Steel boxes: before drilling a knock-out, braze or JB-weld it
Weld/braze or JB weld on the inside. Don’t worry about this if you’ve got an aluminum box.
Tight pots and tight knobs last
Drill anti-rotation holes.
Twist the knobs hard, try to twist them off.
If the knob budges tighten it!
If the the pot budges when you turn it, then the anti-rotation holes are missing, or not being used right.
Replace the pot if the threads look bad (stripped is when the nut goes loose suddenly when you’re tightening it)
LEDs that stay in their clip will shine for a long time...
Make sure they’re wedged in the clip tightly, and the leads aren’t in danger of sorting out to the box or the clip
Is it labelled or is it art...?
if it’s not labelled, include a printed card with the drill layout of the pedal and words telling what’s what.
www.commonsound.com on every pedal (no matter who made it), so they know where to find us years later
Don’t write 4ms Pedals unless you work for 4ms!
Make sure to put the name of the model (Noise Swash, Tremulus Lune, etc..)
Secure the board!
Use the glue-on mounting posts
Make a place for the battery
If the pedal uses a battery, check the battery holder is screwed to the box with at least two screws, and put a battery in there to make sure one really will fit!
The underside needs feet
Try it
Tighten the cover plate screws and plug it in.
Turn each knob all the way up, all the way down and listen.
Playing it should make sense, and not be confusing.
Give it a shake or a thump and listen to it more.
Get familiar with the pedal’s sound, especially for pedals with mods.