[Hallicrafters] Nicotine stains

Sat Dec 17 15:16:15 EST 2005

Hmmm... This gets into a little sociology, but cats, just like dogs mark 
their territory and in the same manner if not position. (I've never seen a 
cat with one leg in the air...at least not in that manner or for that 
purpose.)  Tom cats are noted for "spraying" screen doors, but if "fixed" in 
time they don't *usually* do it.  Once they've started it's usually "too 
late" for the fixing to .. well... fix that.  They'll still want to go out 
at night, but can't seem to remember why.

  Now when it comes to objects they don't usually mark one unless some one, 
er...another cat has marked it.  Old cats OTOH will pee on just about 
anything warm, particularly hot air registers which can do remarkable things 
such as the number of people who come to parties at your house.

But to the original question, there isn't a whole lot you can do except let 
the thing set out in the sun and wind on hot summer days and eventually 
nature will take it's course although I don't think the smell ever 
completely goes away.  The problem is that *stuff* penetrates into coils, 
transformer laminations, switch wafers, and anything that is porous.

You can take it out of the cabinet and soak the cabinet in warm water and 
mild dish detergent. Although it's tempting, do not use hot water.   Make 
sure the detergent is one *without* Ammonia!  Thoroughly rinse and gently 
pat dry.  Then hang out in the sun to finish drying.

Disclaimer:  The following *is* hazardous to all concerned and should not be 
considered a recommendation or "how to".
As for the chassis, the best (or most effective), but  least safe way, is to 
put it out in the sun, sans cabinet, and leave it fired up.  This comes with 
some obvious and potentially lethal safety hazards. You have to put the 
thing high enough to keep from collecting a pile of neighborhood cats and 
dogs.  That odor accentuated by the heat will call/bring dogs and cats from 
a long way off!   Unfortunately when out of reach of kids, cats, dogs, and 
curious people, birds most likely will be a problem.  Notice I didn't say 
may be a problem. So although it takes a lot longer, it's probably best to 
not power the thing up out of the cabinet.  Tempting, but not a good idea.

Possibly the sunshine treatment in the day and put it up on a shelf out in 
the garage, or shop where no one can get at it and fire it up all night.

The sunshine, fresh air, and heat cycles really will work. Not over night, 
but they will work and you should notice some difference even after a few 
days, but as I said above, that smell never completely goes away.  OTOH is 
it likely to reach a point where you (and most people) don't notice it. 
Only people with very sensitive noses will.

One note of caution. If the sun gets the rig too hot it can melt wax in the 
coils and *might* be hard on some plastics.

We have three cats. Two are approaching the "far side" of senility.  I have 
a very sensitive nose. If a cat leaves a "trophy" in the litter box without 
covering, it'll wake me in the middle of the night. I think my wife could 
sleep next to it and never notice.

Roger Halstead (K8RI and ARRL 40 year Life Member)
N833R - World's oldest Debonair CD-2
www.rogerhalstead.com

> OK, how do you get cat urine out of an SR-160?  Found out my cat has been
> using the rig as a toilet.  Nasty stuff, and smells worse than tar for 
> sure.
>
> I found a cure for this by burying the cat.
>
> K2WH
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: hallicrafters-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:hallicrafters-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Glen Zook
> Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2005 11:15 AM
> To: ~DA~; Hallicrafters at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Hallicrafters] Nicotine stains
>
> Put some water on a paper towel and then "pat" the
> surface.  If the paper towel turns brownish-yellow
> then it is nicotine.  If the paper towel only shows
> dirt then it is some sort of "permanent" coating.
>
> Glen, K9STH
>
>
> --- ~DA~ <iluznst at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> How does one tell if the yellowy colour on a receiver
> is a nicotine stain or just old clear coaing of some
> sort?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Glen, K9STH
>
> Web sites
>
> http://home.comcast.net/~k9sth
> http://home.comcast.net/~zcomco
>
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