Alpha 26mm rotaries - okay to trim shaft?

[Bret608]

Hi all,

I'm in the final stages of populating a Pangea vibe. Question on the 26mm Alpha rotaries. Among the two I have for the project, one has a slightly longer shaft than the other. Is it alright to carefully trim those down with a hobby knife or something?

[daleykd]

Hi all,

I'm in the final stages of populating a Pangea vibe. Question on the 26mm Alpha rotaries. Among the two I have for the project, one has a slightly longer shaft than the other. Is it alright to carefully trim those down with a hobby knife or something?

That's exactly what I did.

[BrianS]

I did the same on a Multiplex but one thing you don't want to do is take it off after its mounted, or be extremely careful.  I got the bright idea that I could do it after the fact and went to work on it with my oscillating belt sander. Needless to say I unknowingly sanded one of the other pot shafts in the process , i.e., crooked knob now.

[Bret608]

Thanks to you both! I kind of figured I should do this before soldering those rotaries to the board, which is good because I don't always approach things so reasonably. Anyway, I appreciate the confirmation.

[Bret608]

Hey, one more quick question while we're at it...do these rotaries have the same size drill hole as a pot? Had not even thought of that until now...

[daleykd]

Hey, one more quick question while we're at it...do these rotaries have the same size drill hole as a pot? Had not even thought of that until now...

It's bigger.  I use a stepbit, so I don't know what diameter, but definitely bigger.

[Govmnt_Lacky]

Be VERY careful when you are trimming the rotary shafts on the Alphas.

To much vibration or excess movement can cause the internals to break. I have had this happen using a knife, a Dremel cutter, and even with large gauge side cutters. After the cut, the violent movement of the shaft caused the rotary to break internally.

Be careful 

[Bret608]

Duly noted! I will test fit all pots and switches to whatever enclosure I end up with before I decide for sure whether to try this out. I think one of the two rotaries might not really be taller than the usual 16mm Alpha pot shaft.

[daleykd]

Duly noted! I will test fit all pots and switches to whatever enclosure I end up with before I decide for sure whether to try this out. I think one of the two rotaries might not really be taller than the usual 16mm Alpha pot shaft.

They were for me.    Taller, that is.

[Addy Bart]

It's not an ideal method but I've shaved them down successfully using a Stanley knife and taking away thin layers.

[davent]

To trim them down clamp the excess shaft in a vice to cut it down. If you're supporting the switch body and hacking away at the floating shaft much more likely to damage the switch internals.

dave

[stringsthings]

To trim them down clamp the excess shaft in a vice to cut it down. If you're supporting the switch body and hacking away at the floating shaft much more likely to damage the switch internals.

+1

I used this method to cut many Rat Shack pot shafts back in the pre-internet days.

[Bret608]

Thanks again everyone! This is why I love this community.