[TenTec] Need knob for Ten Tec 229 tuner

[Dr. Gerald N. Johnson]

I think I'd fill the whole back of the knob with a sturdy metal filled 
epoxy, like J-B Weld. Stick a quarter inch teflon rod into the shaft 
hole and after it sets, drill and tap the epoxy for a new set screw. If 
I was really grumpy, I'd take some thin teflon sheet with a snug quarter 
inch hole and put that against the panel and epoxy the knob to the shaft 
providing I could plan to have to destroy the knob to get the front 
panel off to replace lamps or dial cord. Those tasks would make epoxying 
the knob in place undesireable. Or I'd grab some 1/2" brass rod, put it 
in the metal lathe and bore it to a quarter and then with the original 
knob chucked carefully, I'd bore out the wimpy plastic guts making room 
for that new brass insert and epoxy it in place, then drill and tap a 
sturdy set screw hole that probably wouldn't give any more trouble. Or 
that could be a steel piece, if I didn't find a scrap of knob in my 
shoebox of knobs that I could adapt.

Maybe I'd look for something in a collet knob like from:
http://catalog.selcoproducts.com/category/collet-knobs

or from Mouser:
http://www.mouser.com/Neutrik-RE-AN/Electromechanical/Knobs-Dials/_/N-5g22Z1z13vyk?P=1z0juku&Keyword=collet+knobs&FS=True 

Though the larger knobs may have to be modified to shorten the sides to 
get the collet close enough to the panel. Probably would take a minute 
on a grinding wheel, lathe, disk or belt sander. I'd protect my fingers 
by mounting on a quarter inch shaft with the cap off.

An Alta Vista (or google if you must) search on collet knobs turned up 
about 82,000 hits, so there may be some handier to use than those from 
Mouser, but not easier to buy.

73, Jerry, K0CQ

On 2/16/2011 6:30 PM, David Thompson wrote:
> Jerry,
>
> You hit the problem on the head. Its all plastic. The only metal is the
> flange with 0 to 10 marked on it. I had a bigger set screw and it was
> used se;dom since last Fall and that set screw has now fallen inside. I
> am not sure if I want to go to the effort of drilling and tapping. There
> is no flat edge and the shaft is fiberglass to the set screw digs in.
> 73 Dave K4JRB
>
>