Hammond project boxes

[veedub565]

I bought some new project boxes from Farnell (product 301589), and I have to say I'm really disappointed with the quality compared to the box I already have. The finish doesn't seem as good and there's burrs on the edges from the casting (pic attached). is this normal ?

[moffy]

That is a pretty lousy finish, not the usual diecast look.

[veedub565]

Isn't it just. I've filed the casting burrs best i can, and it's going to be powder coated so I guess it will look fine in the end, but it's not great is it.

[tooki]

How do you guys figure? That’s exactly how I expect unfinished die-cast enclosures to look. The finish looks like the pictures on the Farnell and Hammond websites: https://www.hammfg.com/files/parts/images/26827PSLA/26827psla-closed-2022.jpg?v=1697661804

The lower case in your picture has clearly been ground, no die-cast surface looks like that.

P.S. Please provide manufacturer part numbers, not just distributor SKUs.

[moffy]

How do you guys figure? That’s exactly how I expect unfinished die-cast enclosures to look. The finish looks like the pictures on the Farnell and Hammond websites: https://www.hammfg.com/files/parts/images/26827PSLA/26827psla-closed-2022.jpg?v=1697661804

The lower case in your picture has clearly been ground, no die-cast surface looks like that.

P.S. Please provide manufacturer part numbers, not just distributor SKUs.

You have a point, they live up to the Hammond photos, but personally I'm not used to seeing all the filing marks on diecast boxes.

[Psi]

Give Hammond an email and ask what is going on, they are usually pretty easy to deal with.

Maybe its a different finish/part number to what you had.

But it's pretty easy to add a 'brushed metal' look to any metal case using a wire brush in one direction.
It makes them look way better as well as hides any scratches.

[wraper]

One on the bottom looks grinded or brushed, probably both. No way it came out of the die cast this way.

[tooki]

You have a point, they live up to the Hammond photos, but personally I'm not used to seeing all the filing marks on diecast boxes.

What filing marks? I just see dings and scratches, probably from them being moved around loose in bins or something.

I think I’ve always considered bare die-cast enclosures to be a kind of “raw” product not intended to be pretty. There are very different enclosure models (or finished die-cast boxes) for things where aesthetics are a concern.

[tooki]

But it's pretty easy to add a 'brushed metal' look to any metal case using a wire brush in one direction.
It makes them look way better as well as hides any scratches.

Oooh, that gives me an idea: I should see what results from bead-blasting a die-cast enclosure!

[CaptDon]

Years ago I was buying these with a 'finished' surface and already painted. I was buying red boxes and light blue boxes. Hammond sold these at different price points. Bare die cast aluminum will be subject to all of the normal aluminum oxide aging. In the red boxes we built a 6 channel battery operated mic mixer. In the blue boxes we housed 6 female XLR connectors and 3 female 1/4" T.R.S. jacks with a 50 foot snake cable coming in through the side of the box. Indeed there were Unfinished, Finished, and Painted price points. I still own one of the red mixers which was built around 1988 and even after all of the years of being kicked around on stages and altars it looks like new!! They used a very good quality painting system. The original battery was a 2.2AH 12V gelcell (I converted my own personal unit to 4 X 18650 Lithium) and after all these years even the inside of the box looks like new. The interior was not painted other than apparent overspray mist. I have no idea what was used to primer these boxes since most paints won't adhere directly to aluminum for very long.

[veedub565]

One on the bottom looks grinded or brushed, probably both. No way it came out of the die cast this way.

Yes the one on the bottom was a random ebay buy, I don't think it's even branded.

You have a point, they live up to the Hammond photos, but personally I'm not used to seeing all the filing marks on diecast boxes.

What filing marks? I just see dings and scratches, probably from them being moved around loose in bins or something.

I think I’ve always considered bare die-cast enclosures to be a kind of “raw” product not intended to be pretty. There are very different enclosure models (or finished die-cast boxes) for things where aesthetics are a concern.

There's a rough edge along the edge of the box at the top of picture. All 4 sides are the same, probably from where it came out of the die. I didn't realise there different levels of finish to these things, so probably what I've bought is a just a rough and ready raw die cast enclosure.

As I say I've filed off the burrs now and it's going to be powder coated anyway so it's ok, but I'll look up the different levels of finish available. The box at bottom of picture clearly has a had more finishing applied.

[tooki]

One on the bottom looks grinded or brushed, probably both. No way it came out of the die cast this way.

Yes the one on the bottom was a random ebay buy, I don't think it's even branded.

The original post made it sound as though your existing case was the same model of Hammond, and that you were disappointed by a change in quality. 

There's a rough edge along the edge of the box at the top of picture. All 4 sides are the same, probably from where it came out of the die. I didn't realise there different levels of finish to these things, so probably what I've bought is a just a rough and ready raw die cast enclosure.

As I say I've filed off the burrs now and it's going to be powder coated anyway so it's ok, but I'll look up the different levels of finish available. The box at bottom of picture clearly has a had more finishing applied.

I don’t think anyone sells die-cast cases that have that brushed finish.

Die-cast enclosures are inexpensive, robust cases. Even painted, they aren’t super-precision enclosures. (The key dimensions are stable. But you have surface imperfections.) Other types fill that market. If you buy Hammond’s die-cast enclosures in black, they have a crinkly satin finish that surely is there to hide imperfections. (I use those cases a lot, by the way.) The other paint colors are glossy. In both cases, it’s a powder coat, so probably quite good at hiding imperfections.

Note also that the case you chose is one of the “Eddystone” line they carry after buying up Eddystone (another manufacturer) years ago. These could differ in manufacturing from the remainder of Hammond’s die-cast cases (their “own” 1550 and 1590 series, and the Rolec line similarly acquired by buying another manufacturer). I have no idea whether Hammond consolidated the production lines and/or processes after the acquisition, just mentioning it as something to consider. The Eddystone cases are not available painted.

[floobydust]

OP, I would contact Hammond and ask them WTF on the Eddystone quality not meeting your standard. Don't just complain to us and then paint over it.
I've talked to Ross Hammond at trade shows and they are great to deal with.
No idea where they are made https://www.hammfg.com/electronics/small-case/diecast/eddystone but this says Australia 20 years ago:

Released 10 October 2003
"Hammond Electronics, one of the world's leading manufacturers of small die-cast aluminium and plastic enclosures, purchased the tooling and intellectual property of the well-know Eddystone range from Marconi in 1998. In 2002, Hammond's newest subsidiary, Hammond Electronics Pty Ltd, was formed in Adelaide and the complete range of European and North American manufactured Hammond enclosures is now available from national, regional and local distributors throughout Australasia."

"Probably one of the best know brands in the small enclosure sector, the Eddystone range consists of nine sizes of thin wall shallow lid general purpose die-cast aluminium enclosures and a further five variants fitted with a deep lid."

"In addition to acting as the importer and distributor for all the group's products, Hammond's Australian operation is a manufacturer in its own right. Hammond Electronics Pty has introduced a further three sizes to complement the original 14-strong family. Designed and manufactured only in Australia, the new sizes are 50 x 50 x 21, 92 x 92 x 38 and 125 x 125 x 53mm. In addition to serving the needs of the local market, the Australian manufactured enclosures are exported in large volumes to Hammond's European operation."

[tooki]

OP, I would contact Hammond and ask them WTF on the Eddystone quality not meeting your standard. Don't just complain to us and then paint over it.
I've talked to Ross Hammond at trade shows and they are great to deal with.

Given that numerous die-cast cases’ beauty shots show scratches or blemishes on them, I kinda doubt that any of this is remotely out of spec.

e.g.
https://www.hammfg.com/files/parts/images/1590BS/1590bs.jpg
https://www.hammfg.com/files/parts/images/27969PSLA/27969psla-closed-2022.jpg
https://www.hammfg.com/files/parts/images/1590G/1590g.jpg
https://www.hammfg.com/files/parts/images/1590AF/1590af-closed.jpg
https://www.hammfg.com/files/parts/images/1590WBS/1590wbs.jpg

[tooki]

I don’t think anyone sells die-cast cases that have that brushed finish.

OK, I may have found an exception: Hammond!

It looks like at least some sizes of this case are brushed or ground: https://www.hammfg.com/electronics/small-case/diecast/1590z

[veedub565]

OP, I would contact Hammond and ask them WTF on the Eddystone quality not meeting your standard. Don't just complain to us and then paint over it.
I've talked to Ross Hammond at trade shows and they are great to deal with.

Given that numerous die-cast cases’ beauty shots show scratches or blemishes on them, I kinda doubt that any of this is remotely out of spec.

e.g.
https://www.hammfg.com/files/parts/images/1590BS/1590bs.jpg
https://www.hammfg.com/files/parts/images/27969PSLA/27969psla-closed-2022.jpg
https://www.hammfg.com/files/parts/images/1590G/1590g.jpg
https://www.hammfg.com/files/parts/images/1590AF/1590af-closed.jpg
https://www.hammfg.com/files/parts/images/1590WBS/1590wbs.jpg

Yeah I think you're probably right there looking at the pictures. I don't have a lot of experience with them, to me they looked a bit rough around the edges but it seems that's normal and to be expected. The ebay one is finished to a higher standard though, wish I knew who made it, it's been kicking around for years that one.

Ultimately it makes no odds really, I just wanted to know if this was par for the course with these boxes.

[Buriedcode]

I'm confused, I did read the replies but think I missing a clear explanation - are both the above boxes the same model and manufacturer?  Or the same manufactuerer but different models?  Or have you compared a die cast aluminium enclosure from hammond, to a differently machined enclosure from another manufacturer?  And who made the bottom photo one? are you sure thats die-cast?

Every die-cast alu enclosure I have seen looks like the top photo, obviously nicer finishes on extruded types, but die-cast is generally meant to be painted - just look at the thousands of guitar pedals using them.

[tooki]

I'm confused, I did read the replies but think I missing a clear explanation - are both the above boxes the same model and manufacturer?  Or the same manufactuerer but different models?  Or have you compared a die cast aluminium enclosure from hammond, to a differently machined enclosure from another manufacturer?  And who made the bottom photo one? are you sure thats die-cast?

Given that OP later said this, I’m assuming OP has no idea what the bottom case is, and was comparing a standard Hammond to some who-knows-what they got somewhere:

Yes the one on the bottom was a random ebay buy, I don't think it's even branded.

[floobydust]

I wonder if OP's top (pic) enclosure is die-cast zinc, and the bottom is aluminum?
None of the Hammond 1590's I have got those burrs.

[coppice]

I'm not specifically familiar with Hammond's die cast boxes, but the vast majority of die cast aluminium boxes look like that. Its like the die leaks, some metal spills out, and they roughly grind some. but not all, of the excess off. They are often sold painted, with the reasonable, if not stellar quality, paint finish. I assume they finish the grinding of the excess metal for those.