What potting wax mix?

[888guitars]

I'm having issues with potting my latest batch of pickups. I usually use a 10% mix of beeswax and paraffin, but for some reason they are still microphonic? My method is using a brake bleeder at 20 in Hg. Vacuum Till no bubbles. Takes about 10 mins. This is the 2nd attempt with this pickup. Any ideas?

[big_teee]

Maybe it's not the pickup that is microphonic.
Check the rest of the guitar.

[888guitars]

Well I guess? But I can holler in the pickup. So it's gotta be

[Chuck H]

Well it seems by the description that the either there's a pocket with loose winds that the wax can't get into (I know, DUH). It's probably possible (though risky, but I've done it) to remove the magnets and reinsert them after potting. That would allow the wax better access to the inner winds. Are you using a new magnet wire that may have an unusual coating? Something siliconized or PTFE, uh, ized? might actually be shedding the wax. Just thinking out loud. I don't buy magnet wire so I really don't know if this is possible.

[big_teee]

what kind of pickup are you having trouble with?
Strat, tele, HB, P90, etc. ?
Some Pictures maybe?
T

[888guitars]

That is a very good question I'll see what I use to wind it with

[888guitars]

It's a humbucker. I've never had this problem before, I guess I musta wound it too loose?

[Chuck H]

Is it covered? Are you potting it assembled? If not covered, are the coils already taped? Are the screws in? etc...

10% beeswax seems fine. I think most guys go a little higher in beeswax, but there are also guys that just skip it and use straight paraffin. I'm not the potting expert, but pretty much anything that has a reasonably high melting point and can soften/sticky the paraffin a little should work fine. I've even used Vasoline! My point is that I don't think your wax mix is the problem.

[jvin248]

It's a humbucker. I've never had this problem before, I guess I musta wound it too loose?

Is it a covered humbucker? The cover could easily trap an air bubble (that gets larger and exposes more coils under vacuum).

.

[ken]

You might have to 'triple wax pot' your humbucker like Epi does.

1) Pot your coils individually before assembly

2) After assembly, heat up the coils with a hot air gun to loosen up the wax and repot the pickup again. Clean off all the extraneous wax.

3) When you put the cover on, heat up the cover and the pickup, assemble both, fill up the cover with molten wax, and and then vacuum repot again.

This should make your pickup impervious to all possible microphonics.

No lie

Ken

[Chuck H]

You might have to 'triple wax pot' your humbucker like Epi does.

1) Pot your coils individually before assembly

2) After assembly, heat up the coils with a hot air gun to loosen up the wax and repot the pickup again. Clean off all the extraneous wax.

3) When you put the cover on, heat up the cover and the pickup, assemble both, fill up the cover with molten wax, and and then vacuum repot again.

This should make your pickup impervious to all possible microphonics.

No lie

Ken

Is THAT how they do that. I re-potted some Epi pickups once (because they were microphonic!). I got the cover off without too much trouble and found a block of wax underneath. Nothing holding the pickup together except the wax. I can't even remember now if there was a proper base plate. I must have figured it out then though because the guitar is working and I didn't have to buy pickups .

[TimmyP1955]

Has anyone ever tried thin (not normal hardware store stuff - the stuff that is less viscous than water) superglue for potting?

[jack briggs]

humbuckers are supposed to be microphonic!

I'd try winding with a little more tension. could be bobbins are too loose. YMMV

[big_teee]

Good pick harmonics, with controlled feedback.
Try medium tight coils, well paper taped.
Then pot once with cover on fully assembled.
Drain excess wax out the corners.
GL,
T

[888guitars]

I must have just wound this one weird? Never had this problem before