The Simplest Things: Radio Test Jig - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Ti Pwun · 4th Jun 2016, 3:52 pm

Nothing more than a hunk of wood with some holes in it, really, but this is incredibly useful. I knocked this up after a component lead went right in under my finger nail while turning a radio around in my hand and I almost dropped it.

Now, I can use the radio screws to secure it to the board, pop in a couple of screws to hold the amp and plug in the speaker wires to the little board you see. I can plug my headphones into the socket to prevent the Mrs from going insane while I align a radio, as well as connect my meter for peaking.

Nothing major, I know, but it may be useful to someone. At least now when there is a fair bit of work to do I can flip the whole thing around many times without ever tugging on any wires or dropping/damaging anything.

4th Jun 2016, 4:04 pm

Quote:

after a component lead went right in under my finger nail

Ouch!!!

Yes, simple jigs made in a few minutes do save lots of time and injury. Because I make model planes too there is a lot of balsa wood, thin ply and super glue about, ideal for the quick jig. Even a little spacer stuck with double sided tape helps a lot.

Ti Pwun · 4th Jun 2016, 6:21 pm

Yep, hurt like hell. My daughter was almost doubled over and howling with laughter, of course, but there you go!

It definitely made me stop in my tracks and make something.

Radiocruncher · 4th Jun 2016, 8:09 pm

Nice job Jon. I like the headphone plug setup. I suppose you could also substitute a dummy load as well.

Graham

Ti Pwun · 4th Jun 2016, 9:07 pm

Indeed. I have two x 300 watt @ 8Ω and 4 x 2Ω dummy load wirewound resistors mounted to a board for amp work but it might be worth adding other values (3Ω & 5Ω, etc.) to the board for the various radios I'm working on, in case I want to clip a load to the wires on the little board there.

I normally have a cable in the headphone socket connected to a small mixer so I can watch YouTube videos as I work and still hear sig gen tones when I need to and this little setup makes the whole process more convenient now that I have it mounted on this board.

Radiocruncher · 5th Jun 2016, 10:21 pm

Very nice setup Jon. Plenty of YouTube videos in the pipeline to keep you entertained.

Graham

Ti Pwun · 7th Jun 2016, 8:54 am

Great stuff - nothing beats watching a few repair or restoration videos while I'm working on something.

4th Jun 2016, 3:52 pm	#1
Ti Pwun Heptode Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 888	The Simplest Things: Radio Test Jig Nothing more than a hunk of wood with some holes in it, really, but this is incredibly useful. I knocked this up after a component lead went right in under my finger nail while turning a radio around in my hand and I almost dropped it. Now, I can use the radio screws to secure it to the board, pop in a couple of screws to hold the amp and plug in the speaker wires to the little board you see. I can plug my headphones into the socket to prevent the Mrs from going insane while I align a radio, as well as connect my meter for peaking. Nothing major, I know, but it may be useful to someone. At least now when there is a fair bit of work to do I can flip the whole thing around many times without ever tugging on any wires or dropping/damaging anything. Attached Thumbnails

4th Jun 2016, 6:21 pm	#3
Ti Pwun Heptode Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 888	Re: The Simplest Things: Radio Test Jig Yep, hurt like hell. My daughter was almost doubled over and howling with laughter, of course, but there you go! It definitely made me stop in my tracks and make something.

4th Jun 2016, 8:09 pm	#4
Radiocruncher Hexode Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Torrington, Devon UK. Posts: 446	Re: The Simplest Things: Radio Test Jig Nice job Jon. I like the headphone plug setup. I suppose you could also substitute a dummy load as well. Graham

4th Jun 2016, 9:07 pm	#5
Ti Pwun Heptode Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 888	Re: The Simplest Things: Radio Test Jig Indeed. I have two x 300 watt @ 8Ω and 4 x 2Ω dummy load wirewound resistors mounted to a board for amp work but it might be worth adding other values (3Ω & 5Ω, etc.) to the board for the various radios I'm working on, in case I want to clip a load to the wires on the little board there. I normally have a cable in the headphone socket connected to a small mixer so I can watch YouTube videos as I work and still hear sig gen tones when I need to and this little setup makes the whole process more convenient now that I have it mounted on this board.

5th Jun 2016, 10:21 pm	#6
Radiocruncher Hexode Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Torrington, Devon UK. Posts: 446	Re: The Simplest Things: Radio Test Jig Very nice setup Jon. Plenty of YouTube videos in the pipeline to keep you entertained. Graham

7th Jun 2016, 8:54 am	#7
Ti Pwun Heptode Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 888	Re: The Simplest Things: Radio Test Jig Great stuff - nothing beats watching a few repair or restoration videos while I'm working on something.