Hello all.I have an RCA A-31 that I just bought and I need to remove the chassis to work on it There is one of those asbestos pads under it.Is it okay to just spray paint the pad or use a paint brush and slowly gently paint it or should I use laquer or varnish?Also should it be cleaned gently with mineral spirits first or just cover it as quickly as possible?Is this stuff really that bad like even one fiber getting in your lungs or would you have to be exposed to it for a long time ? I have a fear that if I even move it slightly everyone is going to get contaminated or something.Seems silly and is it that big a deal?Thanks for info!

It's best to remove asbestos. Here is a link on how to deal with this problem.

http://www.stanwatkins.com/asbestos.htm

Chris

Some radio collectors just leave asbestos in place. It was there as a heat shield and may be needed to keep components from burning a wood cabinet? If you remove asbestos might need to use something in its place?

I understand Warren's concern. Asbestos has been determined to cause lung cancer over a period of time. It was used in many places as insulation. Don't think it's a problem if sealed and not disturbed.

Norm

:It's best to remove asbestos. Here is a link on how to deal with this problem.
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:http://www.stanwatkins.com/asbestos.htm
:

Asbestos was used as a pre-caution back then. Transformer operated sets with high voltage could short out. Normal operation nothing should get that hot. Today if found, it's best to keep it inert. Remove it all as described. Use wet paper towels to wipe any residue up several times. Seal and dispose of properly.

Norm is right. Asbestos pads were used to spread heat.
I commonly restore Zenith H724 radios. If these do not have their asbestos pads you get a hot spot above the 35C5. In a short time it is visable, too.
I have replaced them in the past with static foam. This is the stuff used to keep static electricity away from semiconductors. It works as well as the asbestos.

Best Regards,

Bill Grimm

It's best to relax and leave it alone. If you don't agetate it, it won't harm you. Most likely the last owner of that radio lived to be 86, and died of natural causes, and most likely not more than a trace of that asbestos left that radio in its current lifetime.

The dangers are in asbestos manufacturing, mining, and in ships, where the asbestos would be shaken loose by the constant movement of the ship.

There is probably asbestos on the heating pipes (water, steam, or air) if your home is more than 40 years old, and you wouldn't believe how many other places there are asbestos.

Asbestos saves lives. Leave it alone.

T.

...sorry "there is," not "there are."

Asbestos abatement is a major concern. It does deteriorate and crumble with age. The vibration of the transformer and speaker will agitate it. Drafts in the home can spread it around. Better to be safe with family members and yourself.

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::It's best to relax and leave it alone. If you don't agetate it, it won't harm you. Most likely the last owner of that radio lived to be 86, and died of natural causes, and most likely not more than a trace of that asbestos left that radio in its current lifetime.
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:The dangers are in asbestos manufacturing, mining, and in ships, where the asbestos would be shaken loose by the constant movement of the ship.
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:There is probably asbestos on the heating pipes (water, steam, or air) if your home is more than 40 years old, and you wouldn't believe how many other places there are asbestos.
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:Asbestos saves lives. Leave it alone.
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:T.
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:I agree with Thomas. If the pad is intact and not crumbling it should be left in place. It is there for a safety reason and I would much rather be protected from fire than the little bit of asbestos that comes off a radio. With the pad under the chassis and the chassis screwed in securely there is very little air flowing over the asbestos pad. In the working environments where people actually got ill you could see the fibers floating in the air.I'm sure if you measured the PPM of particles coming off the pad, with the radio properly assembled, the reading would practically be non existent. You breathed in more asbestos, driving around in your car, back in the days, when the asbestos brake linings were still legal to use on cars.
Bob Masse
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:Hello all.I have an RCA A-31 that I just bought and I need to remove the chassis to work on it There is one of those asbestos pads under it.Is it okay to just spray paint the pad or use a paint brush and slowly gently paint it or should I use laquer or varnish?Also should it be cleaned gently with mineral spirits first or just cover it as quickly as possible?Is this stuff really that bad like even one fiber getting in your lungs or would you have to be exposed to it for a long time ? I have a fear that if I even move it slightly everyone is going to get contaminated or something.Seems silly and is it that big a deal?Thanks for info!
:Yes ,I know about the asbestos in steam pipes of boilers and ships , as I have a great fascination for them and I have heard asbestos was used in ironing boards as well.I wonder though why a metal plate was not put under the chassis ,I have seen this on some amps and radios,but most importantly why were there no fuses on many of these radios for protection of shorts?? It seems fuses have been around a long time.

Hi Chris,
Good question.
Fuses added to the cost. Low cost is vital in consumer electronics.

Even after the fuse blew, it would still mean a trip to the repair shop.

Many repair shops were so bad that the repair fool would have probably just jumpered the blown fuse to see what would burn up and then replace it. So much for the fuse.

Later UL made manufacturers put little circuit breakers in televisions. Perhaps you have seen them. They have slender red plungers.

Best Regards,

Bill Grimm

Even many of the early televisions had fuses. ...In part because the transformers were big enough to do some serious damage.

Not so in many radios. Usually something will burn up or burn out before any fire damage can be done. A fuse is a bit more necessary in larger AC radios, but not at all necessary in AC/DC radios. Any short in the B circuit will either blow a resistor or the cathode lead in the rectifier. Most solid state rectifiers have a buffer resistor that'll burn up, too, before major damage can be done. A short in the A circuit will just burn out the tubes.

T.

Please bag it, vacuum the site, contact your local municipality, and get it and your vacuum bag disposed of properly. Install a fuse on the radio.

:Hello all.I have an RCA A-31 that I just bought and I need to remove the chassis to work on it There is one of those asbestos pads under it.Is it okay to just spray paint the pad or use a paint brush and slowly gently paint it or should I use laquer or varnish?Also should it be cleaned gently with mineral spirits first or just cover it as quickly as possible?Is this stuff really that bad like even one fiber getting in your lungs or would you have to be exposed to it for a long time ? I have a fear that if I even move it slightly everyone is going to get contaminated or something.Seems silly and is it that big a deal?Thanks for info!
:

The best idea has already ben stated....To get rid of spray with water...remove material and wipe up with water. DO NOT vacume..that will only spread small material into the air ..Not all is captured by vacume bag or filter....OR as some have stated when working on radio just spray pad with water....when removing chassis or putting it back in...Let fully dry before operating

:Hello all.I have an RCA A-31 that I just bought and I need to remove the chassis to work on it There is one of those asbestos pads under it.Is it okay to just spray paint the pad or use a paint brush and slowly gently paint it or should I use laquer or varnish?Also should it be cleaned gently with mineral spirits first or just cover it as quickly as possible?Is this stuff really that bad like even one fiber getting in your lungs or would you have to be exposed to it for a long time ? I have a fear that if I even move it slightly everyone is going to get contaminated or something.Seems silly and is it that big a deal?Thanks for info!
:

I harden and stabilize the asbestos.

What I use is sodium silicate, or as the old timers call it waterglass. It used to be found at hardware stores. The way I get it now is to purchase gasket cement for wood stoves at the hardware. The clear version of this is water soluble and is sodium silicate. I thin is 50% with water and pour it on the asbestos soaking it. The asbestos dries to a hard block that will not burn. There is no need to disturb the asbestos or raise dusty fibres when doing this.

I do not use lacquer as it may be flammable if things go bad under the chassis.

Ed.

:I harden and stabilize the asbestos.
:
:What I use is sodium silicate, or as the old timers call it waterglass. It used to be found at hardware stores. The way I get it now is to purchase gasket cement for wood stoves at the hardware. The clear version of this is water soluble and is sodium silicate. I thin is 50% with water and pour it on the asbestos soaking it. The asbestos dries to a hard block that will not burn. There is no need to disturb the asbestos or raise dusty fibres when doing this.
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:I do not use lacquer as it may be flammable if things go bad under the chassis.
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:Ed.
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:Hi! Ed,
Thanks for a good tip.
Bob Masse
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