[Boatanchors] Repairing a tuning capacitor

[David Stinson]

Another thing I'm seeing in some of my old rigs:
The caps are often assembled as a "stack" of  plates 
and spacers and contacts which are mechanically 
pressed together.  Over time, oxidation has built-up
between some of the parts.  Last time, I had a 
3-section receiver cap in which the solder connection
strip, pressed on the end of the oscillator stator
support members, no longer made reliable connection 
with the stator. I used a good, hot iron to fix that one.
Also seen this several times on the stators 
of ARC-5 transmitters; the points where the 
solder contact strip of metal is pressed onto the 
end of the stator go intermit.  Solder fixes those
as well but you have to be careful not to 
dislodge those little plastic beads that hold the 
stator in place.

On another, the rotor plate "stack" 
(plate-spacer-plate-spacer etc.) had become Hi-Z
between some of the plates and spacers.  I used
a soft copper wire with a light bulb and battery 
to make a crude "spot welder" and tacked across
the offending pieces until it fixed the problem.
Other times I've tried this "spot welder" it didn't
work as well.  Guess it has to do with the metals
involved.  I'm no welder but I bet someone reading 
this is.  Any insight on how to do this better for next time?

73 DE Dave AB5S