Michaels HiFi
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- #221
My latest 1930ish unit I'm going to restore.
New Vintage Audio Restoration HQ
- Thread starter Michaels HiFi
- Start date
brad225
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That's a lot of gold. Send a picture to Washington. They might want to have it sparkling in the Oval Office.
Michaels HiFi
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- #223
That's a lot of gold. Send a picture to Washington. They might want to have it sparkling in the Oval Office.
My hands are going to be VERY sore after all the hand polishing of all those pieces. LOL
Michaels HiFi
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- #224
I'm looking to find my first real LCR meter but entry level ones (bench) are like $2,000!!!!
https://www.gwinstek.com/en-US/products/detail/LCR-6000
https://www.gwinstek.com/en-US/products/detail/LCR-6000
Michaels HiFi
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- #225
Update on the ~1928 unit.
It STINKS!
I took it out of the case today an will be throughly cleaning the inside of the case with naphtha and then spray shellac to seal in any remaining orders while protecting the wood.
The unit itself I turned upside down and lightly sprayed vinegar and water to neutralize any of the orders on the wires and parts.
I'm going for a purely cosmetic restoration on this as a display piece as I don't think I could afford the cost of buying all those caps to replace!
It STINKS!
I took it out of the case today an will be throughly cleaning the inside of the case with naphtha and then spray shellac to seal in any remaining orders while protecting the wood.
The unit itself I turned upside down and lightly sprayed vinegar and water to neutralize any of the orders on the wires and parts.
I'm going for a purely cosmetic restoration on this as a display piece as I don't think I could afford the cost of buying all those caps to replace!
Michaels HiFi
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- Thread Author
- #226
This is the SAME box as above after I cleaned the interior of it applied three layers of new shellac.
Michaels HiFi
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- Thread Author
- #227
So after 4 hours this is not going according to plan.
It's 98 years old and this is by FAR the most difficult to penetrate grime I've ever encountered.
I've come to believe it's dried oil and grease which is why it won't really come off and just smears.
I have tried four APC's, degreasers, special panel wipes (three of them), 4 different rinses washes and SEVEN different polishes all the way down to 400 grit.
The 400 grit is removing it but it's going to take about 10 applications as it starts to come up and then simply smears.
I've also realized it is so caked on, I'm going to have to remove EVERY SINGLE CAPACITOR to remove the brass nubs that stick up on the front side to have a clear panel with no tight spots to be able to blanket clean.
I estimate another 12-15 hours to go. I still need to hand polish every single one of the brass numbs and posts.
It's 98 years old and this is by FAR the most difficult to penetrate grime I've ever encountered.
I've come to believe it's dried oil and grease which is why it won't really come off and just smears.
I have tried four APC's, degreasers, special panel wipes (three of them), 4 different rinses washes and SEVEN different polishes all the way down to 400 grit.
The 400 grit is removing it but it's going to take about 10 applications as it starts to come up and then simply smears.
I've also realized it is so caked on, I'm going to have to remove EVERY SINGLE CAPACITOR to remove the brass nubs that stick up on the front side to have a clear panel with no tight spots to be able to blanket clean.
I estimate another 12-15 hours to go. I still need to hand polish every single one of the brass numbs and posts.