Hi all,

I recently became interested in trying to build a small two-tube regen type
receiver for broadcast and/or shortwave reception. I designed a simple
chassis based on some vintage articles on the subject. This is the classic
'metal box with attched front faceplate' design. I was going to use
cold-rolled steel since we have this at work and spot weld the face to the
main chassis, but then I got to thinking that perhaps the steel might
interfere with the coils. I noticed also after this that every old article
that I've come across usually suggested aluminum for the chassis. They
don't make mention of the reasons for this, however. I was wondering if
ease of machinability for the amatuer working with simple hand tools, and
perhaps also weight savings, were main factors, or was it mainly for lack of
magnetic interation with the coils? We also have sheets of aluminum, brass,
and stainless that I can use but I'm not sure if they can be resistance
welded, so I would have to bolt the face onto the main chassis box. Anyone
have any further ideas or insights?

thanks in advance,

Dave

David Forsyth wrote:
Hi all,

I recently became interested in trying to build a small two-tube regen type
receiver for broadcast and/or shortwave reception. I designed a simple
chassis based on some vintage articles on the subject. This is the classic
'metal box with attched front faceplate' design. I was going to use
cold-rolled steel since we have this at work and spot weld the face to the
main chassis, but then I got to thinking that perhaps the steel might
interfere with the coils. I noticed also after this that every old article
that I've come across usually suggested aluminum for the chassis. They
don't make mention of the reasons for this, however. I was wondering if
ease of machinability for the amatuer working with simple hand tools, and
perhaps also weight savings, were main factors, or was it mainly for lack of
magnetic interation with the coils? We also have sheets of aluminum, brass,
and stainless that I can use but I'm not sure if they can be resistance
welded, so I would have to bolt the face onto the main chassis box. Anyone
have any further ideas or insights?

thanks in advance,

Dave


Steel will be fine. Your suspicions about workability are correct but
there is also plating/painting to consider.
-Bill

David Forsyth wrote:
Hi all,

I recently became interested in trying to build a small two-tube regen type
receiver for broadcast and/or shortwave reception. I designed a simple
chassis based on some vintage articles on the subject. This is the classic
'metal box with attched front faceplate' design. I was going to use
cold-rolled steel since we have this at work and spot weld the face to the
main chassis, but then I got to thinking that perhaps the steel might
interfere with the coils. I noticed also after this that every old article
that I've come across usually suggested aluminum for the chassis. They
don't make mention of the reasons for this, however. I was wondering if
ease of machinability for the amatuer working with simple hand tools, and
perhaps also weight savings, were main factors, or was it mainly for lack of
magnetic interation with the coils? We also have sheets of aluminum, brass,
and stainless that I can use but I'm not sure if they can be resistance
welded, so I would have to bolt the face onto the main chassis box. Anyone
have any further ideas or insights?

thanks in advance,

Dave


Steel will be fine. Your suspicions about workability are correct but
there is also plating/painting to consider.
-Bill

I recently became interested in trying to build a small two-tube regen
type
receiver for broadcast and/or shortwave reception. I designed a simple
chassis based on some vintage articles on the subject. This is the
classic
'metal box with attched front faceplate' design. I was going to use
cold-rolled steel since we have this at work and spot weld the face to the
main chassis, but then I got to thinking that perhaps the steel might
interfere with the coils. I noticed also after this that every old
article
that I've come across usually suggested aluminum for the chassis. They
don't make mention of the reasons for this, however. I was wondering if
ease of machinability for the amatuer working with simple hand tools, and

Aluminum is usually easier for most to work with with simple hand tools.
Steel is fine but it might rust and look bad after a while. Make the
chassie out of whatever kind of metel that you think is the best for you to
work with . Electrically there will be little if any differance.

I recently became interested in trying to build a small two-tube regen
type
receiver for broadcast and/or shortwave reception. I designed a simple
chassis based on some vintage articles on the subject. This is the
classic
'metal box with attched front faceplate' design. I was going to use
cold-rolled steel since we have this at work and spot weld the face to the
main chassis, but then I got to thinking that perhaps the steel might
interfere with the coils. I noticed also after this that every old
article
that I've come across usually suggested aluminum for the chassis. They
don't make mention of the reasons for this, however. I was wondering if
ease of machinability for the amatuer working with simple hand tools, and

Aluminum is usually easier for most to work with with simple hand tools.
Steel is fine but it might rust and look bad after a while. Make the
chassie out of whatever kind of metel that you think is the best for you to
work with . Electrically there will be little if any differance.

Yes, I have found when building regenerative receivers wood is the best
chassi. However a metal front panel is a must. However I only use battery
tubes with low voltage. Never more than 45 volts. But when building
solid-state regeneratives. A good ground plane helps. Build it the dead
bug way.

Yes, I have found when building regenerative receivers wood is the best
chassi. However a metal front panel is a must. However I only use battery
tubes with low voltage. Never more than 45 volts. But when building
solid-state regeneratives. A good ground plane helps. Build it the dead
bug way.

The "dead bug" way? I'm not sure what this means - please forgive me I'm
new to this :-)


Dave



"Bill Hennessy" wrote in message
. ..
Yes, I have found when building regenerative receivers wood is the best
chassi. However a metal front panel is a must. However I only use
battery
tubes with low voltage. Never more than 45 volts. But when building
solid-state regeneratives. A good ground plane helps. Build it the dead
bug way.

The "dead bug" way? I'm not sure what this means - please forgive me I'm
new to this :-)


Dave



"Bill Hennessy" wrote in message
. ..
Yes, I have found when building regenerative receivers wood is the best
chassi. However a metal front panel is a must. However I only use
battery
tubes with low voltage. Never more than 45 volts. But when building
solid-state regeneratives. A good ground plane helps. Build it the dead
bug way.

David Forsyth wrote:

Hi all,

I recently became interested in trying to build a small two-tube regen type
receiver for broadcast and/or shortwave reception. I designed a simple
chassis based on some vintage articles on the subject. This is the classic
'metal box with attched front faceplate' design. I was going to use
cold-rolled steel since we have this at work and spot weld the face to the
main chassis, but then I got to thinking that perhaps the steel might
interfere with the coils.

Nothing wrong with steel. Altoid mint tin-plated steel boxes are very
popular for QRP projects, and tin-plated boxes are often used for
screening on commercial RF PCBs.

73, Leon