tommypiper said:
MediaWorksOKC said:
Hi Skyler.
Thank you for everything you have done!
Will a percentage of the bodies still be available raw (no plating)?
Yes, I would prefer this option too. So we can do our own plating, painting, powder coating, or leave it raw, etc.
Let us know. Thanks.
None of these will have a raw finish.
The body tube and end cap will be clear, anodized aluminum.
The headbasket will be brass with a polished nickel plating.
If you want to paint or powder coat the body, just do it over the anodized aluminum.
Many finishing processes on aluminum work best if you anodize the aluminum first anyway.
If, for some reason, you want to remove the anodized layer, use oven cleaner then polish the aluminum (details via Google).
Be warned that after you do this, your aluminum is no longer protected from oxidation, and you'll have to refinish it with paint, plating, or anodizing!
So, I don't really recommend removing the anodize layer.
Besides, I've heard experts say that anodizing is the strongest & most resilient finish known to man.
If you want to take the headbasket down to a raw state, use muriatic acid (concrete cleaner); it will remove the nickel plating without damaging the brass.
Or use
Caswell MetalX B-929 Nickel Stripper.
If you remove the nickel plating from the brass, you will want to seal it with some type of laquer to prevent tarnish.
Or just leave it as-is if you prefer the brass patina look.
I might try this with a body or two and document my processes & results.
rodabod said:
Skylar, did you look into the subject of effectively copyrighting your design work (yes, I know the design is a copy of another design) to stop other manufacturers from stealing your work? It would just seem a shame to see very cheap tube mics made from the same parts in the future.
Regards,
Roddy
If I understand US copyright laws correctly, a work is instantly copyrighted once it's created.
You increase your chances of winning in a dispute if you register with the US Copyright Office.
I plan to do just that, copyrighting the mic body as a sculptural work.
But I have no control over anything that happens in China.
I am signing an agreement with the manufacturer, but if they break the agreement, there is not a thing I can do.
Honestly, if a bunch of cheap mics started cropping up with this body, that could be a good thing
because at that point, the factory would probably be producing them in high quantity, meaning the price would be reduced.
I see that as a positive.
This whole project is about making a well-designed mic body available for DIY enthusiasts...not about me making money.
Speak of the devil...
TheGuitarist said:
Sounds good, any updates on pricing?
The price is planned at $200.
I was really trying to get it down to $175.
The shipping & import duties are going to be hefty, and I want to make sure that the US tax doesn't end up costing me money.
But, I am going to throw in a $13 binder 7-pin connector for no charge.
matta said:
Hey Skylar,
Are the same company doing your lovely PSU case as well? I'd love to be able to purchase them together, if an option. I think many of us bought the PCB for Max's PSU design and it would be great to have a 'matching set'. The other REAL nice feature would to have some way to mount the MK7 sets into the mic body, if not a stock, maybe an option?
Thanks again for all your efforts, MUCH appreciated!
Cheers
Matt
I am working on the power supply enclosure too.
I wanted to get everything cleared on the mic body before I jumped in on the PSU enclosure to simplify the development.
If everything works out, these enclosures will be available with the mic bodies, which is convenient & money-saving for everyone.
I cannot promise anything with regards to the PSU enclosure yet, however.
