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Footswitch box

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6/13/2000 8:59 PM

Footswitch box

Ok, I posted this question before, got no replies, but I'll try it again, rejection doesn't bother me.
I'm looking for a footswitch box, preferably something an elephant could sit on and not dent. I'm looking for a hinged pedal type of deal, so you step on the whole top hinged part and the switch is underneath. I'd like to step on something big that I can see onstage, not some little weenie switch. Any suggestions???Thanks

6/13/2000 11:08 PM
SteveG	Make one by hinging two pieces of plywood together, with an ordinary footswitch 'sandwiched' between. (I've never tried this BTW, but it seems like it would work). Steve

6/13/2000 11:20 PM

OK-here goes. You could get a BUD box (cast aluminum), hinge the lid (it'll take a bit of filing), and mount the switch on a crosspiece in the box, the box being "upside down" since the lid is actually the bottom plate. Put 2 bolts through the top and bottom, probably about #10-32 facing each other so you can put a spring between them. Get a piece of 3/8" to 1/2" wide by 1-1/2" long aluminum extrusion, and slot it with a file, bend a 90 about 1/2" from one end, and attach this to the lid/bottom (the part that will move). Drill a hole through the side of the bottom(or large part) of the box, tap it, and put a screw through the box and line the slot of the aluminum extrusion up with the screw, and finish screwing the screw in. You now have a spring-loaded switch of considerable size and durability. Lotta work, but it'll probably work pretty well.

6/13/2000 11:31 PM
Tonefactor	Use an old wah-wah or volume pedal.

6/14/2000 1:23 AM
Eric Eisenhower	Get a keyboard sustain pedal - $10-20 bucks. Swap out the momentary switch for a regular on off. No drilling, filing, etc. I think that's exactly what you want. -e

6/14/2000 12:33 PM
Ray Ivers	In addition to the other posts, you might also try the heavy industrial switchboxes that are used to turn drill presses, lathes, etc. on and off (I think Newark Electronics and Grainger have them, among others). You may have to change out the actual switch to a DPDT, but these things are mega-rugged, so you COULD use that elephant in your act. Ray Ivers

6/14/2000 8:57 PM

aahh, now we're onto something. Not that I don't appreciate the suggestions for building my own, but getting an existing box and modifying is much more up my alley. Less time drilling and filing, more time playing,hmm?
I checked out the Newark catalog, easily the size of the Boston white pages, came up with nothing, but I'll look again. I'll also try Grainger. Any suggestions on where to get the keyboard pedals?
I like the idea of the drill press/lathe type thing, that's where I got the idea. Thanks for the suggestions.

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