Started my first ST-70

So, with most of final version fleshed out, it was time to prepare the chassis, power coat and blast, and polish the coppercap and the quad cap. Then I ceramic clear-coated the exposed metals.
Next to get done is wiring the chassis, building the board, and final assembly. After that, I'll finish the integrated chassis design that this will drop-fit into. Jumpers will run out for biasing, volume control, power, source select (including y2 DAC from AMB labs.)

One stage at a time. Back to work.

(That photo makes the copper cap look way more scratched than in reality. That thing is an orange mirror.)
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I used a powder coat called Silver Vein.

[EDIT: I baked it at about 400F for half an hour then sandblasted the surface. The coating needs something to stick to. Then I blew it all off and wiped it down with a surface prep solution before powder coating. Then it got baked again and left to cool.]

After scrubbing, it came out looking like pitted iron. I have another one that will show copper instead of silver. I may have been happier with that when building the final cabinet - being wood and all -, but this is a first run anyway. I'm having fun.
For the transformers, I sanded then brushed off the black paint to base iron, cleaned and varnished in a high-temperature clear coat. I used the same stuff on the quad-cap and copper cap after I polished those up.

(I must have wiped my finger across that copper cap while photographing.)

Nice attention to detail ... cleaning all the leftover gunk off the plates is a lot of work, but pays off in the end.

Nudie pic!

Thanks sKiZo!
Yeah, it was a pain. I have a number of wire brushes that worked best for me before finishing up with ScotchBrite.
However, now that I have done this once, I could make a quicker go of it. I had considered offering to coat anyone's chassis before mailing it back but it would be cheaper to visit your local powder coat shop: $75-$100 per chassis including bolts.

Chrome plating, anyone?



I decided against it ... too gaudy, even for me ...

Okay, first hot run and the sound is wonderful. I am running McIntosh ML-1Cs (w/ MQ-101) and the sound is, well, most here already know.

The wiring harness hanging out is a way to insert a DC mA meter (0-75mA Simpson) and selector switch (2P5P BBM 4-deck rotary) for the bias circuit to be monitored. It has an "off" bypass circuit, too. These will be installed in a slightly larger chassis... that I have yet to cut and fold. This will also hold the the VU meter, source select, and a big fat toggle master on/off.

The annunciator light is an old salvage and is mounted over two LEDs from the time-delay board: flashing red for warm-up and solid amber for run.  

Other than that, it does its job.
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Great job with the chassis!