[Hallicrafters] Re: a mirror finish

[Barry H]

Wow!  I didn't think that was possible.  Quite an accomplishment, Rich.  I'd like to take another look, but misplaced my welder's goggles, heh heh.  Apparently the glare was a shock to Ron's system and he assumed you had the whole thing plated by a motorcycle custom shop or something.

I have quite a few Hallicrafters and other radios with cad plated chassis.  Somehow I doubt if they would clean up that well as some have spots of black pox here and there.  

Again, though, I wouldn't have thought it was possible to get a chrome-like finish out of cad plating and I think it's like aluminum in terms of oxidizing to a protective dull patina on the surface.  

Did you coat it with anything?  If not, I suspect it will dull down, particularly after put back into operation with the heat from the tubes.  Even if so, however, after such a meticulous cleaning and polishing, it should look fine.

Great job -- keep us posted.

Barry




-- DW Holtman <future212 at comcast.net> wrote:
I have to disagree with Ron. I have a couple of SX-100's and an SX-42, 
that I spent hours polishing up the chassis with Wenol. They look great. 
I don't think cleaning and polishing is modifying. I think that bright 
orange and yellow plastic caps through out the chassis is more of a mod 
that cleaning and polishing. But, the only other choice is to re-stuff 
the old paper caps.

I'm sure that if it were not for the bottom line (increased retail 
prices), Hallicrafters and many other radio builders would have put more 
money into the cosmetics of the chassis, cabinet and front panel.

73's
DW Holtman
WB7SSN






 Ron Lawrence KC4YOY wrote:

>| Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2005 15:10:04 -0500
>| From: Bill Gerhold <k2wh at optonline.net>
>| Subject: RE: [Hallicrafters] SX-42 Project - gorgeous!
>| I was able to get the same bright shiny finish on a HT-32 chassis by using
>| Stainless steel or metal polish. The results however are a mirror finish.
>
>
>Did it come from Hallicrafters with a "mirror finish"?
>
>Is this about Restoring/Preserving vintage radios, or customizing them?
>
>Why not chrome plate the chassis, metal flake the cabinet,
>and rip out all those old tubes and stick in ICs while you're at it.
>Maybe even dump that old dial and pointer and put in a digital display.
>
>
>Ron
>
>
>
>
>
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