[Premium-Rx] How to straighten a bent front panel on a RF-590 without causing more damage

[Barry Hauser]

Another thing that often works for me is a very big adjustable wrench with
some dense cardboard -- more like pasteboard than corrugated -- to prevent
gouging or marking.  You have to study the bend and place the wrench just
so, then snug up on it with the cardboards in place.

Pounding can work also -- but requires complete removal of the panel.  Place
it face down on a good piece of particleboard (dense) with a rag in between.
If the panel is thick and of the more "unmalleable" type of aluminum or
steel, a regular hammer won't work.  I use piece of tool steel over more
cardboard and a 15 lb. steel bar.  A barbell bar would also work, or
possibly a hand sledge.

If the bend is slight and in the corner as you describe, the wrench method
should work.  However, first make sure the hardware is tight and the action
won't twist the whole chassis.  A giant C-clamp can work also, but I've
found somewhat better control with the wrench. Use a rocking motion to get
the feel of it so you can see that it's bending back at the right place and
that you're not putting stress on anything else.

Good luck.

Barry
-----
From: "Carcia, Frank A. HS" <francis.carcia at hs.utc.com>
To: "'Gary Mitchelson'" <n3jpu at speakeasy.net>; <premium-rx at ml.skirrow.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2002 11:18 AM
Subject: RE: [Premium-Rx] How to straighten a bent front panel on a RF-590
without causing more damage


> hi All,
> We just received a new Sorenson power supply with the same problem. I used
a
> pair of vice grips with a couple pieces of cardboard to protect the paint.
> It worked just fine. I used the back board from a pad for the cardboard.
Try
> to bend it back
> a hammer will ding the panel. Toronto Surplus was selling new ones for big
> bucks it is too bad to repair.   fc
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gary Mitchelson [mailto:n3jpu at speakeasy.net]
> Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2002 11:11 AM
> To: premium-rx at ml.skirrow.org
> Subject: [Premium-Rx] How to straighten a bent front panel on a RF-590
> without causing more damage
>
>
> Well my very low use RF-590 arrived yesterday and much to my
> disappointment I found that the corner of the front panel was bent in
> :>(
> Such a shame as this unit had no cosmetic damage. It's bent in about
> 1/2" just in one corner. The paint is crinkled. It was fairly well
> packed but I guess that the weight of the 590 was just to much.
>
> What is the best way to straighten it back out with minimum additional
> cosmetic damage?
>
> I was thinking maybe a 2X4 piece and a big hammer (hitting the 2X4 not
> the 590).
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> Gary N3JPU
>