so... how do you guys do it?

[earthtonesaudio]

+1 on using the pots to mount the board.

[frequencycentral]

+1 on using the pots to mount the board.

Me too - even with tubes:

[drk]

woww sorry for the offtopic but what is that pedal??
you can power it just with a standard 9v powersupply??

[petemoore]

1 Prevents shorts.
2 de-stresses connections.
  These are the two important criterion.
  Wiggling board is to be avoided IME.
  Same of course with a shorting condition.
  Other than that it's window dressing.
  I've had a fine time with my 1 screw method, I like that there's only 1 screw [that doesn't tend to get lost, can easily be replaced with another].
  '-'s...Screwhead shows on boxtop, it's easily possible to crush a short under the board [perfboard], you need a small 'bare' [open] portion of board for the screw to thread into.
  '+'s...All the stuff needed is laying around, it takes a few minutes to complete, quick board removals.
  Screw through top of box and insulation layer [holds screw in place when board is removed], then threaded into the board..done.
  Not recommended because I think I'm the only one who has tested this minimalist method, numerous boxes and boards, about 5 years, all is tight.
  Another 1 screw method involves a faucet valve washer [a tall one] and the through screw / board threads...the washer insulates and keeps the boards bottom just above the enclosure surface.

[frequencycentral]

woww sorry for the offtopic but what is that pedal??
you can power it just with a standard 9v powersupply??

Thats a Valvecaster with an LPB boost at the front end. Yup, 9 volts.

I've also built a tube tremolo, 'Bipolar Disorder' using the same internal and external layout.

[drk]

thanks, gonna have a look at that

[petemoore]

  I notice 'speed' switch, an unusual and usable item for tremolo I think.

[frequencycentral]

  I notice 'speed' switch, an unusual and usable item for tremolo I think.

Yeah, it 'ramps' between the two speeds like a Leslie slowing down/speeding up. All will become clear if you check the schematic.......

[petemoore]

  So dammfine usable tremolo controls sounds like...
  I had a 'ramp up'...on a SS phaser, but it was mechanico-spring-turn resistance of the pot...IOW an 'accident' that had a happy ending.
  The pedal treadle and the pot having 'spring-string' and play between them made it very easy to 'bump up' the speed from 'there', and control the ramp up speed by either barely moving the treadle [the pot would slowly move to new position] or 'stab' it and pull back to original position, the speed would jump a notch or few.
  Ramp speed 'slow' is a very nice feature for something that cycles like phaser or tremolo, IME, it causes an "I'm being accellerated" listening experience, more fun for longer than the 'I was accellerated' effect.

[newfish]

So - excusing the quality of the mobile phone pictures...

Sockets mounted on-board holding everything in place.
Just a simple 1-stage boost... (BC108 in case you're interested. Whilst it's not Germanium <Choir of Angels goes here>, at least it's still in a metal can... ).

www.iansnape.co.uk/images/Outside.jpg
www.iansnape.co.uk/images/Inside.jpg

Everything fitted in beautifully - until it was Battery time.
I cut a redundant corner off the board to allow the top of the Battery some room.

Mental note - measure for box-space *before* etching a layout.
Will make a cardboard template to check for space next time.

I've also used PC Board off-cuts as templates for Sockets and Switches.
Since I'm drawing the layouts by hand, I have a known, good position for all the wee holes...

...and at some stage over the weekend maybe - Sockets and 3DPDT switch on-board...

www.iansnape.co.uk/images/NextTime.jpg