[Boatanchors] Reforming Caps?

[Glen Zook]

Unfortunately, in many cases, reforming capacitors only slightly prolongs having to replace them.  If someone wants to retain the "collectors'" value of any unit they can always "gut" the existing electrolytic cans, paper capacitors, and so forth, and put new components inside the old housing.

However, most people just want to be able to use the equipment and therefore do not go to all the trouble of "gutting" the old components and putting new ones inside.  I routinely just put in new components and leave the old capacitor cans installed on the chassis while installing the new components below the chassis.  This is for "looks" in that the topside of the unit is basically unchanged in its appearance.

Glen, K9STH

Website:  http://k9sth.com


--- On Sun, 7/18/10, rhulett1 at comcast.net <rhulett1 at comcast.net> wrote:

Apologies if this is a controversial question, but am curious about "reforming" capacitors. I always just replace the wax/paper and electrolytic capacitors without testing them.  Maybe this is sacrilege, and overly cautious, but I’ve always been suspicious of integrity of 4-5 decade-old capacitors. Even if I “reformed” them, would constantly worry about killing a difficult-to-replace transformer sometime down the log.  And, I guess my goal is to use the equipment safely and reliably.  
 
But recently, reading accounts from a web page devoted to restoring old rigs, the writer routinely referred to reforming the caps as a normal, routine, and reliable method of dealing with these old components.  I’m willing to learn, so is there consensus regarding reform or replace?  Does replacing these old caps destroy collector's value of the equipment?