[R-390] Front Panel Restoration ER Don Reaves Kielbasa

[Glenn Scott via R-390]

Cecil and group,


I am writing a paper on my powder coating and soda blasting techniques and hope to make it available soon. Maybe I can impose on Done Reaves to critique my grammar and syntax once more. (He is really good at this) Hi


To answer your question Cecil, the only safe way to do a lot of soda blasting is with a blasting cabinet. Soda blasting cabinets can be dual purpose for Soda and other medias such as sand, hulls, and others. Which means two blast nozzles, two media tanks and associated hoses if you want dual utility.


The down side to soda blasting is it does NOT remove rust. The plus side to soda blasting is it is excellent for removing paint and grime and will not damage glass, rubber, most plastics nor adhesive labels that protect underlying lettering. I use adhesive tape to cover the lettering on the rear side of R390A front panels and soda blasting does not remove or damage the tape. It is also the safest and quickest way, that I know of, to blast Aluminum panels clean without burrowing into the surface that may happen with more aggressive media..


The SAND blasting cabinets I have looked at did not have adequate filtration and the powder went everywhere, including, outside the cabinet.. Cabinets designed for SODA are tighter and have an expended media drop box as well as a filter and separate media collector for the powder that does not fall to the bottom. You can NOT recycle SODA like you can SAND. Once it impacts the surface it is spent. 
You must use the right Soda media which is encapsulated pellets; I use Armex from Harbor Freight.. I did try Arm & Hammer Sodium Bicarbonate and I could never get it to flow right. Perhaps someone living in an area that is considerably less humid than it is here in the Carolina's might have better luck.  


I really don't want to paint, pun intended, myself into a corner with painting and powder coating panels knobs and other cosmetic issues. I am much more at home with and enjoy the electronics and performance of these receivers, However, there has been far less discussion on the cosmetic issues than the FUN stuff. 
I hope some of the info I have provided may help others. If not, I offer a full refund on all advice, though, you must pay for return shipping...Hi


73,


Glenn Scott WA4AOS
DSM Labs
glenn at dsmlabs.com