If You Can't Buy It, Make It!

Nobody wants to sell me a desktop switch panel that doesn't look like butt, so I made my own from walnut, aluminum, and vintage-style parts.

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[oggyreidmore]

Replace the word "lid" with "access panel" and it can be in any orientation you want.

i.e. Bring water to a boil, remove the pot's access panel, and pour pasta into the boiling water.

[undefined]

Cudos for remembering to ground the aluminum plates. Many YT DIY channels forget to do that to metal housings for electronics/electricity.

[avshunmeckaneck]

It needs an over powered transformer, loosely bolted inside to make the humming noise when it's running.

[jameslocke]

I haven’t seen them sold in maybe 30+ years, but I still have a 2” thick power switch device that you would rest a CRT monitor on. It has five amber rocker switches, one for each device it powers, and a red rocker switch on the end to turn the whole thing on/off. Each switch only lights up when that device is receiving power. It’s basically a glorified power bar, with a circuit breaker in the back, but I still find it handy because I’m in a wheelchair and can’t easily reach a strip under the desk. Plus like you said, it’s a great way to see at a glance which devices are on or off!

[maxximumb]

Did you know you can import McMaster-Carr components to Fusion? The switches probably have a 3D model already made.

[ghostshadow]

That's great! This build reminds me of a few of the custom boxes my grandpa made over the years for his HAM radio (and I think also CB) antenna amp meters and voltage regulators and analog signal meters. I have a few of them he made. They are the same green color, super clicky tactile switches and needle gauges. I just love the looks of them and wish I could use them for something but I don't have a radio setup or anything to use them for.

I remember when I was growing up he had a radio room in our basement (I was raised by him and my grandmother) he had tons of equipment on his desk it was like a command center, all of the lights, dials, morse code pads, microphones, radios, dials and gauges, it was so damn cool to look at. We had huge antennas outside the house and I used to love climbing the antenna column to see how high i could go before chickening out, haha! There was so much cool stuff. Over the years he sold or traded a bunch of it off but kept a few things he made. When he passed in 2021 I inherited all of what remained. Just looking at it and the vintage green and wood grain just brings back memories.

[cdhacker]

I can't believe this, literally yesterday I was searching for the exact same thing and also decided that it does not exist and I have ordered very similar parts to build it!

[MrQuickLine]

I appreciate how much you're willing to risk your own safety and well-being for a demo of something you made.

[sandcat]

I think both lights in the middle would have looked better but the horizontal panel was definetly the way to go

[MikeyMack]

I worked for a company that sold those components, back in the 60's - 70's. Love the old school panel mount toggle switches and jewel pilot lamps. Back then' they came with replaceable bulbs for which ever voltage and brightness you might need .If you search the NET, you could find those pilot lamps complete, with bulbs! They also sold "Bud" boxes, made of aluminum, in every conceivable size and configuration. Then you could apply the walnut veneer to the outside of the box to enhance the look! Think of 1970's stereos. Nice stuff! Thanks for sharing!

[ElectraFlarefire]

Earthing the front panel/metal switches.. Yes! Good to see someone who knows about that!
So many don't and while they can get away with it 99% of the time. Every once in a while, well, relying on the RCD(Earth leakage) breaker to save you isn't a great idea. It still hurts!

[pinksnort]

I remember when those jewel lamps used neon bulbs. This project needed little embossed Dymo tape labels below the switches to complete the look

[markelder]

I like that you explained “strain reliefs.” Not everyone knows that, but they should. Great video & project!

[Gamah]

My ADHD really wanted you to put the switches on the outside with the lights on the inside to give bigger separation between the parts you interact with and also create symmetry. Still a really cool video! Subbed

[WillThat]

This is super neat. I've been thinking of putting together control boxes like this but for my Home Assistant. Instead of switching AC, it would basically just be a remote and control a smart power strip, switch, window shade, fan... Basically anything connected to my Home Assistant.

[GrowlyBear]

At 2:50, "...I collect control panels.." The moment I heard you say that, I knew I would subscribe to your channel. You the man!!!

[almagill]

Oh the *nostalgia* :)
Took me back to teenage me haunting the local Tandy / Radio Shack and fabricobbling some very shonky electronic gadgets (most of which were entirely unnecessary) into the little project boxes they sold. Noice!

[justinkashtock]

"what do you call a bottom lid?"
Access panel. Project cover. Take your pick.
"I picked up these clips; C clips; retaining rings?"
Snap rings.

Reminds me of some of the projects I used to throw together back when Radio Shacks were common and still sold electronics components; I'd have an idea or a need for something and I'd just go buy the stuff to make it and have it done by the evening. Once everything moved to online ordering and I could no longer buy components locally, I stopped making project box devices, and I do miss it sometimes.

In the past I made an audio cable tester that looked similar to this, as well as a push-button ignition for my wifey's MGB when someone tried to steal it with a screw driver and trashed the ignition switch; a new switch had to ship from England and was going to take a few weeks to arrive, so I whipped up a starting mechanism with a toggle switch and a push button so she could continue to use her car in the meantime while we waited on the proper parts.

[MattTester]

I also love control panels, we need a tour of your collection.

[scriptsrl]

This is the first video of yours I’ve seen, and I must say the algorithm blessed me. Instantly gained a subscriber. Absolutely love the aesthetic of the finished project, and perfect level of explanation to follow along without feeling like a tutorial.

I think the decidedly “not bright” LEDs may actually be a benefit here — they are bright enough to see the state, but not too bright to be distracting if you’re working late with the lights off. I personally hate when peripherals have blindingly bright status lights