Formica Boards

[UltimateToneSeeker]

I saw a thread on formica boards one day but can't find it now. Where would be the best place to find Formica boards? If you make your own, what board material do you use to back the Formica with? Also, does the make, thickness of the Formica make a difference?

[vibratoking]

Why do you want to use formica?

[UltimateToneSeeker]

Why do you want to use formica?

A lot of the Dumble builds and the pictures of Dumbles I've seen have Formica boards, at least I thought they did. I was thinking that if that is the preferred board material I would try that. I had seen a post about it but couldn't find it again. Forgive my ignorance on the subject, I'm only looking for direction here.

[ToneMerc]

Only reason I used it was because of the cool factor. I believe the material I used was around .050 thick, which isn't quite as thick as the material HAD used.
IMHO, G10 is much better in so many ways for circuit board material, but HAD being the master scavenger used what he had access to and plenty of, obviously it works.

There's older threads buried as well.

https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?t=20516



TM

[Jhyatt2012]

Only reason I used it was because of the cool factor. I believe the material I used was around .050 thick, which isn't quite as thick as the material HAD used.
IMHO, G10 is much better in so many ways for circuit board material, but HAD being the master scavenger used what he had access to and plenty of, obviously it works.

There's older threads buried as well.

https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?t=20516



TM

I believe Two Rock is using formica for their amps too.

[UltimateToneSeeker]

OK so if I use formica I make sure that it's a pretty good thickness and don't back it with anything? Just double the sheets?

[ToneMerc]

Thanks ToneMerc. That's what I wanted to know. I had run across a post or two that said it affected the overall tone. Looks aside what's your take on it?

I believe Two Rock is using formica for their amps too.

Honestly, I've only used it twice, two different circuits so I cannot provide any tangible A/B comparisons. Like I mentioned before, from an engineering prospective there are better circuit board materials. However, there are killer holy grail dumbles with formica, kiiler clones with formica, killer clones with G10 and real dumbles with formica that don't sound that great.

TR makes some great models, board material kind of reminds me of some variant of Phenolic.

TM

[sergio]

to tell the truth, the formica is not a fireproof material , uses bakelite!!, you will go on the safe side!

[amplifiednation]

The formIca is easy to source, but it's usually pretty thin. Two sheets together would make an ok board, but I've been worried contact cement might be conducive, even when dry. I like the g10!

[jelle]

There is two grades, or thicknesses of formica. Get the thicker version and that is strong enough. Jelle

[glasman]

I have heard that some types of formica can be conductive. So beware and test it first before you commit to using it. I have heard a few builders have run into this.. Must be a bitch to troubleshoot.

for my buck, G10 is the way to go. Correct electrical properties, doesn't attract water (humidity) and is realatively cheap. Hell Howie built PCB amps and they were G10 material.

Just to clear any confusion, I corrected the spelling of 'conductive'.

Tom

[vibratoking]

...Hell Howie built PCB amps and they were G10 material.

Well, I guess it's OK for the rest of us.

For the life of me, I can't think of a single technical reason why anyone would use formica.

Hair is washed and combed, check...face is washed and moisturized, check...cologne on, check...finger nails trimmed, check...nose hairs trimmed, check...nads freshly shaved, check...formica cut and sized, check. Only one of those is essential and not motivated completely by unecessary vanity.

[Structo]

Now I will weigh in.
To use vintage board specs, you have to understand the risks.

I don't believe in any mojo that vintage board types bring.

To be specific, if Alexander Dumble knew that certain types of board material was faulty, he never would have used it.

Same goes for Leo Fender, if he could have fortold the future, then he certainly wouldn't have used the Fish Paper type boards that proved to ge in some cases to be faulty, or conductive.

I do agree that some enhancement of Dumble circuits can benefit from using vintage parts such as the (Iskra, Phier, etc.) resistors and caps.

I have not experimented with these vintage components to be honerst but I have no doubt that certain components do have a influence on the overall tone of the amp.

You just have to be cautious before spending $100's of dollars on rare components to try and gain any percent of tone.
I built my 100w ODS clone using mostly modern components, despite what people said.
Later I used some Takaman carbon film resistors on the cathodes of the preamp tubes as well as the PI cathode.
I think I percieved a bit more openness but that may be wishfull thinking.

Regardless, if you are going to clone an amp, the best thing is to accuratley the layout as well as the component list. (values)

Then after a burn in time of at least a week, then try other things.
But remember that you should test the amp after ever change to listen and evaluate the component change.
In other words, don't change more than one thing at a time so you can tell the difference in tone.

Good Luck![/img]

[mhartman]

Hell, you only live once. I'll let you guys know how it goes when Edcor transformers finally arrive.

[roknroll]

This is the company I use for G10
They cut it to size too. send Sam your specs and he quotes back pretty quick. For me it is great finding this place in New York!!
No I am not a shill for American epoxy.

Sam Danial
American Epoxy & Metal Inc.
2470 Rowe Street
Bronx, NY 10461
Ph: 718-828-7828
Sam@americanepoxy.com