[R-390] FW: stripping paint

[barry williams]

I don't know about all of that. At least on the 70+ radios that I have 
now with the majority being Bakelite. Sadly, I don't have any catalin 
radios.

This is a post war, 1946 so it is about guaranteed to be Bakelite. I 
have the Sam's or Rider's info, I forget which, and can look it up.

I pretty much ignore cracks unless they are visible and then I don't buy 
the radio anyway unless for parts. But, you do end up discovering them 
later on the bench from time to time. I leave them alone unless the 
crack is large enough to threaten the whole case. The radio cases all 
get the same treatment- a waxing/buffing with the real Liquid Lustre. 
The shine and slick surface reflection is beautiful and durable. It also 
is an excellent cleaner, but regular dishwashing liquid mixed liberally 
(I hate that word) with water is easier. Almost every radio you find 
will have a coating of bacon grease and/or tobacco smoke. One of my 
first radios that I tinkered with was a gem of a Stromberg AM that I got 
for $3. It looked like it had been in a chemical pool or in the ocean. I 
was bored. Anyway, 24 hours of soaking it dishwashing soak gave it a 
beautiful, faultless surface. That is pretty much what got me started 
with these things. The Stromberg is still one of my all time favorites.

I've never seen the kind of knobs you are talking about either. They 
pretty much are all hard, pressure baked Bakelite. Durable. I've seen 
crumbly knobs but it a rare thing for me. I think my Hallicrafters S-38B 
and an EC-1 (is that right, Les?) has them. Les has one too and offered 
to give the whole radio to me when I begged for a knob, but his wife 
liked it too much when he went to box it up. What are the odds of having 
someone's wife like a radio too much??? C'mon Les! Go get her a nice, 
modern radio with a few bells and whistles at the Wal-Mall, and send me 
the %%&*@ thing!  =8^P

I've just never seen the horror stories you are talking about. Catalin 
is certainly a different story. Among other things, it becomes brittle 
over time. I have a heavy hand mirror that was my mothers that is amber 
catalin. It suffered when formed into radio cases due to handling and 
heat. You have to be careful with that stuff but it is worth whatever 
effort it takes.


the other other Barry

> There is at least one significant issue when dealing with "Bakelite" 
> or "Dakaware" items.
>
> While indeed Phenol is the resin that binds all, carefully examine the 
> item(s) BEFORE doing anything!
>
> Carefully examine the item(s) for hairline cracks!
>
> If any are found, then I'd suggest coating with a "neutral" sealant.  
> If these cracks are not sealed, anything and everything will simply 
> soak in and break it apart.
>
> The only "Phenolic" items that do not have this issue is the sheet 
> based that has layers of cloth.
>
> The "knob" items are essentially flour with Phenol as a binding agent.
>
> This being the case, the hairline cracks are a quick path in for any 
> moisture and expansion, leading to significant if not total fracture.
>
> Bob - N0DGN
>