Thinking about making a pedal board or two

[Jwar]

Hey fellas and non fellas. So I was asking around on Instagram and it occurred to me that I should just make my own fucking board. I don't play out, but on the off chance I do ever take my board somewhere, I want it to be easy to move.

SO here's the plan thus far. I'm thinking of using aircraft grade aluminum. It would be light weight, but not super light weight and probably able to hold up to almost anything if I make it right.

I'm planning on a double or triple tier...not positive about what yet.

For instance, here is what I'd use for the poles for one tier to the next.

http://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cf ... &top_cat=0

Or this

https://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.c ... top_cat=60

This for a top piece (half inch holes, but I'd love a bit larger, so this is just kind of a guess at this point).

https://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.c ... top_cat=60


Now I could get as cheap or as fancy as I want here.

My question is, what would you do option wise??

I want something that makes sense and making it seems fun even though in the long run, it probably isn't cost productive and will end up costing more than having a custom one just made. I get to learn a ton and I have all the tools to pull this off at my mother in laws.

So what would you do??

The only question I have it do I angle it and if so...I've got to figure out a proper approach to cutting it. Cutting metal is a bit harder obviously than wood, but it's also not that hard. I've never done 90 degree angles though, but I can't imagine it's much different as long as you measure properly and have a good weld done.

Thoughts???

Does it even seem worth it? I mean...it seems like it'd be fun as hell and I'm toying with getting the whole thing anodized and engraving parts of it.

[Jwar]

Nothing?? No input at all??? Come on you sexy bastards!!!!

[Invisible Man]

Moving any kind of board of the size you use would be difficult, especially if you want a lid/cover to protect it...which seems important given the complexity and value of all that stuff.

Yeah, it can be done. I think you might have better luck/results in asking a local friend or fabricator to weld some stuff up for you unless you've got a lot of experience with welding. I've done a fair amount of bodywork on old cars, but it's tricky work when it's as fine as what you're trying to do. Usually that kind of work will take someone half an hour, and you just pay them for your time once you've sourced all the parts.

But I'm confused. Don't you already have a board?

My vote is to buy a mid-size Pedaltrain and build specific board(s) for what you want to do if you're playing out. You're asking for problems of many stripes if you haul a giant board out full of crazy expensive boutique pedals and about (failures, power trouble, theft, access to stomp switches, on and on and on).

[elevenstrings]

Going by the pricing on that site, you'll pay more in materials than a custom board.

If you want perforated aluminum, just order a Custom District Board. He'll make any size and # of tiers.

[PeteeBee]

Remember that one coffee and riffs episode where the guy brought a table-sized board LOADED into that guitar shop? He did some cool drones and all sorts of nice loops, but it took two dudes to get it in there. I'd go the way IM suggested and get it medium one for what you need when the opportunity arises.

I'm a simple man. I have a big board at home and a little one that lives empty unless I'm playing out regularly, in which case I put the essentials on it. Worth it to not deal with the issues related to the big board being loose in public. I find that because I don't play out very regularly, I have to keep it real simple or it gets distracting from what we're actually doing.
When I was in a proper band I could bring more pedals and it would work, but since now it is less regular I have to keep it simpler.

[actual]

but it took two dudes to get it in there.

two dudes is the equivalent of one jwar

[Jwar]

Going by the pricing on that site, you'll pay more in materials than a custom board.

If you want perforated aluminum, just order a Custom District Board. He'll make any size and # of tiers.

That's just the first place I looked. I'd shop it a lot more before committing, but I'm still debating using Custom District as well. I more or less was going to do this as a learning experience type of thing. So, who knows, I may end up not doing anything. LOL.

Moving any kind of board of the size you use would be difficult, especially if you want a lid/cover to protect it...which seems important given the complexity and value of all that stuff.

Yeah, it can be done. I think you might have better luck/results in asking a local friend or fabricator to weld some stuff up for you unless you've got a lot of experience with welding. I've done a fair amount of bodywork on old cars, but it's tricky work when it's as fine as what you're trying to do. Usually that kind of work will take someone half an hour, and you just pay them for your time once you've sourced all the parts.

But I'm confused. Don't you already have a board?

My vote is to buy a mid-size Pedaltrain and build specific board(s) for what you want to do if you're playing out. You're asking for problems of many stripes if you haul a giant board out full of crazy expensive boutique pedals and about (failures, power trouble, theft, access to stomp switches, on and on and on).

Re-welding. My brother in law and father in law are extremely experienced welders. So I'd be learning from them if not having them mostly do it. Especially the hard stuff. My father in law used to work on off shore drill rigs as a welder. He's been doing it like 30 years as a job.

The weight isn't really any issue. If anything, this would make it lighter since I'm using wood right now. I could do a case, but it's not a must since I don't gig and would only be taking it a few places that are save (like the ILF meet up or my cousins house).

I think if I lay this out intelligently enough, it will not be an issue. I'm not looking on going bigger than what I have, which is PT Grande size, I'm just looking at layering it so I can tuck things away that are being accessed via bypass looper or midi.

Really I don't need to do any of this obviously. It's just something that's kind of fun that I feel like I'd enjoy doing.

Maybe I could powder coat it instead of anodizing. It's easier.


Nothing is a definite here, but I think I'll start investigating cheap aluminum just to see what I could get it down to in price.

[Jwar]

I emailed Custom District. Fuck it. LOL.

I may make some wooden ones though for fun and laser them bitches...

[Dark Barn]

Jwar: I posted this on the TB Alberta thread for you but I don't think you saw it. This is my friend's dad's friend, his real name. I hope you find it inspiring.

[JonnyAngle]

Jwar: if you build it, you will cum