Hi, I am new to radio restoration. I have some radios and some gear. All I have are cheapie multitesters (digital and analog, some soldering gear, a couple of old tube testers (again cheapies) and a capacitor checker (Knight) that I dont even know to use and some books. Can someone tell me what else I need for gear?? I think I need a variac for one thing. I need to find a place that sells capacitors for these radios. Radio Shack only sells caps for the lower voltage, modern equipment. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank You

Mike, greetings. a great place for caps and resistors.
http://www.justradios.com/

A place for beginners, look on left side menu (Beginners)
http://www.antiqueradio.org/welcome.htm

This forum, the people are brilliant.

Hope this helps.
Vinny

:Hi, I am new to radio restoration. I have some radios and some gear. All I have are cheapie multitesters (digital and analog, some soldering gear, a couple of old tube testers (again cheapies) and a capacitor checker (Knight) that I dont even know to use and some books. Can someone tell me what else I need for gear?? I think I need a variac for one thing. I need to find a place that sells capacitors for these radios. Radio Shack only sells caps for the lower voltage, modern equipment. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank You

Buy a book on restoring old radios (electronics) They are worth there weight in gold. Also..I have done much research in buying capacitors...Two weeks ago I researched many different companies that sell caps. This one...RADIO DAZE (just google it and look under components) seems to be the cheapest when you buy in bulk ..50 or more(I bought 8 different groups of capacitors ..50 in each group fo a great value!!!) Buy in bulk if you plan on restoring say 20 radios.

:Mike, greetings. a great place for caps and resistors.
:http://www.justradios.com/
:
:A place for beginners, look on left side menu (Beginners)
:http://www.antiqueradio.org/welcome.htm
:
:This forum, the people are brilliant.
:
:Hope this helps.
:Vinny
:
:
:
:
:
:
::Hi, I am new to radio restoration. I have some radios and some gear. All I have are cheapie multitesters (digital and analog, some soldering gear, a couple of old tube testers (again cheapies) and a capacitor checker (Knight) that I dont even know to use and some books. Can someone tell me what else I need for gear?? I think I need a variac for one thing. I need to find a place that sells capacitors for these radios. Radio Shack only sells caps for the lower voltage, modern equipment. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank You

:Buy a book on restoring old radios (electronics) They are worth there weight in gold. Also..I have done much research in buying capacitors...Two weeks ago I researched many different companies that sell caps. This one...RADIO DAZE (just google it and look under components) seems to be the cheapest when you buy in bulk ..50 or more(I bought 8 different groups of capacitors ..50 in each group fo a great value!!!) Buy in bulk if you plan on restoring say 20 radios.
ALSO... a variac is a must...I bought a used one...After you restor a radio you wana slowly bring the power up on a variac...I also use my variac for other things..like testing mmorors ..or anything you wana slowly bring power up on A very useful tool...
:
:
::Mike, greetings. a great place for caps and resistors.
::http://www.justradios.com/
::
::A place for beginners, look on left side menu (Beginners)
::http://www.antiqueradio.org/welcome.htm
::
::This forum, the people are brilliant.
::
::Hope this helps.
::Vinny
::
::
::
::
::
::
:::Hi, I am new to radio restoration. I have some radios and some gear. All I have are cheapie multitesters (digital and analog, some soldering gear, a couple of old tube testers (again cheapies) and a capacitor checker (Knight) that I dont even know to use and some books. Can someone tell me what else I need for gear?? I think I need a variac for one thing. I need to find a place that sells capacitors for these radios. Radio Shack only sells caps for the lower voltage, modern equipment. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank You

::Buy a book on restoring old radios (electronics) They are worth there weight in gold. Also..I have done much research in buying capacitors...Two weeks ago I researched many different companies that sell caps. This one...RADIO DAZE (just google it and look under components) seems to be the cheapest when you buy in bulk ..50 or more(I bought 8 different groups of capacitors ..50 in each group fo a great value!!!) Buy in bulk if you plan on restoring say 20 radios.
:ALSO... a variac is a must...I bought a used one...After you restor a radio you wana slowly bring the power up on a variac...I also use my variac for other things..like testing motors ..or anything you wana slowly bring power up on A very useful tool...
::
::
:::Mike, greetings. a great place for caps and resistors.
:::http://www.justradios.com/
:::
:::A place for beginners, look on left side menu (Beginners)
:::http://www.antiqueradio.org/welcome.htm
:::
:::This forum, the people are brilliant.
:::
:::Hope this helps.
:::Vinny
:::
:::
:::
:::
:::
:::
::::Hi, I am new to radio restoration. I have some radios and some gear. All I have are cheapie multitesters (digital and analog, some soldering gear, a couple of old tube testers (again cheapies) and a capacitor checker (Knight) that I dont even know to use and some books. Can someone tell me what else I need for gear?? I think I need a variac for one thing. I need to find a place that sells capacitors for these radios. Radio Shack only sells caps for the lower voltage, modern equipment. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank You

Someone on this site recommended Bret’s old radios DVD’s. I bought the whole set. All I can say is, they’re EXCELENT. Check them out, http://www.bretsoldradios.com/

"ALSO... a variac is a must...I bought a used one...After you restor a radio you wana slowly bring the power up on a variac...I also use my variac for other things..like testing motors ..or anything you wana slowly bring power up on A very useful tool..."

On the short list of essential equipment needed to repair and restore old radios - a variac is near the very bottom of the pile - inbetween a dual-trace oscilloscope and a plutonium flux capacitor. Don't waste your money. At the top of the essentials list is a good set of decent quality hand tools (screw drivers, nut drivers, pliers, wire cutters, etc.), a quality soldering iron with good(lead)solder and a sturdy iron holder, a dependable multimeter, and a good reference book, website or experienced local collector. If you plan to repair AC/DC sets - an isolation transformer may save your life and is recommended. I've been restoring electronics for decades - I have a variac and have used it less than a dozen times over the years.

Wholeheartedly agree. Spend your money on good quality basic tools and only buy more exotic equipment when you have acquired adequate knowledge to use it. Also - be careful using an internet forum for help. There are many who will pass themselves off as "experts" when, in fact, they only know enough to be dangerous to themselves and others. The use of common "catch phrases" and the atitude that "my way is the only right way" is often a good clue in uncovering a phony.

:Wholeheartedly agree. Spend your money on good quality basic tools and only buy more exotic equipment when you have acquired adequate knowledge to use it. Also - be careful using an internet forum for help. There are many who will pass themselves off as "experts" when, in fact, they only know enough to be dangerous to themselves and others. The use of common "catch phrases" and the atitude that "my way is the only right way" is often a good clue in uncovering a phony.

I agree, don't buy a VARIAC. You can do the same thing with a light bulb in series with the radio. If a bulb of about the same wattage as the radio burns dimly, you're in good shape. If it goes to full brightness, *DON'T* plug the radio into the wall. A light bulb, a low Amperage fuse, a switch and a socket can be mounted on a board and used for initial power up (plugged into an isolation transfornmer, of course)might save you some of that "magic smoke" that makes electronics work.
Lewis
PS: Merry, Happy, Joyous, whatever you observe this time of year to all.

Look for the "old-timers" on this forum - Lewis Linson, Norm Leal, Edd, Bill Grimm, and a few others.... they won't steer you wrong and are absolutely astounding in their knowledge base. Forget the "Johnny Come Latelies" who will hopefully move on to other forums and annoy a yet unknown audience.

:Look for the "old-timers" on this forum - Lewis Linson, Norm Leal, Edd, Bill Grimm, and a few others.... they won't steer you wrong and are absolutely astounding in their knowledge base. Forget the "Johnny Come Latelies" who will hopefully move on to other forums and annoy a yet unknown audience.

Glad to see that you have an interest in old radios. It's a good hobby. The advice found here in this forum is helpful. You can get good leads on your problem. I have been a electronics tech for over 45 years, but I'm sure not a " know it all " .. Once you get the basics down, you will be able to get those old radios playing again. <> Warren <>

::Look for the "old-timers" on this forum - Lewis Linson, Norm Leal, Edd, Bill Grimm, and a few others.... they won't steer you wrong and are absolutely astounding in their knowledge base. Forget the "Johnny Come Latelies" who will hopefully move on to other forums and annoy a yet unknown audience.
:
:
:Glad to see that you have an interest in old radios. It's a good hobby. The advice found here in this forum is helpful. You can get good leads on your problem. I have been a electronics tech for over 45 years, but I'm sure not a " know it all " .. Once you get the basics down, you will be able to get those old radios playing again. <> Warren <>

I have found that, when things are going well, and you start thinking you know it all, something will come along a embarrass the **** out of you.
Lewis

:NOW MY 2 CENTS WORTH. I have repaired radios going back to a 1937 Silvertone. Don't use a variac cause do not have one. Just plug the radio up thru a fused plug with fuses in both line That way if a short will just blow the fuses, no fire, no arcs, no smoke
:
:

Mike:

An isolation transformer is a "must" for safety...
... a variac is extra stuff later.

A good DMM... like mine ( Extech 22-816) cost only about $49..I think.. even checks caps and measures temperature.

A signal generator.

Parts like caps:
Radio Daze is good...
... but I get the absolute best price buying the green Mylar 630v caps from:
http://www.justradios.com/MYLARcapacitors.html

:Mike:

:A good DMM... like mine ( Extech 22-816)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Extech-True-RMS-Digital-Multimeter-22-816-New_W0QQitemZ320327378968QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item320327378968&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50