Turrets vs tag vs eyelets

[SteveJones]

In my previous builds I've always done point-to-point as it seemed easier. For my current build, I'd like to try wiring on a board. You can get turret boards, tag boards, and eyelet boards.

Are there any strong feelings one way or another as to which of these is better? What are pros and cons?

Thanks for any advice.

Steve

[axpro]

For a final project, i prefer turrets. nice and solid

Turret boards are more work to set up (since you usually need to build it yourself) but they are worth it for a final build.

That being said, Many great old amps used eyelets. and have been rocking for 30+ years.

mostly a preference thing

I currently have a few chunks of tagboard laying around... works well too. kind of a mix between the 2. its good for prototyping, and you can cut it to size.

I think i still prefer turrets though

[Bruce / Mission Amps]

I agree with axpro.
I've been using eyelet board for so many years now that I can't see any reason what so ever to change over to turrets, yet I also can't see any reason not to use turrets if it suits your fancy.
I just prefer the eyelets and they are super cheap when you buy 1000 to 10,000 at a time.
Tags... well I've broken a lot of brittle tags off old VOX amps over the years so I don't have much love them.

[tubeswell]

I like eyelets too. I can get a bag of 500 4mm brass eyelets from the local hardware shop for $4. Using 3mm high-voltage switchpanel I can knock up a $10 eyelet board - complete with standoff nuts - in about an hour from start to finish using the most basic of tools. These big eyelets can hold a lot of wire too, which is handy. I never had any problem with these boards to-date (which is another reason why I like 'em eyelets).

[SteveJones]

Thanks. Source for eyelets, board?

Thanks for the responses. Bruce, good to see you are still active in this forum. I haven't been here in years. Life got in the way of building amps...

I was leaning towards turret boards, like the type made by Keystone: http://www.keyelco.com/pdfs/M55p132.pdf. I once called Mouser since they are a Keystone distributor and they said they could sell them to me (not in their normal catalog, would be a special order).

But now thinking maybe eyelets. What is a good source for eyelets, and quality boards to mount them on? Also, what tools do I need to insert an eyelet? Do you drill a hole and then use some sort of punch?

Thanks,

Steve

[cminor9]

I like to drill the holes, put the eyelets in there. I then put the board on my bench vise and put a center punch with a fairly obtuse angle on the point into the back end of each eyelet and give it a pound.

You just need something wedge shaped to flare the eyelet.

I have used eyelets and turrets. I happen to like working with turret boards, simply because it's easier for me to make sure I get good connections. With eyelets, you just kinda stick the wires through the holes and solder. With turrets, you can use a pair of needle nose pliers to wrap the leads firmly around the turrets, then finish with solder. That way you have a good mechanical connection first before you solder. And you can wrap a heck of a lot of wires around a turret.

It's also more transportable. This allows me to assemble board at the desk in the family room, where I can sit and talk to my wife. I can easily transport the board to the generally wife-free basement to solder. Time with her while building amps, I'd call that a win-win! That way she doesn't complain about my spending the whole evening in the basement, and I get to build amps!

One of these will build two or three simple amps: 01 - More Info for item P-HTUR-60 Spending $10 saves me time and really isn't that much more expensive than buying the parts to make an eyelet board. Then again, I am not building in mass quantities like Bruce and others, so I can absorb the extra cost on the relative few amps I'll ever build.

[cminor9]

I was leaning towards turret boards, like the type made by Keystone: http://www.keyelco.com/pdfs/M55p132.pdf. I once called Mouser since they are a Keystone distributor and they said they could sell them to me (not in their normal catalog, would be a special order).

Oh, and I have bought similar turret strips from AES. They worked really well, though the link to the board I provided cost a bit less. The Keystone strips were something like 3/16" glass epoxy and cost accordingly. The turret board on AES I linked to isn't quite that thick but is still pretty sturdy material.

[tubeswell]

I like to drill the holes, put the eyelets in there. I then put the board on my bench vise and put a center punch with a fairly obtuse angle on the point into the back end of each eyelet and give it a pound.

You just need something wedge shaped to flare the eyelet.

That's sort of about how I make mine too. I also countersink the holes in the rear of the board a bit so that it makes the flaring of the eyelets take a bit better

[tubeswell]

What is a good source for eyelets, and quality boards to mount them on?

Try a building supply barn or hobby/craft shop (leatherwork suppliers?) for brass or copper eyelets and an electrical supplier for the switchpanel or phenolic board.

[SteveJones]

Thanks!

Thanks for the info guys.

Steve

[SysCrusher]

I use both. Enables you to be a little more 3 dimensional.

[soundmasterg]

Thanks for the responses. Bruce, good to see you are still active in this forum. I haven't been here in years. Life got in the way of building amps...

I was leaning towards turret boards, like the type made by Keystone: http://www.keyelco.com/pdfs/M55p132.pdf. I once called Mouser since they are a Keystone distributor and they said they could sell them to me (not in their normal catalog, would be a special order).

But now thinking maybe eyelets. What is a good source for eyelets, and quality boards to mount them on? Also, what tools do I need to insert an eyelet? Do you drill a hole and then use some sort of punch?

Thanks,

Steve

Steve,

Unless you're doing production and are going to buy huge quantities to get price discounts, it is hard to beat Hoffman amp's prices, and his service is top notch. He sells turret lugs, board material, eyelets, and staking tools. Check it out. Hoffman Amplifiers, Tube amplifier parts, tube amps, tubes

Greg

[Tonestack]

I prefer to eyelets over turrets. Board construction is less labor intensive, and maintenance and mods are easier to perform. Eyelet boards also tend to be quieter than turret boards because the components are closer to the chassis, which, if connected to signal ground, acts a large ground plane.

[tedmich]

cheap!

apexjr.com tagboard 11 3/4" X 2 1/4" Dual row of 28 contacts $3.95 each

read RGs stuff on PTP vs. tag/turret/eyelet

PTP done right is best...(not to make or repair though!)

[Kazooman]

Turret Board Question

I've done eyelets in the manner described by others. Works great.

I have never done turrets and have a naive question. How do you attach the components? Do you wrap the leads around the post or do you stick the leads down the hole in the turret? Either way it looks like a lot of metal to heat for soldering. Is that an issue?