marv
:Hello all,
:I am new to restoring radios. I thought a guy would be happy just to fix an old radio to get it working. Then I found out you need to do a recap. Now I am looking at some of the pictures of restored radios on the net and I cannot believe how new they look. Question is how do you do it. How do you clean the chassis and the shields around the tubes? How do you clean all the fins on the tuners? How do you get the tubes so clean. I hope this isn't a trade secret. I would really like to learn how so I can make my radios look as good as the ones shown on the net.
:Thanks Terry
Most chassis are nickel plated. Keep in mind that finger prints and such will tarnish in only months or a year. My RCA 55X2 still looks fabulous after all these years, and I only had to clean it (no polish). However, I also have to keep my fingers off of it. Rubber will also tarnish the chassis. If you wear gloves, use laytex. An easier solution, though, is to simply clean the chassis with alcohol once you're done working on it. This, in itself, may slightly tarnish the chassis, so wipe it away with a dry cloth before it can fully evaporate.
You can also polish brass shafts and items if you really want to go all out. A tooth brush and some Brasso can really make a rotary switch look fine, though you can only really get the silver plated contacts bright with a Q-tip soaked in Brasso. Buff out with a dry Q-tip. Then wash in hot soapy water. Rinse with hot water so that the item dries fast. This goes for all items you wash. Use really hot water for the rinse. Do not do this with glass items, and be careful with dials when using liquids. On rare occasion you'll come across a cheap one where all the numbers and figures will wash right off. Be gentle with dials and test in an inconspicuous place. Wash only as long as needed, and dry gently with a soft towel. A towel is necessary for removing water spots. Otherwise I'd recommend using a hair dryer on a cooler setting.
Thomas
1.) Asuming you have re-capped and tested everything and it tests fine. Then start clean up.
2.) Remove all the tube shields and tubes. (clean tubes windex)
3.) Remove all brackets holding dials etc.
4.) Make sure you can re-string the dial.. take a picture or draw the threading diagram.
5.) I use short bristle brushes to dust all surfaces.
6.) Vacuum entire bottom and top of chassis
7.) Remove ganged tuner assemble from the rubber mounting gromets and disconnect ground strap and wires. Make a sketch to be sure how wires go back.
Wash the entire ganged tuning condenser in hot soapy water and shake off water and let dry thoroughly.
(you may need new mounting gromets when replacing after cleaning chassis)... hardware store or mixed assortments on line.
8.) I use a small brass wire brush like fat tooth brushes. avaible on line or in hardware store cheap. Also same steel wire brushes and stiff hog's hair also.
Also I use emery cloth both open mesh and grit.
9.) if rusted or badly oxidized metal I scrape sand and wire brush entire surface in all nooks and crannies till the metal shines. Carefull not to break any wires near antenna coils
10.) After all metal is shiny wipe down and coat lightly w/wd40 or Boeing's "Boe-Shield" to keep away future rust.
11) Replace and re-wire ganged tuner.
12.) Sand or wire brush all other chassis brackes and Boeshield them and remount them.
13.) Replace tubes.. re-string dial... Test....
14.) Repair or redress the speaker. (I use the "wet look" speaker dressing.)
I can usually clean an entire chassis for an AA5 in one evening easily.
Here are afew of my last offerings up on Ebay to see my work.
Ebay #s
190040278430
190028421399
190020892507
Good luck
Thomas