Zvex - Fuzz Factory

Scruffie · Post by **Scruffie** » 12 Apr 2009, 14:01

Ah i know the tape you mean, yea you'll stop burning yourself soon, just takes practice to not melt yourself every build (still breathe in those tasty lead and flux fumes though mmm mmm) Well good you've finally got a result, sounds like your on the final stretch (just hope nothing tries to stop it!) As for taping the board, i usually find it a bit easier and neater to just tape the side of the box if i have to, but whatever your preference i guess.

Tea sounds like a good idea...

Good luck,
Scruff.

trad3mark · Post by **trad3mark** » 12 Apr 2009, 15:38

i think it's a case of everything that can go wrong, will go wrong. I think i've broken the switch...

A similar case has happened to me before when doing a killswitch for a friend. As you may know, occasionally, if you've to solder more than one thing to a pole on a switch, the plastic around the pole can melt, and inevitably, the pole can come loose. Well, first off, it started with pole 3 (where input is). I melted the plastic, moved the pole into as vertical a position as i could, and put on a tonne of solder, and it lived.

then it happened with pole 6 (where output is) and i did the same, melted it to bits, soldered it to bits, and it worked.

Well, it's just after happening to pole 8 (connected to Input) and disaster has struck. I now have no LED power indicator, and no input or output. ALSO, and more worryingly, when i press the switch to turn on, the latching MECHANISM feels as it should, but when i press to turn it off, it feels so much easier, like something's gone internally?

so this begs the question, keep on soldering to bits until i get a LED sign, or, order a new switch and have to wait for aaaaaaaaaaaggggges again......

Scruffie · Post by **Scruffie** » 12 Apr 2009, 19:16

Aw no... now that sucks, I snapped the switch clean in half with my first build because i forgot to put a washer on the underneath of the case aswell as on top and tightening it split it.
Well... i guess you can order another one now and then keep going at it, if you fix it you got a spare switch for the next time and a working fuzz. If you dont, then youll have something to keep you busy till the next comes, unless you have enough working pins to move it round somehow ? maybe even if it means losing the LED

The first builds always a struggle, but you'll learn from it (Btw are you using a sharp point soldering iron or a flattish one, i used a flat one for the first few and just got a sharp one and its made life sooo much easier, worth the £5) & I guess you'll just have to count your losses, atleast you have a working fuzz factory Circuit!... just can't turn it on yet...

Well hope you manage to get it going,
Good luck,
Scruff.

trad3mark · Post by **trad3mark** » 12 Apr 2009, 19:41

yeah i ordered 2 just a while ago from the effects connection. As you said, at least i have a working circuit, so when i get the switch, i'll just swap it in.

it's very agrivating though, but yeah, these things happen.

flood · Post by **flood** » 13 Apr 2009, 04:28

current status of my fuzz factory enclosure (yet to be drilled):

the image is a woodcut of purgatory. the runes read: "fuzz", "factory", the description from the zvex site, and "sauron loves the fuzz factory too! ROFLcopter". i stupidly scuffed the etching in parts, and some parts around the lettering are extremely spotty - but i am going to experiment with spray-on photoresist soon as an alternative to iron-ons.

trad3mark · Post by **trad3mark** » 13 Apr 2009, 13:34

lol! i'm actually laughing. But i'm not laughing AT IT! It's one of those laughs where someone out does something so much, that it's ridiculous. That finish job is crazy. In a good way!!! like i know there's some cool fuzz factory custom paint jobs out there, but i think that takes the cake. Seriously astounding work there. Nicely done.

Is it a normal sized fuzz factory box?

as for me, I was so close......

http://i41.tinypic.com/t5t738.jpg

i think i will paint it

flood · Post by **flood** » 14 Apr 2009, 08:22

trad3mark wrote:lol! i'm actually laughing. But i'm not laughing AT IT! It's one of those laughs where someone out does something so much, that it's ridiculous. That finish job is crazy. In a good way!!! like i know there's some cool fuzz factory custom paint jobs out there, but i think that takes the cake. Seriously astounding work there. Nicely done.

Is it a normal sized fuzz factory box?

as for me, I was so close......

http://i41.tinypic.com/t5t738.jpg

i think i will paint it

hey thanks!

yep, it is a normal fuzz factory size box. the picture isn't too great, there's light shining in all sorts of weird ways on the box. will take new pictures in better lighting conditions, but the acrylic reflects like crazy. it would have been perfect if i hadn't gone and put my grubby fingers on it just before etching... then i scuffed some areas. nonetheless, i'm quite satisfied - you can still clearly see lucifer sitting on the mouth of hell and saying "fuzz factory." it took some effort for sure, but i simply didn't want the lousy looks the original handpainted zvex thingy.

i'm using long-shaft pots too! still need to cut those to size.

you can look at it this way - you can still do anything you want with your box!

Scruffie · Post by **Scruffie** » 14 Apr 2009, 23:51

Damns you artistic types, that box is very nice and i'm sure alot of people on here would agree with you that zvex is the devil on top of his high hill, although i bare no personal grudge... Wish i could do good images and get some etching going, i normally just write on them in pen which is very dull... I particularly liked this image of scream.

jfromel wrote:just finished this.... rehouse and workover of an Ibanez ADL...

Nice to see some other etchings, very cool stuff so far.

Scruff.

trad3mark · Post by **trad3mark** » 15 Apr 2009, 11:21

ololol! now that's evil... I'm going to hand draw the design and then tweak it in photoshop. I think it's going to be black, white and red with some sort of an enamel over the whole thing...

trad3mark · Post by **trad3mark** » 20 Apr 2009, 13:48

between bitsbox.co.uk and how well the pedal worked, i've ordered parts to make a second FF

Igloo · Post by **Igloo** » 20 Apr 2009, 14:58

So,
After some time I am back looking at this thread.
People still making these things ha?

Ok, so I FINALLY had an original disected on the bench this weekend.
Here you see the board. Zvex branded germs riiiiiight. 5k linear. Not a 5CK to be seen.

Now look here - MPSA18 hmm ok then.

And so the Factory de Fuzz is updated and confirmed. Yes, yes you have to flip the Stab wires if you built it earlier blame shitty French schems. Actually you don't have to who cares which way it turns.

Igloo.

Spazzmatazz · Post by **Spazzmatazz** » 20 Apr 2009, 15:23

Zvex branded germs...

I could do Spazz branded germs...

Forced_Fire · Post by **Forced_Fire** » 20 Apr 2009, 16:01

Thanks for the great thread everyone!

trad3mark · Post by **trad3mark** » 20 Apr 2009, 16:02

nice work igloo

i just ebay'd their ass. those MPSA18's are quite cheap on ebay. Looks to me like zack vex knew he was onto a winner, so between the ZVex AC128's (or at least i'm assuming they're pretty identical to them considering older FF's have ac128's) it looks like he's doing serious investment protecting.

L_Z_Nut · Post by **L_Z_Nut** » 22 Apr 2009, 22:07

Igloo wrote:

Igloo.

I think you're missing a cut trace between C4 and C2.

beans1 · Post by **beans1** » 22 Apr 2009, 23:40

Igloo wrote:So,
After some time I am back looking at this thread.
People still making these things ha?

Ok, so I FINALLY had an original disected on the bench this weekend.
Here you see the board. Zvex branded germs riiiiiight. 5k linear. Not a 5CK to be seen.

Now look here - MPSA18 hmm ok then.

And so the Factory de Fuzz is updated and confirmed. Yes, yes you have to flip the Stab wires if you built it earlier blame shitty French schems. Actually you don't have to who cares which way it turns.

Igloo.

Any one have a part number for the the pots and switch? I searched alpha taiwan but couldnt find them as well as mouser.
Thanks

Scruffie · Post by **Scruffie** » 22 Apr 2009, 23:48

A part number for which shop and country? You might have to get a 4.7k Linear pot as some places don't stock 5k as for the switch you either want a DPDT for no LED or 3PDT for true bypass & LED.

Scruffie.

beans1 · Post by **beans1** » 23 Apr 2009, 00:39

Scruffie wrote:A part number for which shop and country? You might have to get a 4.7k Linear pot as some places don't stock 5k as for the switch you either want a DPDT for no LED or 3PDT for true bypass & LED.

Scruffie.

A part number for which shop and country?

I live in the usa .. I forget that people from all over the world visit free stomp boxes

Thanks.

Scruffie · Post by **Scruffie** » 23 Apr 2009, 00:47

Quite alright, Small Bear Elec stock the pots here http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=555 and switches here http://www.smallbearelec.com/Categories ... %2C+Relays or Futurlec do pots here http://www.futurlec.com/PotRot.shtml

Hope these help,
Scruffie.

beans1 · Post by **beans1** » 23 Apr 2009, 03:18

Scruffie wrote:Quite alright, Small Bear Elec stock the pots here http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=555 and switches here http://www.smallbearelec.com/Categories ... %2C+Relays or Futurlec do pots here http://www.futurlec.com/PotRot.shtml

Hope these help,
Scruffie.

Thanks again.

Zvex - Fuzz Factory [traced]