Hammond Chassis covers

[Sam]

Hi all,

Looking for advice from anyone who has used a Hammond perforated chassis cover and installed carry handles on it.
Having never used one of the perforated covers before, i'm not sure how much strength there is, or how much flex (if any) to expect.

The attached image shows my intent. I'm thinking 1mm thick plates sandwiching the cover to spread the load.
The chassis is 16" x 8". Matching cover is 20ga (0.91mm) thick. Amp is 5W single ended, so not a lot of weight in the transformers.

Cheers

   

[K O'Connor]

Hi Sam

The screws supplied with the covers are a bit small and the holes to attach the cover to the chassis end up very close to the chassis fold. This location likely works to advantage since the length of the screw takes the weight instead of just the width of a thread or so.

The cover material should not flex too much but it is a good idea to add the plates or fender washers as you've described. Mark Stephenson used a lot of these covers for small amps and I believe he had handles, too.

A better location for the handle is actually on the light end of the amp, as TUT3 describes. Add rubber feet on the transformer end of the cover and amp, and this makes the amp easier to carry. The central position for the handle is off-centre as far as weight distribution in the amp and twists your wrist when you carry it. A common probelm.

[makinrose]

I've done this quite a bit. I don't like to use the Hammond handles since they only have two attachment points. I usually buy a leather dog bone handles; the kind with four bolt holes. The handles work fine for lighter amps but I'd be careful doing with any amp with lots of weight both due to flexing the cage and the light screws for attaching the cage.

Putting the handle on the light side like KOC suggests sounds like a good idea too....

[K O'Connor]

Hi Makinrose

To clarify: I said the light END; not on top at the light end, actually on the end of the cover, which is also a solid piece of metal with no holes. The feet go on the other end, plus the usual ones on the bottom. The end feet allow you to set the amp down easily and as its weight is at that end it will be stable.

Have fun