Blank panels

[M01C]

Hello Wigglers,

After lurking for some time, it was time to become a member...

I'm a proud owner of a two row fracrack. A bit Wiard, a bit Blacet. Besides my frac, I own a small eurorack system. Not much fracusers in the Netherlands

I would like a few blank panels for my frac. Jan Willem of Ginko Synthese offered me to convert a TTLFO to frac format. But it seems that the Blacet-site doesn't offer them anymore and the Paia-site seems down for a while.

Does anyone knows where I can order some blank panels? I can't find them in the Synthcube store.

Thanks in advance!

[flipper16]

You could use Doepfer 42hp blanks cut to your desired width... You'll just need to drill new mounting holes.

https://schneidersladen.de/en/doepfer-b ... 42hp-213mm

They come in Silver and Black.

[KSS]

Hello Wigglers,
After lurking for some time, it was time to become a member...
I'm a proud owner of a two row fracrack. A bit Wiard, a bit Blacet. Besides my frac, I own a small eurorack system. Not much fracusers in the Netherlands

Welcome!

Does anyone knows where I can order some blank panels? I can't find them in the Synthcube store.

Did you try to contac Synthcube direct? They may have something unlisted or can get something together for you. It hasn't been very long since all of Blacet's stock was moved to their site, and the pandemic took effect around or at the same time. I'd get in contact with them.

Alternative since Frac have simple panels. 3x38mm Aluminum bar from hardware or home store. Cut to 133mm length. Drill two 3mm holes. Done. Well, except they aren't black yet. Silver canvas for black paint pens or sharpies permanent markers!

[soup]

Bugbrand is the only one I know of who has blank frac panels at the moment...
viewtopic.php?f=29&t=215168

I don't know how up to date Paia's website is but they claim to have them...
https://www.paia.com/proddetail.asp?prod=FRB-1

But for something so specific I'd try just filing down the sides of the euro panel, you'd only need to take .05" off each side and drill 2 mounting holes down the center 4.65" apart. It would be less work than drilling out a blank panel.

Blacet didn't have 1fw blank panels either, at least not recently. The blanks he sold were 2fw.

[chachi]

the paia ones are hard to work with because they’re thicker, most 3.5mm jacks will JUST thread their nut. i am having the problem that i want to put a module in the wing of the paia rack but none of the jacks or even the pots will take their nut because the panel plus the thin steel of the rack is just a little too thick.

i have been hand cutting mine out of flat steel with a grinder. not always real pretty.

[Rob_C]

the paia ones are hard to work with because they’re thicker, most 3.5mm jacks will JUST thread their nut.

Are you using older PAIA blank panels or newer ones? PAIA panels used to be 1/8" thick and this was the thickness of the panels in the original 9700 series. These panels almost require a countersink on the back to mount a jack. But PAIA changed over to thinner panels a long time ago (PAIA says they are "industry standard 1/16" thick" in the description) and they also improved the graphics. Sometimes blank PAIA panels are for sale on Ebay or Reverb, but you should ask the seller beforehand about the panel thickness before purchasing. The single, double and triple panels are available for purchase on the PAIA website. If you have any questions you could check with Scott before purchasing.

I purchased some "bargain" panels from Blacet in 2017 -> Bargain panels from Blacet

As KSS suggested, contact synthcube, maybe they still has some of these Blacet bargain ones or even the regular ones.

[BugBrand]

Bugbrand is the only one I know of who has blank frac panels at the moment...
viewtopic.php?f=29&t=215168

Yes, got loads if you are happy with the PCB approach.

Years ago I did use Paia ones early on + the aluminium bar as suggested above.

[chachi]

hey rob, thanks for your reply. yeah, these are older ones, definitely before the changeover. thanks for the correction!

[M01C]

Thank you all for the replies!

It would be great if the panels were black. Frac and Euro don't have the same height. Unfortunately for some reason the Paia-site does not respond...

I will send a message to Synthcube.
Take care!

[M01C]

No luck at synthcube...

[chachi]

no luck like they didn’t answer or they didn’t have any?

[M01C]

They did not have any...

In two days I will choose a solution. Will share it here

[soup]

Frac and Euro don't have the same height.

No they don't but euro is smaller so it'll fit in a frac rack if you drill new mounting holes. The problem with euro is that 1fw is 7.5hp. You'd just be a hair over so with 8hp which seems fixable with a file and a little elbow grease. BUT regardless you should confirm with Jan the height of the module behind the panel, if it's over 4.25" it won't fit between the frac rails regardless of what you do for a panel.

I doubt I'd ever do it again but this is euro kludged into frac...

DSCF0995.JPG

[M01C]

Thanks for the advice.

[KSS]

Unfortunately for some reason the Paia-site does not respond...

PAIA is pretty much Scott sitting in an office warehouse at this point. With PAIA management a second guy in TX.

Scott is probably sheltering-in-place/home amid COVid19 lockdown. As a one man show he's not always too quick to reply even in the best of times. Generally the quality of his reply makes the time factor less a concern.

[M01C]

I did not mean I did not get a reply, for some reason I cannot get the website loaded. It seems like a time-out. The same when I try it through Google and also when I use the link in this thread. The site does not respond...

But if someone happens to have Scotts's email (info@paia.com ?)and is allowed to share it...

[Rob_C]

The website Paia.com loads normally for me. Are you outside the US?

You can reach Scott at Scott@Paia.com His email address is publicly posted on the Paia Support page.

[synthcube]

we certainly plan to have them available as we ramp up the Blacet items-- we just don't have any the moment :(

[deepblackjoe@gmail.com]

Maybe check out stainlessupply.com. They have a couple different grades of aluminum in various thicknesses. I got some frac blanks cut there in three different widths for less than $2 apiece. Shipping not that cheap, so I got a stack I'm still working thru. I sanded and then letter-stamped, but you could go anywhere with it.

[deepblackjoe@gmail.com]

IMG_20200407_202606885.jpg

[chachi]

edit

[M01C]

we certainly plan to have them available as we ramp up the Blacet items-- we just don't have any the moment :(

For now a pity, but not a disaster. Thanks for the reply!

[M01C]

The website Paia.com loads normally for me. Are you outside the US?

As stated in the openingspost, yes. Europe, Netherlands.
So sorry for the "wobbly" English, no native speaker
A few months ago, I had no trouble connecting the site.

You can reach Scott at Scott@Paia.com His email address is publicly posted on the Paia Support page.

Great! I'll try that. Thanks.