[Boatanchors] Sealing Wax on Coil Cores

[WA5CAB at cs.com]

Byron,

The BC-611-F, which I've done a lot of, uses slug tuned IF transformers.  
The slugs are normally fixed in place with beeswax melted on top of them.  If 
you don't get all of the wax out, including out of the threads in the tube 
above the slug, you often break the slug if you try to adjust it.  I use hot 
air to vaporize and blow out all of the wax.  I have a Pace PPS-5 
soldering-desoldering station (there are many other makes and models around).  The 
pump in the unit has both the suction and the pressure ports from the air pump 
brought out to the front panel.  To blow out the wax, I swap the tubing 
going to the handpiece over to the pressure side.

However, it's really bad news if the handpiece has solder in it from 
previous desoldering operations.  It makes a hell of a mess.  The first few times 
I did the operation, I cleaned out the handpiece first.  Then one day, I 
forgot.  So I bought a spare handpiece that I only use for de-waxing.  Not 
required.  But it saves time and risk.

After you finish the adjustments, shave a sliver of beeswax off of the 
block (available at craft and hobby stores), push it down into the hole, and use 
a warm (not hot) soldering iron tip to melt the wax.

In a message dated 11/15/2009 7:58:30 PM Central Standard Time, 
bjtatum1 at att.net writes: 
> Hello-
>     I am cleaning up and getting ready to re-align a Hallicrafters SX-122. 
> I noticed the coils have a wax material sealing them against movement of 
> the tuning slug. What is the best method to remove this wax?
>     Thanks, Byron.
> 

Robert & Susan Downs - Houston
wa5cab dot com (Web Store)
MVPA 9480