[Amps] Building an Amp 101

[Hardy Landskov]

Jerry, et al,
I echo the email below. A GOOD drill press is a requirement. I have a Dewalt 
that was a hand me down from my father, built like tank in Pittsburgh, circa 
1955 and it is great! (After a thorough rebuild) But the thing that has made 
it absolutely a great machine was the addition of an X-Y table I bought from 
Enco for a sale price of about $100. It is not a milling machine by any 
stretch but drilling tubing to make antennas is a piece of cake. It will do 
small milling jobs (slotting tubing) but the quill is too small to attempt 
anything bigger than  using a 1/4 inch mill.   Ok, enough sermon. Spend 400 
to 700 bucks. Look for older machines that have a substantial amout of metal 
in them. If it can be rebuilt, go for it.  I guarantee the payback will 
justify the expense. But then again, who knows what might be under the Xmas 
tree next year?
73 Hardy N7RT


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jerry Muller" <k0tv at k0tv.com>
To: "Jerry" <jsternmd at att.net>; <Amps at contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, January 17, 2014 8:51 AM
Subject: Re: [Amps] Building an Amp 101


> Jerry (why do I like that name :-)),
>
> While not necessary to have a full machine shop, a drill press can do most 
> anything. I do some VERY LIGHT milling with mine using a movable vise and 
> milling bits in the chuck. As long as you're only doing aluminum, take 
> only a little bit at a time, and prepare to replace your bits often, you 
> can do it.
>
> I wouldn't try anything without a drill press.
>
> Other tools that help:
>
> Grinding wheel with an aluminum oxide wheel (expensive but do nice finish 
> work).
> Bending Brake.
> Cutoff saw.
>
> Good luck,
>
> Jerry - K0TV
>
>
>
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Jerry
> Sent: Friday, January 17, 2014 10:10 AM
> To: Amps at contesting.com
> Subject: [Amps] Building an Amp 101
>
> I have had a long desire to build my own linear HF or VHF amp.  I believe 
> I
> have the electronic technical skills but after looking at some completed
> projects like those on WD7S website, I realized I don't have the skills or
> tools to do a nice job on the mechanical aspects of chassis / sub-chassis
> sheetmetal work.  I guess I could cram it all into an unattractive box
> behind a reasonable looking front panel but is linear amp building mainly
> for those with good metal work capabilities?   How does one break into 
> this
> with limited workbench space other than an electronic workbench?
>
> Jerry
> _______________________________________________
>