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Making your own Capacitors

Posted: 28 May 2014, 20:31
by GuyB
I'm just wondering if any members have made their own Capacitors, especially signal path paper in oil types, I know film caps aren't expensive, but it might be interesting to make my own. thanks :D

Re: Making your own Capacitors

Posted: 28 May 2014, 22:21
by FiveseveN
Do gimmicks count? I made some Leyden jars once.

Re: Making your own Capacitors

Posted: 29 May 2014, 17:41
by Lucifer
I had to make a capacitor or two on my university course.

It’s not easy, believe me, but it can be done.

The ones we made in class weren’t as close in value as the theory suggested, plus they were 'unsealed' and therefore prone to moisture ingress and instability. And trying to get caps as compact - and uniform in size - as what you can buy, was nigh on impossible.

Like I said - yes, it’s possible to ‘roll your own’ - but - unless your a real masochist - why would you want to ?

Re: Making your own Capacitors

Posted: 29 May 2014, 21:45
by FiveseveN
Lucifer wrote:why would you want to ?
Why, for the toanz, of course. I guess the next best thing is this: http://studiozey.com/woodencapacitor/index.html
significant, across-the-board improvement in the sound
Well, I'm sold!

Re: Making your own Capacitors

Posted: 29 May 2014, 22:12
by Lucifer
Thanks, FiveseveN

I’m still laughing my socks off !! That’s the funniest thing I’ve read in years.

Pedals are getting smaller every day - then you suddenly bung in one of these wooden monsters - and there’s no room for anything else !

I know ! Let’s build all the components right into the pedalboard (must be wood, of course) - and then we could do away with the actual pedals themselves - just have one great big wooden circuit board.

Polished mahogany - with a flamed maple cap for improved top end - and rosewood footswitches for a smoother sound . . . and . . . and . . .

I’ve got to go to bed now (UK time) - my sides are aching.

Thanks again for such a great laugh. :twisted:

Re: Making your own Capacitors

Posted: 29 May 2014, 22:16
by induction
FiveseveN wrote:
Lucifer wrote:why would you want to ?
Why, for the toanz, of course. I guess the next best thing is this: http://studiozey.com/woodencapacitor/index.html
significant, across-the-board improvement in the sound
Well, I'm sold!
If they sound that good in the power supply, just imagine how awesome they would be in the actual signal path.

Re: Making your own Capacitors

Posted: 30 May 2014, 06:24
by DrNomis
For me,I can't see how putting the insides of an Electrolytic cap into a wooden case can make the sound of the cap better, unless you lose some of the electrolyte in the process (more than likely the electrolyte would dry-up), but then the capacitance value would change and the ESR of the cap would go through the roof........ :scratch:

Re: Making your own Capacitors

Posted: 30 May 2014, 09:05
by deltafred
There was a link to a youtube video some years ago on FSB of a guy making a guitar, he made almost everything including a PIO capacitor.

Re: Making your own Capacitors

Posted: 30 May 2014, 12:41
by phatt
Did I ever mention my reverse wound diodes? :secret:
Still trying to track down a decent winder. :ROFL
There was my barbed wire canoe but found myself up the creek without a paddle cause no one would back my ideas. [smilie=wine.gif]
Phil.

Re: Making your own Capacitors

Posted: 30 May 2014, 14:44
by induction
DrNomis wrote:For me,I can't see how putting the insides of an Electrolytic cap into a wooden case can make the sound of the cap better, unless you lose some of the electrolyte in the process (more than likely the electrolyte would dry-up), but then the capacitance value would change and the ESR of the cap would go through the roof........ :scratch:
Have you never heard of 'tone wood'? :wink:

Try encasing your resistors in ebony for increased tone realism and space definition. But only in the power supply. That's where tone really comes from.

At least it's slightly less stupid than this.

:scratch:

OK, maybe it isn't.

Re: Making your own Capacitors

Posted: 31 May 2014, 02:15
by DrNomis
induction wrote:
DrNomis wrote:For me,I can't see how putting the insides of an Electrolytic cap into a wooden case can make the sound of the cap better, unless you lose some of the electrolyte in the process (more than likely the electrolyte would dry-up), but then the capacitance value would change and the ESR of the cap would go through the roof........ :scratch:
Have you never heard of 'tone wood'? :wink:

Try encasing your resistors in ebony for increased tone realism and space definition. But only in the power supply. That's where tone really comes from.

At least it's slightly less stupid than this.

:scratch:

OK, maybe it isn't.



I checked out that link to those pebbles in a plastic bag, and I have to say my reaction was this....... :shock: .....followed by...... :scratch: ......and....... :slap:



The thing is, you most certainly can make your own capacitors, but there's some maths involved if you want to make caps of specific values....... :thumbsup

Re: Making your own Capacitors

Posted: 01 Jun 2014, 18:33
by J0K3RX
While you're at it, why not build a giant 555 timer chip... http://shop.evilmadscientist.com/produc ... itlist/652