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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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9th May 2015, 11:18 am | #1 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Harlaxton, Lincolnshire, UK.
Posts: 3,944
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Another POSSIBLE substitute for drive cord
I bought from Boyes yesterday, from the crafts section, some Black Bead Thonging. It is available in 4 yard lengths and is 1mm in diameter. It looks like it may be suitable for use as drive cord but I haven't got an immediate requirement for any and so haven't been able to try it out, hence the "POSSIBLE" in the thread title. At £1.49 I thought it was worth getting some for stock.
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9th May 2015, 12:24 pm | #2 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK.
Posts: 5,554
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Re: Another POSSIBLE substitute for drive cord
I have used necklace cord with success even on Phillips sets with all the complication. Is that the same stuff?
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9th May 2015, 1:58 pm | #3 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Harlaxton, Lincolnshire, UK.
Posts: 3,944
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Re: Another POSSIBLE substitute for drive cord
I suspect it is; they call it Bead Thonging but I believe it is for necklace making.
I did BTW, a crude test with a round screw-driver blade and it seems to have plenty a grip. |
11th May 2015, 5:24 am | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK.
Posts: 5,554
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Re: Another POSSIBLE substitute for drive cord
It is quite waxy and has good adhesion to steel and can be twiddled to form a point for feeding through Phillips tuner flexy tubes.
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2nd Dec 2015, 12:17 am | #5 |
Pentode
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London, UK.
Posts: 122
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Re: Another POSSIBLE substitute for drive cord
I have used some 1mm Roman blind cord on a Ferguson 208U and it appears to work very well.
It comes in a 20 m length and was only a couple of pounds. |
2nd Dec 2015, 2:11 pm | #6 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Chard, South Somerset, UK.
Posts: 7,457
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Re: Another POSSIBLE substitute for drive cord
On a couple of occasions I've used plastic thread intended for making cableforms. It's reasonably stretchy and does give a reasonable grip on the drum and tuning spindle.
Al. |
2nd Dec 2015, 3:12 pm | #7 |
Octode
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,593
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Re: Another POSSIBLE substitute for drive cord
Hi. Another good substitute for cable drive (used in Philips & Mullard radios) is cord used by the building industry (made by Draper). It is thick enough for the job, and it works very well. My Mullard MAS281 required its cursor drive replacing, and after fiddling about with replacement cable and thinner drive cords (the latter did not work as it was too thin for the cursor plates to grip it).
Cheers Mike |
7th Dec 2015, 11:02 pm | #8 |
Heptode
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Olympia, Washington, USA.
Posts: 664
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Re: Another POSSIBLE substitute for drive cord
Cod line aka Cuttyhunk, works fantastic for thicker dial cords.
I still have 2 full reels of it on the Halibut reels my father had. |
7th Dec 2015, 11:54 pm | #9 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Matlock, Derbyshire, UK.
Posts: 1,378
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Re: Another POSSIBLE substitute for drive cord
I have some pretty orange cord which I use for guy rope for my mast.
It is 1.6mm diameter and consists of 3 x 3 strands, 0.3mm diameter. I have used a single strand of this for a dial cord. If you wish to have some, let me know either your address or telephone number and how much you want. |
8th Dec 2015, 6:39 am | #10 |
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Mareeba, North Queensland, Australia
Posts: 2,704
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Re: Another POSSIBLE substitute for drive cord
I have seen a few posts here re: Dial Cord.
If you have trouble getting hold of it, I can do an order from my supplier for you by "you" a larger order of maybe 5 or 10 rolls is better for me as it costs $16.50 for freight from Sydney to me. Its very high quality, and I havent had any drama with fitting it. It fits into the "medium" thickness category. Air mail from Australia to Britain costs a few bucks ( maybe $20) If you need some I can organise it for you Joe |
8th Dec 2015, 6:50 am | #11 |
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Mareeba, North Queensland, Australia
Posts: 2,704
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Re: Another POSSIBLE substitute for drive cord
I maybe should have added:
I have 3 types of dial cord; two of which are like me old BUT to give you an idea of size here goes Thick dial cord = .8mm diameter Medium is the 100 mtr roll I offered to get if needed it measures .65 mm dia. Thin = .4mm dia I measured these cords with my Helios dial guage!!. So the measurements are pretty accurate. Joe |
8th Dec 2015, 10:07 pm | #12 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING.
Posts: 9,147
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Re: Another POSSIBLE substitute for drive cord
I have used the strengthening cord from stripped out rubber mains cable and non kink iron flexes. Pull it over a candle before fitting. It works a treat! John.
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16th Feb 2016, 5:53 pm | #13 |
Heptode
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 512
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Re: Another POSSIBLE substitute for drive cord
I use thread designed for stitching leather, it does have a preparation (wax?) on it, but it's very strong and grips well.
__________________
worried about the electrons entering the circuit and the smoke leaving Andrew |
16th Feb 2016, 10:48 pm | #14 |
Nonode
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: West Midlands, UK.
Posts: 2,181
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Re: Another POSSIBLE substitute for drive cord
Andrew- from memory for leather work, it's not beeswax, but one which is water resistant. but if it's the same thickness as used in the shoemaking trade, I'd think it's a bit heavy. I've found that at around 12m , the strip cord in 8w telephone cable works well .
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18th Feb 2016, 12:57 am | #15 |
Hexode
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: London, UK.
Posts: 347
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Re: Another POSSIBLE substitute for drive cord
I've used Fishing line for replacing radio dial cords in the past with success. comes in different breaking strengths and thicknesses too. Well worth having some in the toolbox.
Thanks, Peter |
18th Feb 2016, 9:47 am | #16 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK
Posts: 5,185
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Re: Another POSSIBLE substitute for drive cord
I have been using cord from a kiddies kite for the last few years, it is the correct diameter, grips well and does not stretch. It also looks identical to the original
I have re-strung quite a few sets with it, and still have loads left. Certainly well worth keeping an eye out for! Mark |