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PF500 Portaflex Mod

Steve Dallman

Steve Dallman

Supporting Member
Mar 5, 2006
2,660
2,301
East Central Wisconsin
#1
So, I've been joyfully using a PF500 since last Nov. I love it. But I wanted a more "portaflex" look.

Some scrap wood, some expanded metal, old tubes, paint and I now have it.

It does nothing but change the look. What 'dya think?
 

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#2
Steve Dallman said:
So, I've been joyfully using a PF500 since last Nov. I love it. But I wanted a more "portaflex" look.

Some scrap wood, some expanded metal, old tubes, paint and I now have it.

It does nothing but change the look. What 'dya think?
Click to expand...

Looks great. You could wire up some amber LEDs in the tubes to make them look like they are glowing
 
#3
This same idea crossed my mind the day I brought my PF-500 home, and sat it next to my '63 B-15.

I could not resist setting the tube cage from the B-15 on top of the PF-500 for a few moments, but that was as far as it went.
 
#7
It's meant to be hilarious. I like doing goofy stuff like this. I'll get some questions at the next gig. I can't wait.

For the LED's, I removed the alignment pin on each tube (and all the other pins) I took the glass out of the socket, broke off the bottom of the tube, and epoxied it back together. Under the board, I have an 1/8" hole for the LED on each tube. The LED will shine up the center of the tube from the bottom. It should work fine.
 
#10
Steve Dallman said:
It's meant to be hilarious. I like doing goofy stuff like this. I'll get some questions at the next gig. I can't wait.

For the LED's, I removed the alignment pin on each tube (and all the other pins) I took the glass out of the socket, broke off the bottom of the tube, and epoxied it back together. Under the board, I have an 1/8" hole for the LED on each tube. The LED will shine up the center of the tube from the bottom. It should work fine.
Click to expand...

Cool. I hope you take some more pics when it's lit up. I have thought about doing it with an old radio as a sort of corner lamp/art piece, but have never got around to it
 
#11
Love it!! So funny. I'd get a huge kick outa that if I was watching a band and got tricked, the violet strip would have me guessing... Looks like a B15 but that horizontal LED strip... Hmmmm.

Oh! You could cover the violet strip with black electrical tape and trim the edges off with an exacto knife for a perfect cover. Just an idea.

We're gonna need more pics as you "upgrade" ;)
 
#20
I will make the illuminated logo. When I was installing one of the threaded rods, my vice grips popped open and broke one of the tubes. The internals are still there, so a flicker flame LED would be perfect there. I was going to replace the broken tube, but then I thought the busted one would be funnier.

It looks silly because it is silly. It serves absolutely no purpose. Isn't that true of all jokes?
 

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