Attaching magnets to Forbon.

[Kesh]

Yet another little detail that I can't find an answer to in the how-to guides.

Making some bass pups, p-bass style, and I was playing around with drill bits and forbon and some 5mm magnets.

4.7mm bit seems too tight to get in, 5mm too loose, so I was about to buy a 4.8mm, when I wondered if loose was good, as it leaves room for some epoxy to make a bond. (sorry if you work in inches)

Do you guys even epoxy, or is the tight grip enough?

So attaching magnets to forbon general.

[big_teee]

Yet another little detail that I can't find an answer to in the how-to guides.

Making some bass pups, p-bass style, and I was playing around with drill bits and forbon and some 5mm magnets.

4.7mm bit seems too tight to get in, 5mm too loose, so I was about to buy a 4.8mm, when I wondered if loose was good, as it leaves room for some epoxy to make a bond. (sorry if you work in inches)

Do you guys even epoxy, or is the tight grip enough?

So attaching magnets to forbon general.

I buy laser cut forbon if possible.
I taper bevel the magnet ends slightly.
That makes it easier to install.
Then I super glue the end magnets on the inside flatwork, top and bottom.
Super glue works great for this purpose, no mixing required like epoxy.
I mainly use the thin runny super glue on pickups, it gets in the small cracks better than the gel.
T

[copperheadroads]

For precise drilling you might need some # drill bits

[big_teee]

Here's a drill bit chart.
http://bobmay.astronomy.net/misc/drillchart.htm
T

[SonnyW]

Yet another little detail that I can't find an answer to in the how-to guides.

Making some bass pups, p-bass style, and I was playing around with drill bits and forbon and some 5mm magnets.

4.7mm bit seems too tight to get in, 5mm too loose, so I was about to buy a 4.8mm, when I wondered if loose was good, as it leaves room for some epoxy to make a bond. (sorry if you work in inches)

Do you guys even epoxy, or is the tight grip enough?

So attaching magnets to forbon general.

I would say you want them pretty tight. I mainly don't use the superglue, but I dip mine in lacquer, let them dry, and dip them again. You definitely want the magnet attached tightly to the forbon or it will have a tendency to flare out. I have used the superglue though if I was in a hurry. I use the laser cut ones mostly, and if I don't bevel them the sharp edge of the magnet will cut out a quarter moon shaped shaving when I press them in.

[big_teee]

I would say you want them pretty tight. I mainly don't use the superglue, but I dip mine in lacquer, let them dry, and dip them again. You definitely want the magnet attached tightly to the forbon or it will have a tendency to flare out. I have used the superglue though if I was in a hurry. I use the laser cut ones mostly, and if I don't bevel them the sharp edge of the magnet will cut out a quarter moon shaped shaving when I press them in.

Reading old posts.
Would anyone care to elaborate on Lacquer Dipping SC Pickup Cores?
Do you just take a can of generic lacquer, and dip the pickup in the can, and hang to dry?
More info, and particulars would be good.
T
T

[SonnyW]

Reading old posts.
Would anyone care to elaborate on Lacquer Dipping SC Pickup Cores?
Do you just take a can of generic lacquer, and dip the pickup in the can, and hang to dry?
More info, and particulars would be good.
T
T

Well here's the way I do it, FWIW. I use the regular furniture lacquer for this from Home Depot or Sherwin Williams, not the expensive Behlen Instrument Lacquer. I put some in a pickle jar and keep it on my bench. That way the main can won't dry out so much. After a few dozen I dip out a little more from the can to add to the jar to keep it up to dipping level. I made a little rack that I can hang them on and put a drip pad down. Here's a photo and in the background you can see the pickle jar. I use bent paper clips to hang them.



Ahead of time I get some paper towels ready and a couple of toothpicks. I just dip the flatwork in the jar and hang them on the rod over the jar to let them drip back into the jar for maybe half a minute then slide them down and dip the next one. I do about six at a time no more. The excess will drip onto the pad. After all have been dipped, I use a paper towel to wipe down the tops of the magnets and use the toothpicks to clean any lacquer out of the eyelets and the mounting holes. One time with the toothpick will get the holes, but it takes a couple of times with the toothpick for the eyelets. Some lacquer gets on your hands, but GoJo gets it off. I let them dry for a couple of hours then hang them from the other mounting hole and repeat the process. I wait until at least the next day to wind them so the lacquer can cure.

[big_teee]

Thanks Sonny:
I never really knew how it was done.

"I let them dry for a couple of hours then hang them from the other mounting hole and repeat the process."

When you say you repeat the process, you don't redip them do You?
T

[SonnyW]

Thanks Sonny:
I never really knew how it was done.

"I let them dry for a couple of hours then hang them from the other mounting hole and repeat the process."

When you say you repeat the process, you don't redip them do You?
T

Au contraire mon frere, I do redip them, and clean the tops and the holes again. I want the lacquer to coat both of the end magnets well. If I don't re-dip them then the magnet at the top gets a thinner layer of lacquer. Attaching the magnets securely to the forbon is only one of the benefits of this, another is helping keep the magnet wire from contacting the magnets and shorting or corroding, and the third benefit is sealing the forbon.

[big_teee]

Au contraire mon frere, I do redip them, and clean the tops and the holes again. I want the lacquer to coat both of the end magnets well. If I don't re-dip them then the magnet at the top gets a thinner layer of lacquer. Attaching the magnets securely to the forbon is only one of the benefits of this, another is helping keep the magnet wire from contacting the magnets and shorting or corroding, and the third benefit is sealing the forbon.

One more question.
Do you still tape the magnets?
T

[SonnyW]

One more question.
Do you still tape the magnets?
T

Yep. Kind of as a Belt and Suspenders defense to Murphy's law. I could probably get away without the tape but it is quick and easy so I keep doing it. I have seen and heard about so many single coils failing by shorting to the magnets or corroding there that it isn't worth the chance.


Edit: One thing I forgot to mention, if too much lacquer gets in the eyelets it can make it harder to solder so just before I thread the wire through I ream the tops of the eyelets out a little with a needle file I keep by my winder, or with anything handy like the tip of an xacto knife or small scissors or tweezers.

[copperheadroads]

Yep. Kind of as a Belt and Suspenders defense to Murphy's law. I could probably get away without the tape but it is quick and easy so I keep doing it. I have seen and heard about so many single coils failing by shorting to the magnets or corroding there that it isn't worth the chance.


Edit: One thing I forgot to mention, if too much lacquer gets in the eyelets it can make it harder to solder so just before I thread the wire through I ream the tops of the eyelets out a little with a needle file I keep by my winder, or with anything handy like the tip of an xacto knife or small scissors or tweezers.

I pretty much do the exact same thing & I clean the eyelets with a torch tip cleaner ,there are great for that ,

[big_teee]

I pretty much do the exact same thing & I clean the eyelets with a torch tip cleaner ,there are great for that ,

I've lived a sheltered life!
What's a torch tip cleaner?
T

[copperheadroads]

I've lived a sheltered life!
What's a torch tip cleaner?
T

Those little mini files ,People even use them to file nut slots with them if they don't have nut files
torch tip cleaner - Google Search
The work great for a bunch of stuff & only a $5 investment

[big_teee]

those little mini files ,People even use them to file nut slots with them if they dond have nut files
torch tip cleaner - Google Search
The work great for a bunch of stuff & only a $5 investment

I guess I'm tireder than I thought. lol
I have one of those, but was drawing a blank.
T