Building a Stronger Pedal

[insomniac2295]

If you wanted to beef up the structural integrity of a pedal, how would you do it?

My first thoughts- metal footswitch washers, metal knobs, and mounting the circuit board to the enclosure. Thoughts?

[timbo_93631]

Protecting the pots/knobs from getting stomped is big.  I like the vintage Ross boxes that have the recessed controls, also you can use drawer pulls to protect the knobs the same way people use them to protect tubes in a tube based pedal.

[insomniac2295]

Drawer pulls? I'm not familiar.

[insomniac2295]

OHHHH NEVERMIND. That's a great idea!

Another area of concern is the stomp switches. I know people who have broken them...

[jkokura]

Actually, I believe part of the reason we use those white nylon washers with the switches is because they allow a certain amount of give, releasing the tension when you stomp on them. It's not like foam padding or anything, but I'd prefer to have a nylon washer over a metal washer if I were worried about a switch breaking.

Jacob

[insomniac2295]

Great point! What if one were to add metal washers underneath the nylon ones?