Futurlec Pots?

dap9 · Post by **dap9** » 05 Mar 2008, 05:55

Has anyone used these Pots from Futurlec? http://www.futurlec.com/PotRot.shtml They're pretty much the same size as these Alpha pots from Small Bear/Mouser, right? http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=693

I mean, the price just seems too good to be true. How much of it is a "you get what you pay for" kinda thing?

Thanks, Dap

Barcode · Post by **Barcode** » 05 Mar 2008, 06:37

i've used a ton. no bad pots in a single batch yet. futurlec is bargain basement, but don't let the price fool you. the stuff they have is mostly decent.

noelgrassy · Post by **noelgrassy** » 05 Mar 2008, 15:16

No $hit, that's very decent. I just bought a fistfull of these. Mouser number 311-701BF-100K at $3 each. They're only 7mm so I expect to have some more real estate in my builds.

greenskull · Post by **greenskull** » 06 Mar 2008, 07:15

Those Futurlec pots are a great deal, especially if you intend to really load up. The downside is that they're the knurled shaft variety and which don't go very well with set screw type knob like the Fulltone style Smallbear carries.... which I like to use.

Barcode · Post by **Barcode** » 06 Mar 2008, 09:07

greenskull wrote:Those Futurlec pots are a great deal, especially if you intend to really load up. The downside is that they're the knurled shaft variety and which don't go very well with set screw type knob like the Fulltone style Smallbear carries.... which I like to use.

this is true, but it does make it a lot easier to score cool knobs off old equipment, as most 60's, 70's, and 80's equipment (cb's, stereo's, etc.) had knurled pots and knobs to fit.

dap9 · Post by **dap9** » 06 Mar 2008, 18:27

What about the knobs that Futulec sells? Are any of those for knurled pots? They have some cool knobs and prices on their knobs (uh huh huh, "knobs")

Barcode · Post by **Barcode** » 10 Mar 2008, 06:29

dap9 wrote:What about the knobs that Futulec sells? Are any of those for knurled pots? They have some cool knobs and prices on their knobs (uh huh huh, "knobs")

actually their knobs are meant for regular shafts, but are bored way too small so knurled shafts end up being the only ones that fit. They screw down fine on knurled shafts though.

bajaman · Post by **bajaman** » 10 Mar 2008, 07:24

This is the major problem - you guys in the USA still insist on using imperial measurements whereas the rest of the World went metric a long long time ago.
Therefore a 1/4 inch jack plug = 6.3mm. The Asians (including the Japanese) make metric 6mm sockets and jacks. We all use 6mm pots except you guys in the USA.
we don't use 1/8 imperial whitworth thread - not for at least 30 years in New Zealand. We use what the rest of the World uses and what the Asians supply so plentifully - 3mm diameter metric fine thread.
Now if you Americans could just fall in line with the rest of the World we would not have the problems associated with knobs made for 6mm metric shafts not fitting potentiometers made with 1/4 imperial shafts.

This is why none of the parts on Japanese, Korean or Chinese guitars fit American made guitars properly, and why those cheap Korean and taiwanese patch cables always feel sloppy in genuine Switchcraft jack sockets

I just can't see the Americans falling into line with the rest of the World though anytime soon, so we will just have to live with the problem i suppose.

cheers
bajaman

djwackfriz · Post by **djwackfriz** » 10 Mar 2008, 14:05

bajaman wrote:This is the major problem - you guys in the USA still insist on using imperial measurements whereas the rest of the World went metric a long long time ago.
Therefore a 1/4 inch jack plug = 6.3mm. The Asians (including the Japanese) make metric 6mm sockets and jacks. We all use 6mm pots except you guys in the USA.
we don't use 1/8 imperial whitworth thread - not for at least 30 years in New Zealand. We use what the rest of the World uses and what the Asians supply so plentifully - 3mm diameter metric fine thread.
Now if you Americans could just fall in line with the rest of the World we would not have the problems associated with knobs made for 6mm metric shafts not fitting potentiometers made with 1/4 imperial shafts.
This is why none of the parts on Japanese, Korean or Chinese guitars fit American made guitars properly, and why those cheap Korean and taiwanese patch cables always feel sloppy in genuine Switchcraft jack sockets
I just can't see the Americans falling into line with the rest of the World though anytime soon, so we will just have to live with the problem i suppose.
cheers
bajaman

Hey, it was like this when I got here!!!

dap9 · Post by **dap9** » 11 Mar 2008, 01:19

Barcode wrote:
dap9 wrote:What about the knobs that Futulec sells? Are any of those for knurled pots? They have some cool knobs and prices on their knobs (uh huh huh, "knobs")
actually their knobs are meant for regular shafts, but are bored way too small so knurled shafts end up being the only ones that fit. They screw down fine on knurled shafts though.

Well, alright, I guess I'll give a few of those a shot and see how it works out. The price is right!

This is the major problem - you guys in the USA still insist on using imperial measurements whereas the rest of the World went metric a long long time ago.
Therefore a 1/4 inch jack plug = 6.3mm. The Asians (including the Japanese) make metric 6mm sockets and jacks. We all use 6mm pots except you guys in the USA.
we don't use 1/8 imperial whitworth thread - not for at least 30 years in New Zealand. We use what the rest of the World uses and what the Asians supply so plentifully - 3mm diameter metric fine thread.
Now if you Americans could just fall in line with the rest of the World we would not have the problems associated with knobs made for 6mm metric shafts not fitting potentiometers made with 1/4 imperial shafts.
This is why none of the parts on Japanese, Korean or Chinese guitars fit American made guitars properly, and why those cheap Korean and taiwanese patch cables always feel sloppy in genuine Switchcraft jack sockets
I just can't see the Americans falling into line with the rest of the World though anytime soon, so we will just have to live with the problem i suppose.
cheers
bajaman

I agree 100%. We're doing our kids a great disservice over here by not focusing more on the metric system. I for one, hate all the 1/8, 7/16, etc. sizes. millimeters are so much easier.

claytushaywood · Post by **claytushaywood** » 27 Dec 2011, 20:24

sorry to bring this up again, but i'm newbish of course and would love to save some dough on pots as i'm placing orders for a 10 pedal build.

it appears that all futurlec pots have PC mount pins instead of solder lugs. are you guys are using boards and projects that can make use of board mounted pots? or are you sodlering wires to these pots?

or are there holes in those lugs that i cannot see in the pic?

Thanks!

rocklander · Post by **rocklander** » 27 Dec 2011, 20:49

I use wires.. I just solder the wires to the lugs.. I think it was GregG that suggested making a small loop of wire to solder to the lugs, and I've been doing that lately.. makes it a lil more of a pain to remove them, but it's a better connection than just soldering to the lug and letting the solder be the 'glue'. I just tin the wire, then make a small loop with pliers, then squeeze the lop on the lug after sliding it over.

earthtonesaudio · Post by **earthtonesaudio** » 27 Dec 2011, 20:58

I use those. Usually I mount them to a board, but I sometimes twist the pins into loops like rocklander described, then treat them like small solder lugs.

For use with knobs that have set screws, I either arrange it so the set screw goes into the split part of the shaft, or I put a bit of material in the split so tightening the set screw can't cave it in. Folded up kitchen aluminum foil works for this.

Intripped · Post by **Intripped** » 27 Dec 2011, 21:27

tip: the perfect material to be put in the split is the little prong that you have to cut before mounting the pot.

claytushaywood · Post by **claytushaywood** » 27 Dec 2011, 21:45

Intripped wrote:tip: the perfect material to be put in the split is the little prong that you have to cut before mounting the pot.

huh? are you talking about the split knurled shaft?

Intripped · Post by **Intripped** » 27 Dec 2011, 21:49

like this:

Hides-His-Eyes · Post by **Hides-His-Eyes** » 27 Dec 2011, 21:52

If that works...

You are a genius.

skylark44 · Post by **skylark44** » 28 Dec 2011, 02:12

I've bought & used tons of stuff from Futurlec, and never had any quality issues...plus, their prices are ridiculously low

(which lets be buy large orders, for small amounts of cash).

BTW, good idea instripped

!

rocklander · Post by **rocklander** » 28 Dec 2011, 02:29

skylark44 wrote:I've bought & used tons of stuff from Futurlec, and never had any quality issues...plus, their prices are ridiculously low (which lets be buy large orders, for small amounts of cash).
BTW, good idea instripped !

their pots are great... as are most of their components, but what I wont endorse are their audio jacks.. they're just complete rubbish.. a year or so ago they were fine, but they switched suppliers or something and now they're flimsy as hell.. can't take much heat, the nuts are poorly machined and the splayed flange part that holds the threaded bit to the rest of it are so poorly constructed, if I tighten the nut with anything more than 'hand tight' they just disintegrate.

but as I said.. no problems with any of their other components and their prices are extraordinary.

claytushaywood · Post by **claytushaywood** » 28 Dec 2011, 20:23

cool idea about making the split shaft solid! too bad those little pieces are subjected to a more devasting monster than the one that eats my socks in the dryer! ill try a hand blocking method or somethin

whats the secret trick for soldering wire to those pc mount pins?