DIY Valve Guitar Amp Head

[DrNomis_44]

I've taken the plunge.... Bought all the electrickery bits I need but don't yet have to make me a 15W EL84 amp. A couple of transformers, a few HV caps and a few tube sockets only set me back about AU$400.... Just need a pretty box to house it all in and a pair of EL84's.

You could try doing what I did and make a chassis/box from 2mm Aluminium sheeting, I found that 2mm Aluminium sheeting is not very hard to cut with a jigsaw, although you do need some method of folding the sides and tabs up, like a panbrake metal-bending machine, if I could get a decent one I'd be doing more amp builds.

[dave.king1]

You could try doing what I did and make a chassis/box from 2mm Aluminium sheeting, I found that 2mm Aluminium sheeting is not very hard to cut with a jigsaw, although you do need some method of folding the sides and tabs up, like a panbrake metal-bending machine, if I could get a decent one I'd be doing more amp builds.

Get some 50x50x6mm angle iron from that unmentionable place and cut it to suitable lengths and stick it in the bench vice, I folded all of the alloy in the car in my avatar by hand using various makeshift mandrels and jigs.

1.6mm alloy sheet cuts OK with a jigsaw if you use a fine blade and run it at high speed.

Word of warning, make sure you use separate blades and flap wheels for steel and aluminum because the particles become highly combustible when mixed and get hot enough. I don't speak from experience with this advice but know a few guys who do

[Marcel]

You could try doing what I did and make a chassis/box from 2mm Aluminium sheeting, I found that 2mm Aluminium sheeting is not very hard to cut with a jigsaw, although you do need some method of folding the sides and tabs up, like a panbrake metal-bending machine, if I could get a decent one I'd be doing more amp builds.

Instead of folding my own I've chickened out and bought a pre-made case from Jaycar. Main reason is it will be fully sealed on the wiring side so the cage that will eventually cover the tubes will not need to be 'pinky proof'. Even though things might seem cramped on the front panel the case does give me enough room for all the controls I want and lots of space inside for all the passive components.

Also going the IEC connector path for mains power in so no grommets or leads hanging an getting tangled out the back whenever it needs to be moved.

https://www.jaycar.com.au/encl-bench...304mm/p/HB5556