Bush VHF64 Dishwasher blues.......!!
 

Oh dear......

After years of successfully washing knobs and piano keys from radio restorations in the dishwasher, those of the Bush VHF64 I am restoring took a serious dislike to the drying cycle and have warped.....!!

See photos attached.....has anybody else had the misfortune to do this? Any point in trying to heat/clamp them, or am I now in the realms of finding some more from a scrap VHF64/94 (to clean by hand - promise!!)

Bryan (more than a little embarrassed....)

Re: Bush VHF64 Dishwasher blues.......!!
 

There is no photo, but the VHF 61/62 knobs are made of a softer plastic rather than bakelite, so it is likely that the VHF 64/94 knobs were the same. 60 degrees C in a dishwasher may well be enough to distort them.

VHF 61/62 knobs go slightly off-shape just over time, with the inner and outer volume/tone pair sticking.

Re: Bush VHF64 Dishwasher blues.......!!
 

Sorry Paul - here are the photos!!

Re: Bush VHF64 Dishwasher blues.......!!
 

As you can see, the last photo was pre-dishwasher and the first 3 are after...

Sadly these are a bit more than slightly off-shape and I will need to to improve on that before handing the otherwise fine radio back to its owner!!!!

Re: Bush VHF64 Dishwasher blues.......!!
 

A bit late now but top tip for the future, do by hand, warm soapy water and a toothbrush then rinse, I must have done thousands that way when I used to do repairs and also recon tellies.

Lawrence.

Re: Bush VHF64 Dishwasher blues.......!!
 

I know, I know.....! Just need to find some more and promise never to use the dishwasher again!! (much to my missus's delight!!)

Bryan

Re: Bush VHF64 Dishwasher blues.......!!
 

Yes, I think they've had it.

I clean knobs with a nailbrush in the washing up bowl. If that isn't enough then I use T-Cut or Brasso.

Re: Bush VHF64 Dishwasher blues.......!!
 

Or .... try the Restobrite process?

Re: Bush VHF64 Dishwasher blues.......!!
 

I think these may be past that!!!

Re: Bush VHF64 Dishwasher blues.......!!
 

These are similar (if not the same) to the knobs and buttons on the SRG86 radiogram. You do see these chassis come up on ebay. Of the 2 SRG86s I've encountered, both the treble and bass controls were similarly distorted as per your picture, so they are very prone to that. Wasn't sure why as they didn't appear to be in a position to take much heat

Re: Bush VHF64 Dishwasher blues.......!!
 

Thanks - that's really helpful! It may be that the treble/bass controls weren't in fact damaged by the dishwasher but were already like that. I'll look out for a SRG86...

Re: Bush VHF64 Dishwasher blues.......!!
 

best thing for cleaning that brown gunk out of the knurls on plastic knobs is a couple of hours soak in a mugful of tepid water to which has been dissolved a spoonful of biological washing powder. The bio action will dissolve the hardened grease without any furious scrubbing or poking with pins and they'll come out like new.
Make sure the mug isn't confused with your elevenses.

Re: Bush VHF64 Dishwasher blues.......!!
 

Thanks - I think I am in enough trouble already in the kitchen department!!

Re: Bush VHF64 Dishwasher blues.......!!
 

theres a Bush 64 on ebay at the moment its scruffy but all of its knobs are present and its cheap at 18 quid .I have the radiogram version of this and its Bass and treble knobs are also misshapen even though they have never seen soap and water

Re: Bush VHF64 Dishwasher blues.......!!
 

Thanks - I've already been in touch with them, but they want collection only. They are in North Yorkshire and I'm in East Sussex!!

And....I've just put the radio back together again and the keys aren't as bad as they looked just sitting on the bench, so I'll see if the owner can live with it. Got the message about the bass/treble controls as well, thanks....!

Re: Bush VHF64 Dishwasher blues.......!!
 

I've made the comment on this forum many times that using dishwashers for the purpose of radio restoration is rash.

Other than kitchen stuff, I once reluctantly used the dishwasher to clean part of a lawn mower. QED.

B

Re: Bush VHF64 Dishwasher blues.......!!
 

I know - but actually they do work for many components. This was done (this time!!) with partner's knowledge, but I sensed a bit of schadenfreude when it all went wrong......

I have heard the (apparently true) story of the man who had heard that you could cook a salmon by putting it in the dishwasher - but nobody told him you had to wrap it in foil first...

Re: Bush VHF64 Dishwasher blues.......!!
 

I know lots have used dishwashers (DW) with success, but the bottom line is that even if DW gives a good result, what's the long-term cost? Pretty much all polymers deteriorate with age and that exposing them to the water and temperature of the DW will accelerate that. Even if it looks good when it comes out, you've probably brought forward the date when it will crack in to two pieces.

I suspect that one day, our radio restoration heirs will say "How on Earth did they conclude that using a DW was a good idea?"

And yes, I know that some modern electronics units are spec'd for DW.

B

Re: Bush VHF64 Dishwasher blues.......!!
 

At least one of those damaged knobs looks like it might succumb to re-heating and expanding back out using a whittled wooden former? It's death or glory, but doesn't look like you've too much to lose.

Dave

Re: Bush VHF64 Dishwasher blues.......!!
 

Mmmmm...... I tried heating one of the piano keys with a hair dryer whilst clamping it in a vice to straighten it while it cooled down...it really was unimpressed!!