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What board material do you use?

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3/15/2005 9:16 PM

What board material do you use?

Hello,
I'm researching what board material to use for my pre-amp in a plexi replica and I'm wondering what board material you guys use for your amps. So far I've seen G10, FR4, Reinforced Epoxy, Phenolic...mostly 1/8".

I get dizzy thinking of the possibilities. Just wondering if anyone could clear up the topic of material, size, and eyelet or turret choices and what is a good manufacture.
Thanks...Aron

3/16/2005 9:57 AM

Hi, Aron.

If you want good, solid performance over a long amp life and ease of working, use glass-epoxy. G10 and FR4 will both work ("FR" stands for Fire Retardant)and are just about equivalent from your perspective.

Do NOT use phenolic.

If you want to do easy build and mods, go turret. Get the keystone staking tool and some turrets and go to work. Eyelet exists purely as a Leo Fender cost reduction over turret. The military stuff of the tube era was turret. Keystone is ubiquitous. Go to their web site for an intro to turrets. Get turrets about 1/2" tall.

3/18/2005 7:27 AM
Casey4s	I use G10/FR4 for all my boards. Wear eye and dust protection, when drilling or cutting any of these board materials. My .02 ...... Casey4s

3/18/2005 6:26 PM
Aron	Thanks for all the feedback, I've been checking out G10 or FR4 Epoxy boards now. What suppliers do you guys use for that kind of material? I've checked out keystone turrets on Mouser, they don't look very cheap, but I can't find FR4 board from them. Any suggestions? Thanks, Aron

3/19/2005 12:02 AM
loudthud	Does anybody know what the black PCB material is that is used on many of the OEM open frame power supplies. It must be UL recognized and fire retardant or they could never get away with using it. I think it would look better than FR4.

3/20/2005 9:00 PM
Jon Fleig	McMaster-Carr has G10 in brown, black, and blue, in addition to the std greenish hue. I believe G10/FR4 refers to the same fiberglass epoxy resin material. IIRC, G10 is a USA originated spec, and FR4 is the UK/Euro spec, but the same material meets both. -Jon

3/19/2005 5:14 AM
Dan	R.G. Why do you say, "Do NOT use phenolic" ??? Dan

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