jer7440 Posted August 1, 2008 Report Share Posted August 1, 2008 When you guys make your own control knobs out of wood....do you put some kind of metal insert in them? Do you use a set screw to hold them on? Or do you just drill a tight hole in the wood? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WezV Posted August 1, 2008 Report Share Posted August 1, 2008 when i have done then i have drilled a hole in the end to match the shaft and pushed them onto a metal tube of the same diameter, maybe with a bit of tape around the tube to hold them...works well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jer7440 Posted August 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2008 Thanks Wez...I figured I would probably need something metal inside of there for the knob to last long term. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted August 2, 2008 Report Share Posted August 2, 2008 I've never had any success in making wooden knobs as I don't have the right gear so I can't speak from experience, only from common sense which in my case tends to lean towards over-engineering. I imagine that as Wez suggests, fitting a metal tube would be the best step for a good secure fit. If you could find metal tube of a significant gauge which has walls thick enough to take a good tap for inserting a grub screw (2mm-3mm?) then you have your securing sorted also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chapov Posted August 2, 2008 Report Share Posted August 2, 2008 I don't know how they are called, but they make hollow screws, with bushings on the outside. From googling for "Hollow Screw" and searching for images, I found this one http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=3941&rendTypeId=4 I think the setscrew with hollow head will be perfect for the job of the metal tube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted August 3, 2008 Report Share Posted August 3, 2008 (edited) That's a grub screw alright. You just need enough thread inside the (knob) material you're mounting it in to provide more force than the point of the screw bears against the shaft, otherwise the grub will thread inside the knob before the knob is secured. I think most woods are too weak at such small thread gauges to support grub screws, hence why my thoughts go straight to overengineering by adding aluminium or brass into the equation somewhere ;-) Edited August 3, 2008 by Prostheta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jer7440 Posted August 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2008 I figured I would need to have some sort of metal insert and I have the facilities to make my own...I was just hoping someone had already found a ready made alternative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted August 4, 2008 Report Share Posted August 4, 2008 You could use a threaded brass insert which has a bore slightly larger than the pot's shaft, although i'm only seen them to M6 in the places i've looked. Wez is on the ball for the simple solution, whereas i'm on my usual sledgehammer to crack a nut path ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WezV Posted August 4, 2008 Report Share Posted August 4, 2008 i think i wasnt very clear the first time around.... so far with any wooden knobs i have made i have not left a metal insert in the knob. i drill the wooden knob to be a snug fit on the shaft, i then drill a small hole in the side for a grub screw. it works great apart from the few times i drilled the side hole too small and the knobs cracked open when inserting the grub screw i start my knobs by drilling out the round shape with a hole saw - usually from an offcut of the body then i drill the shaft hole and this is were the metal tube comes into play. I mount the knob onto a metal tube so that i can put it in a drill and turn the knob to its final shape using the drill. the tube also comes in handy for holding the knobs when finishing them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Abbett Posted August 4, 2008 Report Share Posted August 4, 2008 You shouldn't have any problems with just drilling a corretly sized hole in the wood. Too tight, the wood will split, too loose and the knob won't stay on. Aim for a nice snug fit that you have to press on with some pressure. The same fit as a neck joint. Tight, but not so tight as to cause damage. The set screw would help if you had a tendency to be rough with it. Normal use shouldn't be a problem. I've made knobs out of ebony pen blanks, it wasn't a problem at all. -John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Setch Posted August 4, 2008 Report Share Posted August 4, 2008 I've just drilled the knobs for a setscrew, and tapped the hole as if it were metal. Sure, it'll split if you overtighten it - so don't overtighten it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GGW Posted August 5, 2008 Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 Is there a good technique to make the knob itself without a lathe? I've been trying to figure out a way to do it. I have access to a lot of machines, but no lathe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WezV Posted August 5, 2008 Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 i use my drill as a lathe, not ideal but it does the job for small things like this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jer7440 Posted August 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 Oh...I totally misunderstood you wez. The wood knob thing will be way easier without having to monkey around with a metal insert. I will try to post some pics of my knobs tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dugg Posted August 6, 2008 Report Share Posted August 6, 2008 Yeah, wood all the way for the knobs, no insert. I've done it on only one guitar so far, but it's been played profesh for a couple years now and no problems. I don't have a lathe either, but I rigged up my drill press to make the knobs. Also, I drilled a 1/4" hole off center in the top which I inlayed a contrasting color wood 'dot' for position. Looks keen-o. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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