dimensions for vintage or ideal P90 cover

[Spence]

DIY Dogear covers

Finally got round to knocking up a former for early vinatge Dogear covers.



Just a first attempt, not the finished article.

[paulyy]

I've seen people asking for P-90 covers with no holes, so I think that would be a great idea. No one makes them! I'd also be interested in getting some.

I keep finding them on Ebay sometimes. You could check their. That might help.

[Spence]

I've seen people asking for P-90 covers with no holes, so I think that would be a great idea. No one makes them! I'd also be interested in getting some.

I've pretty much got the hang of vacu-forming. This is an example.



It would be easier to make a former with no pole screw holes.

[David Schwab]

I've pretty much got the hang of vacu-forming. This is an example.

[ATTACH]5607[/ATTACH]

It would be easier to make a former with no pole screw holes.

That looks great Spence. That was vacu-formed?

[Spence]

Yes, it really was. I'm more than happy to tell you how if you like.

[David Schwab]

Yes, it really was. I'm more than happy to tell you how if you like.

I am interested! I kind of remember you mentioning it some time ago...

But please do!

[Spence]

The whole reason I decided to get into vacu-forming was due to my constant push for better vintage style parts. But it's still a really valid technique today and with added benefits.
I very often got frustrated by parts suppliers being on back order or sending me really substandard parts at high prices.
So I looked into building a vacu-former and quickly decided that I could do better by buying something ready built. The best small machine available seemed to be the OmniVac former for dental purposes. You'll see these come up on ebay from time to time. It's a proper machine and not a Mattel toy.
I've experimented a lot on making formers. The best and cheapest method is to make a wooden former. I'm no wood worker but even I can do this. Any imperfections can be filled with a car body filler and sanded flat.
You'll need some vacu-formable plastic sheets. You'll need to experiment with thicknesses as the sheets will thin out when stretched.
You will also need a release agent like vaseline.
The big thing about vacu-forming is learning when the plastic is ready. It will sag in the frame under the heating element and you have to be brave, letting it sag more than you feel naturally comfortable with.
You also have to let the plastic cool down to ambient to be sure that there will be no shrinkage when you remove the former.
Of course there's nothing to stop you from filling a vacuum formed cover with epoxy resin afterwards. This might be just the ticket for your bass pickups.
I'do believe Jonson's been working on some covers too.
Trouble is he's been using one of these for the vacuum :

[jonson]

Great mate you are Spence. Tell you my little secrets and you make me look a complete Dick. Yeah David, Spence is right you can make some great covers with this method and easily homegrown. The man will show you.

[Spence]

Great mate you are Spence. Tell you my little secrets and you make me look a complete Dick. Yeah David, Spence is right you can make some great covers with this method and easily homegrown. The man will show you.

Sorry mate, I thought everyone knew.

[Spence]

Having seen Jonson's covers I think he should post the pictures here now before I do. They are extremely good.

[David Schwab]

Hey Jonson, I can't find that thread you did on DeArmond covers at the moment, but would something like this work well, with the proper dies, of course, to make a nickel silver cover?

6 Ton A-Frame Bench Shop Press

[jonson]

Don't see why not David. When I first started them I thought a fast thump was what I needed so I like Spence use an old English Fly Press. But the amount of slow push needed in .5mm Nickel sheet is not an awful lot and anything from about 4ton upwards should I would think do it. Please let me stress, the covers I do are shallow, so as far as p90 or deep covers are concerned then I cannot comment.
http://music-electronics-forum.com/t3387/

[jonson]

Spence, about 12inches by 9inches and about 2.1/2inches thick and a shop vac and heat gun I have found best. Maybe look at the Chartham method for lipstick pickups as long as they do a small one.

[jonson]

Ok Spence you win. This is not difficult to do guys. An mdf box full of holes on the top, a cople of clamping frames again mdf, a shopvac and a heat gun. Some covers the same size as my Dearmond ones, and now one of my dogears has had babies. This is far from rocket science.

[Spence]

Ok Spence you win. This is not difficult to do guys. An mdf box full of holes on the top, a cople of clamping frames again mdf, a shopvac and a heat gun. Some covers the same size as my Dearmond ones, and now one of my dogears has had babies. This is far from rocket science.

You've done it again Jonson.