[ARC5] Brass Tubing

[mstangelo at comcast.net]

I want to my local hardware store and found the K&S metal tubing and sheet display next to the Hillman Fasteners display.

I purchaed 1/4 inch, 9/32 and 7/32 brass tubes.

I will use the 1/4 inch tube for the shaft.

I used a fine tooth hacksaw and cut a slot about 5/16 in length in the 1/4 inch tubing. I cut the tubing to make a shaft about 1 1/4 inch long.

I placed a piece of heat shrinkable tubing over the slotted end of the shaft for reinforcement.

I have ALCO knobs that use compression instead of set screws. I installed the knob on the shaft, inserted the slotted end of the shaft onto the tuning capacitor spline and now have a tuning knob without backlash.

If I had to reinforce the shaft I can insert the 7/32 tubing into the 1/4 shaft but I didn't need it with the compression type knob. You may need it with a knob that uses a set screw.

I purchaed the 9/32 tubing for reinforcement over the sloted end of the shaft. The heat shrinkable tubing worked fine so I did not have to use it.


Mike N2MS


 
----- Original Message -----
From: mstangelo at comcast.net
To: Robert Eleazer <releazer at earthlink.net>, ARC5 <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wed, 27 Aug 2014 15:22:36 -0000 (UTC)
Subject: Re: [ARC5] Brass Tubing

Wayne and all,

I've went to Lowes this morning. My store has solid brass rods in the Hillman Fasteners section but no brass tubes.

I'll check my local hardware store on the way home.

Fortunately my local hardware store is an old time store in town which stocks everything, has quality products and has a knowledgable staff.
They usually have stuff that the big box stores don't not have.

I'm thinking of shrinking a piece of heat shrinkable tubing over the slotted end of the 1/4 inch tube so that it does not break. I'll buy 9/32 as well as 1/4 tubing if the shring tubing does not work out.

Mike N2MS


----- Original Message -----
From: Robert Eleazer <releazer at earthlink.net>
To: mstangelo at comcast.net
Sent: Wed, 27 Aug 2014 01:26:43 -0000 (UTC)
Subject: Re: [ARC5] Brass Tubing

Well, that's an idea.  Remember, though, you don't want the slotted end of 
the 1/4 inch tubing to make it weak enough to break there, and that is where 
it is going to break if it does.  The outer 9/32 tubing I meant to secure 
the inner 1/4 inch tubing over the slotted portion - to the extent possible.

And you will still have to have 1/4 inch or larger tubing outside the radio 
in order to use one of the many knobs available with 1/4 inch diameter 
holes.  You could no doubt bore out the hole in the knob to take the 9/32 
tubing if you wanted to.

And keep in mind that Fair Radio has those small spinner knobs from BC-221's 
that could be bolted to a smaller knob.

In any case, good luck and let us know how it works!

Wayne