Wooden Effects Pedals

BigMonka

Is it a crazy idea to make a pedal enclosure out of wood? Any one done it? Any potential pit falls?(other than a lack of woodworking skills!)
I guess it would need a decent amount of shielding to reduce noise as that's one thing that a metal case has going for it as well as strength and robustness.

Sporky

I think a wooden veneer on the top of a diecast enclosure might be a better bet - get the look without the issues.

BigMonka

Sporky said:

I think a wooden veneer on the top of a diecast enclosure might be a better bet - get the look without the issues.

It was more that I enjoy a bit of woodwork and have wood in the garage - the aesthetics were secondary and I'm not sure I could get a veneer to look good.
Do you think that the issues would be that severe?

Sporky

I was thinking of when I tried making wooden pickup rings and wooden pickup covers.

http://monkeyfx.co.uk/pictures/builds/spb1/spb1 pup cover finishedish.jpg

There aren't many timbers tough enough - you're going to have two short grain sides. And those had thicker walls than a Hammond enclosure, and were smaller. You could snap the sides off with your fingers...

A wooden pedal enclosure would need a pretty top and sides; then you've got to find jacks and pots and switches that'll work with that.

WezV

Sporky said:

I was thinking of when I tried making wooden pickup rings and wooden pickup covers.

http://monkeyfx.co.uk/pictures/builds/spb1/spb1 pup cover finishedish.jpg

There aren't many timbers tough enough - you're going to have two short grain sides. And those had thicker walls than a Hammond enclosure, and were smaller. You could snap the sides off with your fingers...

A wooden pedal enclosure would need a pretty top and sides; then you've got to find jacks and pots and switches that'll work with that.

You seem to be assuming it needs to be one piece of wood, which it doesn't.   If it did have to be one hollowed out piece you could leave the two short grain ends substantially thicker and mount everything to the long grain sides.


but yeah, it will either be weak or cumbersome and you would probably never stomp it

Sporky

That's a good point - you could also build it like a box with separate parts for each side and end. The stomping still worries me though.

BigMonka

I was planning to build like a box, and it would be for home use really so standing up to massive stomping isn't a huge issue (although clearly it would need a decent amount of strength).
After a bit more googling I've found a few examples, one DIY with lovely finger joints on the corners, and one by Humboldt Pedals in Chile:
http://ic2.pbase.com/g3/45/150145/2/120312548.kIIWYFeK.jpg
http://humboldtpedals.com/img/banner/02.jpg
http://humboldtpedals.com/img/banner/04.jpg