Effects Pedal Mounting Options

[IndyWS6]

Greetings
I'm getting ready to mount my effects pedals on the sliding shelf in my rack. Velcro seems to be the most common attacment method, but I've seen other approaches - some clean and tidy, others, not so much. I've also noticed that when people sell effects pedals, some buyers shy away because the pedal has/had velcro on the bottom, although it's probably a bigger deal on boutique and vintage pedals.

Most pedals have screws on the bottom, typically through the rubber feet, that keep the case halves together. I'm thinking about making a template that matches the hole pattern, using the template to drill my shelf and then using the case-half screws (slightly longer ones if needed) to attach the pedals to the shelf. This would securely fasten the pedals to the shelf and I wouldn't have to worry about cleaning Velcro glue gunk in the future.

Anyone see anything wrong with this approach?

 

[glassjaw7]

Seems like a cool idea, but what happens if you want to swap/add/move pedals in the future? The 3m dual lock tape works really well from I've heard.

 

[HeimBrent]

Chainlinks seems to be an popular solution as well, but I do think velcro is the ideal choice. I, for one, don't really care if a pedal has velcro underneith it... On the contrary; that just means that I won't have to put it on myself.

 

[IndyWS6]

Once I get the pedals in place and wired, there shouldn't be a lot of changing or moving (famous last words ), although there could always be additions. I'm building custom-length cables to route the pedals to a GCX, so I plan to make darn sure I have what I want where I want it before committing. If I change my mind in the future, it's pretty easy to drill a new set of holes in a sheet-metal shelf...

 

[IndyWS6]

Chainlinks seems to be an popular solution as well, but I do think velcro is the ideal choice. I, for one, don't really care if a pedal has velcro underneith it... On the contrary; that just means that I won't have to put it on myself.

What is "chainlinks"?

 

[Zachman]

Dual Lock ftw

Get the clear stuff. It works GREAT. If you need to move stuff, just slip a screw driver between the strips and it'll come off easily. The adhesive is awesome, and comes of very easily-- should you want to remove it from a pedal and the surface,

 

[HeimBrent]

Should have added "bike" to that one.

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9 ... TdoAQvW9I=

The inner and outer plates make for great brackets when it comes to fastening pedals.

 

[IndyWS6]

Dual Lock ftw

Get the clear stuff. It works GREAT. If you need to move stuff, just slip a screw driver between the strips and it'll come off easily. The adhesive is awesome, and comes of very easily-- should you want to remove it from a pedal and the surface,

Thanks
So, the dual lock stays "locked"? The Velcro I've used in the past (probably wasn't industrial grade...) worked, but it wouldn't hold things without movement over time.

The "Velcro" that CAE recommends (from the info you sent me in the past...) is pretty damn pricey for a hook & loop fastener. Do you have a source?

 

[Zachman]

Dual Lock ftw

Get the clear stuff. It works GREAT. If you need to move stuff, just slip a screw driver between the strips and it'll come off easily. The adhesive is awesome, and comes of very easily-- should you want to remove it from a pedal and the surface,

Thanks
So, the dual lock stays "locked"? The Velcro I've used in the past (probably wasn't industrial grade...) worked, but it wouldn't hold things without movement over time.

The "Velcro" that CAE recommends (from the info you sent me in the past...) is pretty damn pricey for a hook & loop fastener. Do you have a source?

Dual Lock isn't really cheap, but a little really goes a long way.

Dual lock is insane in the tensile strength department. I literally lift up my pedal board by the handles, to remove it from the flight case, with everything literally vertical to the ground and have no worries nor issues-- and it's as though the thing nailed to the board. Solid as a rock. If you had a pedal board on the stage, and someone tried to steal one of your pedals off your pedal board, they'd rip their finger nails right off, trying to grab the pedal and pull.

I bought some from Home Depot, and a friend of mine had a roll, and gave me a bunch too.

 

[glassjaw7]

Double sided tape tabs work really well also. I just bought some of the Ace hardware brand. Inexpensive and strong as hell. I'm sure the 3m dual lock velcro is better as far as multiple uses (peeling off and reapplying). Just throwing other options out there.

 

[IndyWS6]

Double sided tape tabs work really well also. I just bought some of the Ace hardware brand. Inexpensive and strong as hell. I'm sure the 3m dual lock velcro is better as far as multiple uses (peeling off and reapplying). Just throwing other options out there.

Thanks - I appreciate the posts

 

[IndyWS6]

Dual Lock ftw

Get the clear stuff. It works GREAT. If you need to move stuff, just slip a screw driver between the strips and it'll come off easily. The adhesive is awesome, and comes of very easily-- should you want to remove it from a pedal and the surface,

Thanks
So, the dual lock stays "locked"? The Velcro I've used in the past (probably wasn't industrial grade...) worked, but it wouldn't hold things without movement over time.

The "Velcro" that CAE recommends (from the info you sent me in the past...) is pretty damn pricey for a hook & loop fastener. Do you have a source?

Dual Lock isn't really cheap, but a little really goes a long way.

Dual lock is insane in the tensile strength department. I literally lift up my pedal board by the handles, to remove it from the flight case, with everything literally vertical to the ground and have no worries nor issues-- and it's as though the thing nailed to the board. Solid as a rock. If you had a pedal board on the stage, and someone tried to steal one of your pedals off your pedal board, they'd rip their finger nails right off, trying to grab the pedal and pull.

I bought some from Home Depot, and a friend of mine had a roll, and gave me a bunch too.

Thanks
I guess I'll take a longer look at the dual-lock as an option...

 

[Zachman]

Dual Lock ftw

Get the clear stuff. It works GREAT. If you need to move stuff, just slip a screw driver between the strips and it'll come off easily. The adhesive is awesome, and comes of very easily-- should you want to remove it from a pedal and the surface,

Thanks
So, the dual lock stays "locked"? The Velcro I've used in the past (probably wasn't industrial grade...) worked, but it wouldn't hold things without movement over time.

The "Velcro" that CAE recommends (from the info you sent me in the past...) is pretty damn pricey for a hook & loop fastener. Do you have a source?

Dual Lock isn't really cheap, but a little really goes a long way.

Dual lock is insane in the tensile strength department. I literally lift up my pedal board by the handles, to remove it from the flight case, with everything literally vertical to the ground and have no worries nor issues-- and it's as though the thing nailed to the board. Solid as a rock. If you had a pedal board on the stage, and someone tried to steal one of your pedals off your pedal board, they'd rip their finger nails right off, trying to grab the pedal and pull.

I bought some from Home Depot, and a friend of mine had a roll, and gave me a bunch too.

Thanks
I guess I'll take a longer look at the dual-lock as an option...

http://www.itapestore.com/3mduallock.aspx

Toursupply.com

 

[Ancient Alien]

I prefer bike chain links myself.

 

[IndyWS6]

I prefer bike chain links myself.

I didn't quite get the bike chain links approach - unless they are being used as tabs; the hole in one end is attached to the pedal (possibly with the screw on the bottom that retains the rubber foot) and the hole on the other end remains exposed so you can use it to attach the assembly to the shelf.

 

[Ancient Alien]

I prefer bike chain links myself.

I didn't quite get the bike chain links approach - unless they are being used as tabs; the hole in one end is attached to the pedal (possibly with the screw on the bottom that retains the rubber foot) and the hole on the other end remains exposed so you can use it to attach the assembly to the shelf.

Exactly

 

[Ancient Alien]

You can buy chain links in bulk for cheap.
Remove the rubber foot if needed, and simply use the original backplate screws and attach them to the pedal.
Then take short wood screws and screw the pedal down to the shelf

 

[IndyWS6]

You can buy chain links in bulk for cheap.
Remove the rubber foot if needed, and simply use the original backplate screws and attach them to the pedal.
Then take short wood screws and screw the pedal down to the shelf

Thanks
I see what you are getting at...

Unless I'm missing something, it seems like the original idea of making a template of the hole pattern on the backplate and attaching the pedal using those screw holes would be just as easy. Assuming a pedal has four backplate screws, I think I could easily use just two (in opposite corners) to securely attach the pedal. If I choose to ignore the "Velcro" option...

 

[Ancient Alien]

You can buy chain links in bulk for cheap.
Remove the rubber foot if needed, and simply use the original backplate screws and attach them to the pedal.
Then take short wood screws and screw the pedal down to the shelf

Thanks
I see what you are getting at...

Unless I'm missing something, it seems like the original idea of making a template of the hole pattern on the backplate and attaching the pedal using those screw holes would be just as easy. Assuming a pedal has four backplate screws, I think I could easily use just two (in opposite corners) to securely attach the pedal. If I choose to ignore the "Velcro" option...

You can just use two of the screws.
Just attach them at a 45 degree angle so the pedal does not move.

 

[rlord1974]

Most pedals have screws on the bottom, typically through the rubber feet, that keep the case halves together. I'm thinking about making a template that matches the hole pattern, using the template to drill my shelf and then using the case-half screws (slightly longer ones if needed) to attach the pedals to the shelf. This would securely fasten the pedals to the shelf and I wouldn't have to worry about cleaning Velcro glue gunk in the future. Anyone see anything wrong with this approach?

I take this very approach with my pedal boards. It's super clean and rock solid. The only issue is you have to take the whole thing apart to get at or move one pedal. It's a tradeoff - you need to decide whether it works for you.

Good luck!