[AMRadio] Steel chassis

[rbethman]

Au contraire!

Your messages are indeed making it Dennis!

Bob - N0DGN

On 8/15/2013 2:39 PM, Dennis Pharr wrote:
> Hey Don:
>
> My emails are apparently not making it through to the list - I tried to
> respond to Ronnie Hull's original email on this - see below:
>
> http://www.hammondmfg.com/dwg20.htm
>
> It doesn't look like Hammond makes a steel 17x13x3, but they do make a
> 17x12x3 or a 17x14x3 - and they come in gray or black.  They can be ordered
> through either Mouser or Digikey - $48 ea. for the 17x14x3 at either place.
> Hammond drop-ships upon placement of order.  Hammond has 26 of the gray and
> 24 of the black chassis in stock.
>
> So, it appears that the steel chassis are still being made - by Hammond at
> least.
>
> Thanks
> Dennis Pharr
> WD5JWY
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: amradio-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:amradio-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Donald Chester
> Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2013 1:31 PM
> To: amradio at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [AMRadio] Steel chassis
>
> One more  what you thought would be a common everyday item for ever, now "no
> longer made".
>
> The selection of available manufactured goods is dwindling faster than
> genetic diversity in commercially produced agricultural and garden seeds. Or
> should I say drying up faster than manufacturing jobs in the USA.
>
> I suggest you look in the older ARRL and west coast Radio Handbooks,
> preferably pre-WWII. I recall articles that explain in detail how to
> fabricate things like steel chassis bases and cabinets using simple hand and
> small power tools. Sheet metal was bent by sandwiching each side of the
> crease between two pieces of hardwood, clamping it down with C-clamps,
> chucking in a vice,  and bending  the fold using a hammer, spanner or
> adjustable wrench.
>
> Looks like we are going more and more back to the beginning when hams had to
> fabricate everything out of what was available. If the old timers  were able
> to do it, no reason why we can't do it as well.
>
> Of course I am assuming you can still buy c-clamps and sheet metal. No
> guarantee how long those will  remain available, either.
>
> Last time I hit that dead end was when I found I could purchase only a very
> limited variety of wirewound resistors, with an even more limited selection
> of wattages and  power ratings. Luckily I was able to find what I needed by
> digging deeper into my junk box collection.
>
> I guess that's what is meant when someone sanctimoniously advises you to
> "adapt to the 21st century".
>
>
> Don k4kyv
>