Jared_SA
31 posts
Apr 29, 2013
1:19 AM
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So I got bored waiting for the other parts to build my bullet, so I made a mic from an old egg timer, which I picked up for 55c at a thrift store and an old baking sieve.
Just can't find a micro pot for the volume, as a standard pot doesn't fit in the arc at the back of the "egg", hence the toggle switch.
Any suggestions?
P.S. This is still in process. Needs to be painted and finished.
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BronzeWailer
977 posts
Apr 29, 2013
4:06 AM
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My assistant will go to the graveyard at midnight and get some spare parts, but you'll have to wait until the next full moon.
Seriously, though, you are good with your hands. Looks great!
My YouTube
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Jared_SA
33 posts
Apr 29, 2013
4:36 AM
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Hahahaha. Thanks BronzeWailer
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Frank
2278 posts
Apr 29, 2013
4:41 AM
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Is the switch used to choose between tone - over easy vs. scrambled :) where did you get the grill from?
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Jared_SA
34 posts
Apr 29, 2013
5:19 AM
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Frank. The not sure yet about the switch. Looking for a micro pot for volume, but no luck yet.
The grill is from the bottom of the egg timer, about 12-13mm up. I cut it when it just starts to arch, giving it a little bit of an arc to hold the grill. Then I cut out a piece of baking sieve in the size of the outer diameter of the shell, so that when it is forced into the shell, it arches and makes a dome.
The egg timer I used is probably 15 years old, but you can get a nice new stainless steel one off ebay for cheap. Like this:
and the mesh grill:
Hope that helps. Email me if you want a sketch up of how i did it. jaredvdm(at)mail(dot)com
EDIT: Sorry for the size of the egg timer pic :L
Last Edited by Jared_SA on Apr 29, 2013 5:20 AM
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Frank
2279 posts
Apr 29, 2013
5:34 AM
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voilà
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MJ
618 posts
Apr 29, 2013
7:56 AM
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Why not put the pot on the side and a 1/4 input on the end? That should work. It looks nice. Good job.
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Ray
432 posts
Apr 29, 2013
8:20 AM
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It does look good!
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HawkeyeKane
1623 posts
Apr 29, 2013
8:40 AM
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On the volume pot conundrum, it'd take some R&D, but I think it'd be really cool if you could somehow make the body of the mic be the control knob. Kinda like Greg's stealth control on his wooden models. You already have a number set from the timer. Remount the jack & switch to the sieve, and then just twist the body back and forth to control the volume. As I said, it'd take some doing...probably more than you're wanting to invest in it. But just a thought.
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Hawkeye Kane
Last Edited by HawkeyeKane on Apr 29, 2013 8:41 AM
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Rick Davis
1684 posts
Apr 29, 2013
8:50 AM
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Jared, that is quite clever.
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-Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Tip Jar
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FMWoodeye
624 posts
Apr 29, 2013
9:25 AM
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Perhaps next you could make a shoe mic, a la Maxwell Smart. The possibilities are limitless due to the many different kinds of shoes.
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isaacullah
2417 posts
Apr 29, 2013
12:25 PM
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Jared, you are man after my own heart! Have you seen my instructables on DIY mic building? You clearly don't need the instruction nor the inspiration, but perhaps you might find them interesting nonetheless...
http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-quotbulletquot-style-harmonica-mic/
http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Microphone-Building-Tutorial-Series/
Your egg-timer mic looks way cool... And I also saw your last post about the other mic you molded from scratch... Iw as too busy that week to make a comment, but that looked super cool as well! Nice work! Makes me feel like I should get back into mic-building (it's been awhile)...
FYI, I did find micro-pots in my local electronics store (Fry's Electronics). I'm not sure if you've got something similar to that down in SA, but if you do, it can't hurt to look.
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Check out my songs on Soundcloud!
Visit my reverb nation page!
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Jared_SA
35 posts
Apr 29, 2013
12:44 PM
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Thanks Frank, MJ, Ray and Rick.
Hawkeye Kane, thanks for the idea. I did think about it after perving over Greg's mics, but I love the idea and the way he has done it, that I'm rather saving to buy a custom one from the man himself. Frank's idea on a switcher between tones is something I'm considering.
FMWoodeye, yes that's a project that is in the pipeline :P
Thanks Issac. Your 6 videos, which I stumbled across on YouTube, is what got me thinking: "Hey, this doesn't look too hard!", so thanks a ton for uploading such helpful vids.
If you could send me a link of what I would need (resistance-wise) that would help, because I'm useless with the heavy tech stuff. Then I could ask guys here to order the stuff.
I'll update as soon as I have more progress.
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fred_gomez
50 posts
Apr 30, 2013
12:08 AM
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i seen vol pots on the side of the mic. seems easier too.
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Georgia Blues
49 posts
Apr 30, 2013
5:23 AM
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Nice funky looking piece. Just my two cents but why paint it? It's cool the just way it is, with it's history and all. The numbers and old patina are great.
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Alex
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Georgia Blues
50 posts
Apr 30, 2013
5:26 AM
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I do have one question. How did you attach the shell to the rim?
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Alex
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Jared_SA
36 posts
Apr 30, 2013
5:58 AM
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Thanks Alex.
I'm actually going to use it as a mold. Then finish it as is. The look has grown on me.
You caught me out... I'm still wondering how to attach it, as it does have a slight "lip" on the shell, but not enough to fit screws or a thread. I'm going to make a fibre glass mould this evening. I'll take more pics. From there I can re-position the holes for the Pot and Jack. Then... Jackpot.
Last Edited by Jared_SA on Apr 30, 2013 6:13 AM
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isaacullah
2418 posts
Apr 30, 2013
6:03 AM
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Hey Jared, what you are looking for is an audio-taper potentiometer in the range of 100-500K Ohms resistance (or up to one or two meg resistance if you are using a really hot element), but you want it to be small form-factor to fit in the small shell. That means you need to be searching for 1/8" shaft potentiometers (or 3 mm). A quick search on e-bay found these that, at a cursory glance, look like they would fit your needs: http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-new-Bourns-500K-1-8-Audio-Taper-Pots-Potentiometers-/220633553822?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item335ec8db9e
Good luck!
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View my videos on YouTube!
Check out my songs on Soundcloud!
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Last Edited by isaacullah on Apr 30, 2013 9:13 AM
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Jared_SA
37 posts
Apr 30, 2013
6:11 AM
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Dude! Isaac!
Thanks a ton. Really helps. I think I should video my Fiberglass attempt tonight.
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Jared_SA
39 posts
May 03, 2013
5:25 AM
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Ok... So here are a few screen shots from the video tutorial I was going to make.
Small original lip:
Element
Showing the curved lip of the grill frame:
Stainless sieve mesh which I cut to the outside diameter of the of the grill, so that it makes a convex shape when forced into place.
Resin - Roughly $2.40
Plastic I cut to extend the lip, so that the grill has something to grip to.
Cloth and Resin applied
Rough body filler
I used a stanley blade to "carve/trim" the high spots
Shot the rim black. Just needs the clear coat. Sanding and second layer of filler applied presently to eliminate those pit marks.
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Jared_SA
41 posts
May 06, 2013
9:19 AM
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Ok, so I'm pretty much done. A few minor details, including the volume knob.
Will do better photos tomorrow.
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isaacullah
2426 posts
May 06, 2013
11:21 AM
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Looks really great man!!!
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View my videos on YouTube!
Check out my songs on Soundcloud!
Visit my reverb nation page!
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HawkeyeKane
1658 posts
May 06, 2013
12:01 PM
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Indeed! Spot on!
I really need to get my rear in gear and do a mic build of my own. I've got lots of little trinkets that would make novel mic shells.
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Hawkeye Kane
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Jared_SA
42 posts
May 06, 2013
11:32 PM
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Thanks guys. Will post more pics and a sound clip.
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