[R-390] front panel restoration

[Jerry K]

Lots of ways to do this, and to me blasting is one of the least 
desirable. Hank Arney's setup is probably hands down the best method 
there is, but of course he does panels by the hundreds. For us poor 
onesies-twosies guys who must do things the hard (cheap) way, Jet Strip 
is the only thing that has worked for me. Other than O'Reilly's Auto 
Parts, it's available on several automotive/industrial products websites 
such as this one:

http://www.autobodymaster.com/product_list.jsp?PHPRJ_GROUP_ID=44073

Enjoy your shop time, there's never enough of it!
73, Jerry W5KP


Paul Anderson wrote:
> I use aircraft paint stripper on the front panel and on the knobs to
> remove what will come off, and soften the rest, then plastic media
> blast the remainder.  Rather than resorting to bead blasting, I will
> put another layer of paint stripper on.
>
> Most any metal, sand or glass media will start pushing metal around,
> which you don't really want if the panel is engraved.  If it is not
> engraved, it matters less.
>
> I never had problems with paint stripper getting on the back of the
> panel and removing paint that I didn't want to - I was just careful
> not to glob it on the back while brash brushing off the residue.
>
> Paul
>
> On Tue, Dec 9, 2008 at 8:01 AM, Cecil Acuff <chacuff at cableone.net> wrote:
>   
>> Not sure what it would do on a steel panel..will use it on my SX-28A
>> project....but it does "Expand" the metal enough on an aluminum panel to
>> cause a change in shape.
>>
>> Cecil
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert Nickels" <ranickel at comcast.net>
>> To: "Cecil Acuff" <chacuff at cableone.net>
>> Cc: <odyslim at comcast.net>; "r390 list" <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
>> Sent: Monday, December 08, 2008 10:30 PM
>> Subject: Re: [R-390] front panel restoration
>>
>>
>>     
>>> Cecil Acuff wrote:
>>>       
>>>> You have to go easy around the engravings.
>>>>
>>>>         
>>> I wouldn't use my bead blaster for just that reason, although I can't
>>> imagine it producing sufficient force to warp a 1/8" thick steel panel! I've
>>> always had good luck with chemical strippers but still end up sanding panels
>>> before painting.
>>>
>>> I think Hank Arney will confirm that the professional surface treatment is
>>> called a "Timesaver".  This is actually the name of the company that makes
>>> the Timesaver machines, which are essentially very large belt sanders.
>>> Running a panel through a Timesaver is roughly the same as running a piece
>>> of wood through a surface planer, only much less metal is removed.   With
>>> proper setup a very smooth, flat surface results, without damaging the
>>> engraving.  In fact, the machine leaves a "grain" that helps paint adhere,
>>> or in the case of aluminum, makes for an attractive finish when anodized
>>> (what most of us would call "brushed aluminum").
>>>
>>> I've not done it with an R-390 panel (yet) but I have used a wood shop
>>> type belt sander for the same purpose.  For a less aggressive approach, a
>>> random orbital sander works really well and doesn't leave a "grainy"
>>> appearance.  Velcro-back sandpaper in different grits can take you from
>>> rough removal down to the finish you want.
>>>
>>> 73, Bob W9RAN
>>>
>>>       
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