-1000F-100K. The #5 o-rings from Lowes work fine on these. The fit
> is snug in the 3/8" hole and they do have to be pressed in firmly. I
> usually get it started and then put a flat washer and nut on the panel
> and snug it with a socket wrench.
>
> Richard
>
> On 7/21/10 10:57 AM, Steve wrote:
> > A while ago I bought some of those #5 o-rings on the advice of members of this group. My experience was that they were too big - I couldn't squeeze the (alpha) pot with the o-ring on it into the 3/8 hole. It's quite possible that home depot had them labeled wrong though. So when you're at the store, pick up some smaller ones just in case - they're cheap.
> >
> > --- In ModularSynthPanels@yahoogroups.com, "woostern"<woostern@> wrote:
> >
> >> Does anybody have a clever solution for mounting a 8 mm pot in a 3/8 hole (besides tightening the nut really hard)?
> >>
> >> I thought I remember somebody finding the perfect washer or rubber band, but can't seem to find the post in the archive.
> >>
> >> I guess I should stop being a cheapskate and order some of these:
> >>
> >> http://www.shopamw.com/servlet/the-50/NEW--dsh--Adapter-Washers/Detail
> >>
> >> Or just use Bourns.
> >>
> >> Nathan
> >>
> >>
> >
>