6L6 Transmitter part 3

Installed the hardware, and started wiring up the internal components.
 

 The top side with the hard ware installed.

The front panel with meter and dial plates secured.

More to come.

Fresh Paint

Fresh paint, ready to install components.

6L6 Transmitter build Part 2

After getting the Dials all sorted out I started drilling holes and fitting the individual components. Anytime I build anything I like to dry fit all the parts. (old habit from 25 + years as a scientific glass blower)
I don't want to go back and re-drill holes after painting it.

This is the tool I used to drill the holes in the front panel a "Milwaukee ice" hole saw. You can buy them in the size you need or as a set. How do they work you ask? Very good, A+ in my book. It cut the 2" hole in the steel front panel easily, with a smooth finished edge. The aluminum chassis cuts were also good clean cuts.
Of course you must clamp it down before drilling. 

 

All the parts dry fitted, adjustments made, I pulled off the protective paper from the chassis and cleaned it up with alcohol.
 

Nice and shiny!
Added a  nice coat of primer, and I'll let it dry over night before I paint it the Copper Hammer-Tone color to match the power supply I built for it.

More to come.....

Dial plates

Had a time finding knobs with dial faces for under e Pay prices. So I thought
about making my own. I got some copper sheet at the hobby store, and then
got some transparency paper to use with my laser printer.

I got the big iron out on high heat, with the copper plate covered with a sheet
of typing paper ironed the heck out of it.

It took a few trial and errors but I figured out how to do it. I cut out the
excess copper sheet and into the etch it went, for 20 minuets. A bit too long
per the instructions but I wanted a distressed look. After it came out of the
etch I rinsed and scrubbed off the printer ink.

Then using a sharpie I colored it in and rubbed it with rubbing alcohol
to thin it out. It outlined the numbers just a little bit. I my go back with
printers ink to make it pop a little more.

While I was at it I made a badge for the chassis.

Well I did decide to black them in. what do you think? Clear coat over the top should seal them nicely.
Not too bad for a first timer eh.....

6L6 Transmitter

We now have enough of the parts to start the 6L6 transmitter project. I began laying out the front panel after cutting it down to size. I drilled the holes to attach it to the chassis. Along with the hole for the key jack. My small drill press does a great job on this kind of stuff.

 I attached the 10 X 8 inch front panel with screws and inserted the key jack port. On the front panel I taped some paper 0-100 dial  templates I made with Adobe Illustrator just to get a idea of the placement of the controls and ma meter.   

Below I arranged the tuning capacitors, coil form socket, tube socket, and crystal socket. On the rear of the chassis I'll mark the positions for the terminal connection strip, SO 239 connector, and ground lug. More to come.....

Christmas In November

Came home today after taking my son to the dentist. On the front porch was a box from my good friend and elmer for the 6L6 projects James Tobola - KC5LDO. This is what I found, a 10 watt 25K resistor, a 5U4GB tube and a 6L6 tube!

After installing the 10 watt 25K resistor (up from a 10 watt 20K) I measured 352.2 V DC. Up from 338 V DC I measured with the old resistor. Nice...

One of the thinks I like about this hobby is the willingness of hams to share knowledge, parts, and past experiences. If you can help someone out please do. I have in the past and will continue to do so like countless others in this great hobby.

Thanks again James!