Simple Tools series
-a series of DIY/How-To articles concerning circuit bending tools that are both necessary and incredibly useful
 post 1:  Resistor Box (aka "Resistor Substitution Box")
Estimated time to complete: 1-1.5 Hours
Tools necessary to complete:  Soldering Iron, Drill, Pliers, Wire cutters
Materials:  Solder (small amount, electronics or 60/40), Wire (small amt or 1', 18-24awg , stranded or general "hook up"),  Potentiometers (100k, 10k, 1m, 1k), Multi-turn/Specialized potentiometer (1k, 10 turn, etc), Small plastic project box, SPST switch (toggle or otherwise), wire posts/hook points/clips etc (something to connect wires to repeatedly that you can remove them from easily)

example of finished box

 

This is a tool I use all the time, and anyone doing circuit bending, SDIY, Audio electronics, or just plain general electronics at home or in a workshop should have one.

-STEP 1: Preparing the Box
take your box, and drill 4 holes for potentiometers.

Remember to make SURE you have enough room between each, the sides, and ends, so that they can easily fit with their solder lugs and the eventual wires attached as well.  Remember the holes are a LOT smaller than the actual potentiometers and room you will need.

Then drill the holes for your switch and connections for the wires. As you can see in mine-I used some cheap alligator clip wires I got at the Dollar Tree and just stripped one end to connect to the pots and switch so keep in mind the choice youve made for making connections when drilling

- STEP 2: Wiring the potentiometers & switch

my cheap version. Handy though.

You will need 7 (seven) pieces of wire, each just 3 or so inches or less in length (depending on size of your box and distance between pots and so forth.
Strip the ends from each piece and connect as the photo shows (wire from last pot/connection to an outside solder lug on potentiometer, wire to the next on the inside/middle lug)
Solder each to the pots as described, and then solder the last to your switch so that you can use it to allow current to/deny current from the potentiometers.

AND YOU'RE DONE!!
Pretty easy, huh?
And now you can use this thing youve made to test connections while circuit bending or test potential potentiometer values for circuits you are working on.  Killer.