Austin crack build

[sladef34]

Hi there - my wife surprised with a Crack for xmas - she's cool like that.  ;-)

I just completed the wiring/soldering last night, and all of the resistances check out.

I saw someone with a mirror finish and decided that's what I wanted to go with.  I tried sanding/steel wool/polishing myself following
the instructions of another very helpful member on the forums here, and
while I got it looking pretty good, I guess I just didn't have the patience to get it looking like chrome.

So...I called a guy I know who restores old cars and hotrods.  He sent me to a small shop that specialized in buffing steel.
In about 15 minutes, the guy there had my top plate looking like liquid mercury.  He used 600 grit with a rotary sander, and then
used a very powerful (5 hp) buffing wheel (looked like a big bench grinder) with some polish.  Having the right tools certainly helps - what an
amazing finish he put on my top plate.  For the transformer end bell, I went with a Rustoleum Metallic paint called Rustic Mist - sort of a bronze color - and then applied a glossy lacquer.

(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi888.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac89%2FCombatYoga%2FAmp1.jpg&hash=46942eb4f5e90694ed3903d19b3e8ea18083c637)

In retrospect, I wish I would have also painted the silver screw heads that hold it down.

As you can see in the background I've just glued the wood base together.  I'm planning on going with an ebony stain and finishing with a semi-gloss varnish.

There is so much great information on this site.  I have found a number of answers simply by searching the forums.  More importantly, I've found all sorts of great ideas.  Someone posted a link to some Les Paul guitar knobs in amber that go up to 11 - that will be the piece de resistance.

I bought a pair of AKG-240 DF cans which are waiting patiently to be plugged in.

I'm quite certain that I'll be back with some troubleshooting questions when I go to listen.  I've never soldered anything before in my life...

Excellent instructions and a fun build so far - thanks Bottlehead crew.  It will be so satisfying to hear music through this when it's complete.

Slade

[mchurch]

Nice Finish!!

It should really stand out with an ebony finish.

I was thinking along those lines myself when I built my Seduction but I was think about getting it Chrome plated or Nickel plated but in the end I was too eager to get building so I went with the paint. You have given me a great idea for the next kit I build.

Cheers

Mike

[Noskipallwd]

I really like the mirror finish!! The rustic mist is an interesting color. I used ebony stain on mine, I got a little over zealous and mine basically looks piano black. Staining is not one of my strong points, but it has grown on me and I am pretty happy with it now.

Cheers,
Shawn P.

[Wardsweb]

That came out very nice. Most everyone here knows I like shiney. I sanded and polished my Paramours and had my SEX amp chrome plated. Different roads to the same destination. It's all good.