Trying to not solder to my pots.

[Wana_make_a_guitar]

While tinkering with my electronics a few weeks back, i'm pretty sure I fried my volume pot wile working on it, which was a good excuse to order some new parts and upgrade.
I went and got myself a DPDT push/pull 500k pot and was wondering how to make the diagram below work without having to solder to the pots so I don't fry them.

 

[Cagey]

It's a common problem. There's a whole thread on that subject here.

 

[Wana_make_a_guitar]

Since I kinda wanna get my guitar rewired tonight, and have no idea where i'd find those solder lugs here, do you think I could use a washer or something like that instead or could I make a ground point elsewhere and just solder to that?

 

[OzziePete]

Thanx for linking that Thread, very informative and those lugs look the deal...But Wana's comment above about a substitute seems logical too...

Also check out these You Tube vids, the RS Guitarworks people have a different view of grounding and wiring up things in guitars...Any comments on these?  :dontknow:
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPvpLuSaOOQ&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL[/youtube]

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml0zHsIaMEY&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL[/youtube]

 

[Cagey]

Since I kinda wanna get my guitar rewired tonight, and have no idea where i'd find those solder lugs here, do you think I could use a washer or something like that instead or could I make a ground point elsewhere and just solder to that?

I can't imagine a washer working, but if you've got a Thomas & Betts distributor around there somewhere, they're likely to carry a variety of ring terminals. Those can be made to work.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

He could drill a small hole on the outside of the washer, thread the wire through, solder/tin it, done.

 

[Cagey]

He could drill a small hole on the outside of the washer, thread the wire through, solder/tin it, done.

Depends on what the washer is made of, and its size. Not all metals/alloys will accept solder readily, and most washers don't have a lot of room between their I.D. and O.D. to be drilling holes in. Then, it may not lay flat, which means the pot is liable to get loose very easily.

 

[Cagey]

re: YouTube vids...

One crucial part to note is that he's not using a wimpy soldering iron designed for IC chips - that thing's gotta be 40 or 50 watts. Also, he's not using a conical/pointed tip; it's a "chisel" tip that has enough mass that it doesn't lose its heat so rapidly when touched up against something relatively cold. It's how he's able to get on and off those pots so quickly, which is critical.

 

[Cagey]

I do like that sheet metal strip with the multiple holes set up to act as a bus. I wish somebody would mass produce those.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Depends on what the washer is made of, and its size. Not all metals/alloys will accept solder readily, and most washers don't have a lot of room between their I.D. and O.D. to be drilling holes in. Then, it may not lay flat, which means the pot is liable to get loose very easily.

Preferably a 5/16" fender washer, or any fender washer drilled to a 5/16" I.D.  Strip the wire enough to go through and twist around itself and solder/tin together.  Even if the solder didn't take to the washer, which I suspect it wouldn't, the pressure of tightening the pot would make sufficient mechanical contact with it, thus a good connection.  Keep in mind the string to bridge ground continuity is not of the soldered type and pressure is all that is required for the connection.  Plus, many pots have the "knub" that many break off, but many don't, that also keep the pot from resting square to whatever it's mounted to.

 

[Wana_make_a_guitar]

I actually really like that metal strip idea, i'm certain I can find a bit of steel in the shed and I'm sure I should be able to find a bit big enough to drill some hoes in it.

 

[swarfrat]

Sheet brass and a center punch.

 

[Wana_make_a_guitar]

Right, found me a sheet of steel. One question is, does the sheet have to be touching the bottom of where the shaft meet the pot or just the shaft itself?

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Right, found me a sheet of steel. One question is, does the sheet have to be touching the bottom of where the shaft meet the pot or just the shaft itself?

The shaft, the pot chasis, it's all the same.  If you've ever noticed, installing metal knobs on the pots, there's continuity between the knobs and the strings.  The pots, except fof the innards, are all electrical continuous.

 

[Wana_make_a_guitar]

Right, found me a sheet of steel. One question is, does the sheet have to be touching the bottom of where the shaft meet the pot or just the shaft itself?

The shaft, the pot chasis, it's all the same.  If you've ever noticed, installing metal knobs on the pots, there's continuity between the knobs and the strings.  The pots, except fof the innards, are all electrical continuous.

Righto then, just gotta wait for the drill's battery to charge up then I can get started.

 

[bbl4ck]

What you need is a soldering lug.  It fits on like a washer between the pot and the body and has a little arm sticking off of it to solder what ever you want to it. 
I have used them in the past and they cost ~$3 for four.  I have them bookmarked somewhere, but can't find them right now.
I will keep looking and post a link when I find them.  It is the easiest method that I have ever seen. 
Good luck &  :rock-on:

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

What you need is a soldering lug.  It fits on like a washer between the pot and the body and has a little arm sticking off of it to solder what ever you want to it. 
I have used them in the past and they cost ~$3 for four.  I have them bookmarked somewhere, but can't find them right now.
I will keep looking and post a link when I find them.  It is the easiest method that I have ever seen. 
Good luck &  :rock-on:

Since I kinda wanna get my guitar rewired tonight, and have no idea where i'd find those solder lugs here, do you think I could use a washer or something like that instead or could I make a ground point elsewhere and just solder to that?

 

[bbl4ck]

What you need is a soldering lug.  It fits on like a washer between the pot and the body and has a little arm sticking off of it to solder what ever you want to it.  
I have used them in the past and they cost ~$3 for four.  I have them bookmarked somewhere, but can't find them right now.
I will keep looking and post a link when I find them.  It is the easiest method that I have ever seen.  
Good luck &  :rock-on:

Since I kinda wanna get my guitar rewired tonight, and have no idea where i'd find those solder lugs here, do you think I could use a washer or something like that instead or could I make a ground point elsewhere and just solder to that?

Yea, I missed that "rewired tonight" part...  :doh:  
Oh well!  I still could not find the link to the ones that I have purchased, but here are a couple links to similar lugs from a different vendor for next time.

http://www.stratcat.biz/268-529-7312.shtml

http://cgi.ebay.com/100-SOLDER-LUGS-new-low-PRICE-/400187843882?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d2d0de52a

 

[Cagey]

These are the right part, with the 3/8" holes a pot can fit through...

and they're available here in packs of 8 for $2.49.

 

[bbl4ck]

These are the right part, with the 3/8" holes a pot can fit through...

and they're available here in packs of 8 for $2.49.

Yep, that is the link I was looking for...