Question:
Me and my dad were thanking about building a pedal board like this, look at picture at bottom. The one question we had is what is the best way to keep the pedals to the board when you put the lid on and try to move it. I don't think velcro would work.
Answer:
Velcro works OK, but sometimes the adhesive doesn't stick very well to the pedal bottom - cleaning it with alcohol helps, as does waiting overnight after applying the it before you do anything with it - those types of adhesives supposedly cure to a stronger bond after a few hours. On the pedal board - that adhesive doesn't always stick well to porous/rough surfaces like plywood, hardboard, particle board - it helps to seal it with paint - glossy would be best. Even with good adhesion, sometimes it lets loose, particularly with the heavier pedals. In my old lidded pedal bard thing I made many years ago, I had foam rubber in the lid to help hold down the pedals in transport.
I gave up on the velcro....Here's what I do these days - I simply drill holes (like 3/16") in the pedal board on each side of the device and use either nylon wire ties or some 4 conductor low-voltage solid wire (like what used to be used for residential phone wiring) that I have laying around to strap 'em down. Larger stuff may require a couple tie-downs, like in the shape of an X or T. The long wire ties are kinda pricey to buy, and if you want to change something you have to cut it. The solid wire can be used like twist-ties - its removable and reusable. A single conductor of 14 gauge or 16 gauge Romex type electrical wire would be great for that. An idea - use pegboard for the thing - it already has holes drilled.
I also gave up on the lidded box thing - my boards now are just a naked board with rubber feet on the bottom, and I use a properly sized gym bag for transport.
Answer:
Velcro works really well for me. Just make sure the velcro you're using is real velcro. Real velcro can be used multiple times for sticking and unsticking your pedals for those occasions when you have a GAS outbreak.
For my board, I've had no problems except for one pedal. THe TS-9. Just like Tom said, the velcro adhesive doesn't want to stick to the rubber on the base of the pedal. I've tried cleaning it and all sorts of things...i'll just have to keep trying. On the other hand, other pedals stick just fine and are even much heavier than the TS-9 like my H+K rotosphere, DL-4, wah, and echotap.
It'll be a fun project to build. But if you decide otherwise, give nycpedalboards.com a line. The custom build as well and they're prices are fair.
Answer:
thanks guys, that really helps.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Major Tom I also gave up on the lidded box thing - my boards now are just a naked board with rubber feet on the bottom, and I use a properly sized gym bag for transport. I gave up on the lidded box idea too. I really don't even think it's that necessary. If I could build it myself, that might be something else, but it's not worth the extra $100 to have a lid when you can just carry it around. You can't carry an amp, guitar, and pedal board all at one time anyway, so its alright if it takes two hands to carry it.
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Here is the thread I did about the first pedalboard I did. Velcro on MDF sticks better than anything I've come across. Just stick one side on the wood and the other side on the pedal, and it'll come off the pedal before it comes off the wood.
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Right now i am thinking i will make it to layers. The bottom will be where all the cable and power supplies are then one top the pedals to get the board looking nice and clean
Answer:
Originally Posted by wesley7777 Right now i am thinking i will make it to layers. The bottom will be where all the cable and power supplies are then one top the pedals to get the board looking nice and clean
Layers with easy access are a cool idea. I would suggest George L's for cabling flexibility.
Answer:
Originally Posted by albuht Layers with easy access are a cool idea. I would suggest George L's for cabling flexibility. That was what i was thinking to.
Answer:
my velcro experience: idustrial strength velcrois as useful as duct tape.