straightening out bent/lumpy trim? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

ben · 19th Feb 2008, 3:12 pm

I am in the process of restoring a 1970s music centre which I found in a skip in quite a bad way. there was a thin piece of aluminium trim along the front top edge which had been removed and bent in two which I need to restore. I have managed to reattach it and straighten it a fair bit by hand but there is still visible damage, so any tips gratefully received. I haven't yet tried to do more for fear of making it worse than it is!

I have attached a pic.

cheers. Ben

Mike Phelan · 19th Feb 2008, 5:32 pm

If you can get behind it, Ben, try resting it on some thin foam and find something to use as a roller to 'roll out' the raised dents on the underside. A bit of metal bar, maybe.
I have a load of scrap video pinch rollers I saved from a previous life, to use for such as this.

Leon Crampin · 19th Feb 2008, 7:14 pm

As the damage appears to be confined to the top "right angle" section, another possibility might be to cut this out and replace it with a section of extruded aluminium. This is available in a wide variety of sizes and a brushed effect can be obtained with a new nylon pan scrubber and soapy water. Obviously you could not replicate the texture of the original material by this means, but an accepable repair without kinks should be possible.

Leon.

Mikey405 · 19th Feb 2008, 8:54 pm

Hi Ben.

I also require a sheet of brushed aluminium trim and I found a company that can hopefully make it, and probably make you a new piece of trim too. The only web site I can find for them is an ebay store - I think I am going to get hung, draw, quartered, chastised and infracted just for mentioning the link, so if it's unacceptable to the mods then please delete it. (It's only a link to the shop, and not any particular product though.)

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Ringwood-Precision-Engineering

I hope this helps, Ben.

Kind regards.

From Mike.

ben · 20th Feb 2008, 12:16 am

Thank you all very much for the ideas. for the moment I'd like to keep to the original piece for authenticity, as it has the model number on it and the damage isn't THAT bad, so will probably attempt Mike P's pinch roller trick ! As a last resort I would try what Mikey405 suggests - handy to know of those people so thanks for the link!

cheers. Ben

19th Feb 2008, 3:12 pm	#1
ben Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK Posts: 7,498	straightening out bent/lumpy trim? I am in the process of restoring a 1970s music centre which I found in a skip in quite a bad way. there was a thin piece of aluminium trim along the front top edge which had been removed and bent in two which I need to restore. I have managed to reattach it and straighten it a fair bit by hand but there is still visible damage, so any tips gratefully received. I haven't yet tried to do more for fear of making it worse than it is! I have attached a pic. cheers. Ben Attached Thumbnails

19th Feb 2008, 5:32 pm	#2
Mike Phelan Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Near Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK Posts: 4,609	Re: straightening out bent/lumpy trim? If you can get behind it, Ben, try resting it on some thin foam and find something to use as a roller to 'roll out' the raised dents on the underside. A bit of metal bar, maybe. I have a load of scrap video pinch rollers I saved from a previous life, to use for such as this. __________________ Mike.

19th Feb 2008, 7:14 pm	#3
Leon Crampin Octode Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Surrey, UK. Posts: 1,870	Re: straightening out bent/lumpy trim? As the damage appears to be confined to the top "right angle" section, another possibility might be to cut this out and replace it with a section of extruded aluminium. This is available in a wide variety of sizes and a brushed effect can be obtained with a new nylon pan scrubber and soapy water. Obviously you could not replicate the texture of the original material by this means, but an accepable repair without kinks should be possible. Leon.

19th Feb 2008, 8:54 pm	#4
Mikey405 Octode Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Solihull, West Midlands and Beaford, Devon Posts: 1,626	Re: straightening out bent/lumpy trim? Hi Ben. I also require a sheet of brushed aluminium trim and I found a company that can hopefully make it, and probably make you a new piece of trim too. The only web site I can find for them is an ebay store - I think I am going to get hung, draw, quartered, chastised and infracted just for mentioning the link, so if it's unacceptable to the mods then please delete it. (It's only a link to the shop, and not any particular product though.) http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Ringwood-Precision-Engineering I hope this helps, Ben. Kind regards. From Mike. __________________ G7TRF

20th Feb 2008, 12:16 am	#5
ben Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK Posts: 7,498	Re: straightening out bent/lumpy trim? Thank you all very much for the ideas. for the moment I'd like to keep to the original piece for authenticity, as it has the model number on it and the damage isn't THAT bad, so will probably attempt Mike P's pinch roller trick ! As a last resort I would try what Mikey405 suggests - handy to know of those people so thanks for the link! cheers. Ben