[ARC5] Command sets and the dish-washer (or how can I really clean a set?)

[Kenneth G. Gordon]

On 1 Apr 2011 at 13:25, Leslie Smith wrote:

> Hello Ken,
> I have a BC-453 on my desk - I just stripped out the flower-pots and
> put them into a labelled box with the mounting screws.  Later today
> I'll go to the Westlakes radio club and fill my grubby hands with
> replacement caps.   I removed the IF cans, and the valves are all
> missing.  Under the chassis is a little grubby, but not too bad.  
> I'll keep the caps for re-stuffing, but I won't use them in this set. 
> The valve box cover and lid are missing, and I believe that
> "butchered" sets are more representative of the post-war age when they
> are "recovered" to be "nice" not "restored" to original.  So
> "recovered" sets have a value too ...

I agree.

> I note you have been cleaning up some of your sets:

Yes...or, rather, trying to clean them up. Only partially succeeding at the 
moment.

> > Sheesh! You should see some of what I have to deal with! A number of
> > years ago, an old boss of mine left me over 150 ARC-5 receivers (no
> > transmitters, however). Some few were NIB. I sold all the good ones
> > on eBay, and what I have left all need some sort of attention.
> > Nonetheless, one of the worst-looking BC-455s I have, I recently dug
> > out of the pile, spent a couple of hours first vacuuming all the
> > dirt, spider-webs, etc., out of it. DeOxited the tube sockets and IF
> > can plugs, reassembled it, plugged one of my small power supplies on
> > it and it fired right up. I was only somewhat amazed. ;-) 

I was out checking my "stash" and found enough parts to rebuild ONE BC 
band ARC-5. I even found ONE BFO transformer! :-)

> I don't have an "old" boss, only old command sets, but I digress ...

:-)

> Some people clean their sets by putting them in a dish-washer.  I've
> only read about this method, and three things seems apparent.  (1)
> It's a risky - winner take all method.

Very risky. I don't do it.

>  (2) If it works, I end up with
> a very "clean" set,

Yes, but...

> but (3) how long will my set last before it "dies
> the final death" - i.e. some sort of electrolytic corrosion sets in?

Well, as someone said here, the usual dishwashing detergent is very 
alkaline. In fact, it is purposely designed to interact with the bits of food to 
make it MORE reactive. There are enzymes in the detergent AND in the food 
residue that promote this. I was told this by a dishwasher expert. He also 
advised, very strongly, AGAINST first rinsing the dishes before they are put 
in the dishwasher. If that is done, the dishes cannot get clean.

> So I'm inviting you to engage in a wild discussion about the rewards
> and dangers of "the dishwasher".

Well, although I have most certainly used both a garden hose, and the car 
wash, I have never contemplated using the dishwasher, especially after 
learning what I was told by the appliance man.

However, I DO use the wife's oven to both make wrinkle-paint wrinkle more 
uniformly, and to dry out items I have had to wash. I have also used the 
wife's oven to flatten some warped "plexiglass" dial windows.

My dear wife is unusually understanding...:-)

>  Note that I don't have a
> dish-washer, only a detergent filled spray bottle.

That is a different matter: there are many different kinds of detergents, and 
some are very mild and quite effective. There was a recent article in ER 
magazine on this very matter. The author uses a particular kind of very mild 
liquid dishwashing detergent, the kind that goes in a tub in the sink, and 
carefully washes, then dries, rinsing at least twice, small areas at a time. He 
then rinses carefully with distilled water, again, at least twice. He uses only a 
slightly damp sponge or cloth to apply.

>  On the other hand
> I don't have a wife to say:  "No!  You're not putting that "thing" in
> the dish-washer", but believe if I had a dish-washer I would probably
> be able to get a wife who would say "NO!". 

Well, it depends... 
 
> My effort with this set may end in a surprise.  I note that the mixer
> and oscillator cans have disturbed screws, and I suspect some mod -
> perhaps conversion to operate on the BC band.  Still, if that's the
> case and the set actually works on the BC band, THAT'S part of the
> 50's era, and may make the "recovery" worth-while.  Anyway, I'm
> getting away from the original point of this e-m, which was "is
> washing a set a good thing or the work of the devil".  I'll end on
> that note.

Well, **I** wouldn't do it....at least not if using dishwashing detergent. It might 
not be bad if one could arrive at some sort of "soap" that would work in the 
machine without fouling it up, or would clean the radio without causing major 
corrosion problems.

But since car washes are practically ubiquitous (at least around here) if it 
came to it, I would use one of those.

In fact, for those horribly dirty receivers I have left, I just may do that as soon 
as it warms up a bit, just to try it out. 

I'll remove the IF cans and the coil packs, the tubes, and the outer case and 
see just how clean and dry I can get one. None of mine have dynamotors.

Ken W7EKB

> 
> 73 from Oz.
> 
> Les
> 
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