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Hints, Tips and Solutions (Do NOT post requests for help here) If you have any useful general hints and tips for vintage technology repair and restoration, please share them here. PLEASE DO NOT POST REQUESTS FOR HELP HERE! |
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22nd Feb 2007, 10:11 am | #1 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Near Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK
Posts: 4,609
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Replacing foam on rexine cabinets
As I have done a few of these now, I thought it would be worth offering a few tips. The subject is a Hacker RP18, but is aplicable to many makes and models. Foam was some about 3mm thick that I had in stock, but is available from car trim suppliers.
Taking the front with its grille as an example, remove the grille carefully, and very slowly and carefully remove the rexine; typically this can take nearly half-an-hour. Straighten the grille pins with pliers. I use a scouring pad to remove the powdered foam on the wood and rexine. As the part of the rexine cannot be cleaned effectively around the edges of the grille, clean it now. Glue four pieces of foam on the wood, using PVA glue – about 3mm thick. Only use a smear of glue, otherwise it will seep through the thickness of the foam and make hard or sunken spots on the surface. At first it seems difficult to line up the pins on the grille, so they pass through the rexine and the holes in the wooden cabinet panel; I found the easiest way is first to straighten the pins carefully with pliers, then pass them through just the rexine at first. Then, offer the first few into the holes in the panel. keeping it all fairly level. A gentle push with tweezers on the pins to line them up, then it will all drop in. Have some drawing pins, bulldog clips and four pieces of rubber sheet about 5 x 5 cm – inner tube/rubber gloves/whatever. A few pieces of MDF as well. If you are doing a few of these, use one piece of MDF the same size as the panel and with a cut-out for the grille. This can be used on the back as well. Brush glue on the inner surface and towards the outer edges on the corners, then lay the panel on the bench front down, with the MDF under it, and a heavy weight on top to compress the foam. Pull the edges together and put drawing pins in on the extreme edges. Pass a piece of rubber sheet against each corner at 45 degrees, and pull it tight; hold with bulldog clips. After the glue has dried, remove the clips and pins, and the weight. You will find that the edges of the rexine will not be flat; lift the edges and brush more PVA into the gaps; bulldog clips will flatten the rexine down then. Well worth doing this!
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Mike. |
22nd Feb 2007, 11:28 am | #2 |
Octode
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Bath, Somerset, UK.
Posts: 1,804
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Re: Replacing foam on rexine cabinets
Nice job Mike, well worth the effort, but there cant be many wives that would allow one to use so many of her clothes pegs in one go .
Neil |
22nd Feb 2007, 11:37 am | #3 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Halesworth, Suffolk, UK.
Posts: 413
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Re: Replacing foam on rexine cabinets
a very neat job Mike, but how do you manage to have such a tidy bench top!!!!!!!!
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22nd Feb 2007, 1:10 pm | #4 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Western Lake District, Cumbria (CA20) - UK
Posts: 2,136
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Re: Replacing foam on rexine cabinets
Same question here - was it specially tidied for the photoshoot
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Brian |
22nd Feb 2007, 2:40 pm | #5 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Near Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK
Posts: 4,609
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Re: Replacing foam on rexine cabinets
Neil
Not a problem if you are about do a 3000 mile service on her car! Den and Brian Confession - I did tidy up the bench top - in its previous state, I was finding it difficult to have enough space to get a Superdrug radio on there, let alone an RP18!
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Mike. |
22nd Feb 2007, 3:44 pm | #6 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK.
Posts: 2,543
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Re: Replacing foam on rexine cabinets
I wanted to use Mike's method on my RP31sw, which I posted in Success Stories here; https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=13037
As you can read, I was unable to get the rexine off because the gold beading was stuck down so well. Are there any tips on how to, successfully, remove this beading? Thanks David |
22nd Feb 2007, 3:53 pm | #7 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Near Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK
Posts: 4,609
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Re: Replacing foam on rexine cabinets
David
I have put a reply on that thread.
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Mike. |