A very sad DAC 10 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

coopzone · 24th Aug 2019, 5:07 pm

Just a short post showing a before and after shot of a DAC10 i am working on.

It came from a well known internet auction site, sadly the packaging consisted of being wrapped up in a plastic bag. It didn’t end well!

I bought it for my dad, his mom had one of these sets (my nan). I can remember it from when i was about 6 or 7 years old. So to say i was disappointed is an understatement. Anyway i negotiated a new price for what was left and all was ok from that point of view.

The first photo does not show all the damage, the speaker was adrift for example because the bakelite was so badly damaged, the rear was just as bad. The good news is that i can confirm valves are a lot tougher that you think! One was loose in the back of the radio - impressive when you think these are valve bases with metal clips!

Initially I was just going to scrap the chassis for spare parts and be done. But it sat on the floor awaiting burial. After a few days and i got bored it had to happen. I decided to try my hand at gluing it back together, 3-d jigsaw! time.

It’s never going to win any beauty contests and it’s value must now be below the cost of the parts i used (after a full re-cap, re-wire etc). But hey i’m not doing this for the money! I don’t care what it is or is not worth - to me it’s worth every penny spent and the hours of work put in.

PS. Anyone got a DAC10 case they want to get a new home for?

Derek

deliverance · 24th Aug 2019, 5:15 pm

In the past I have had a few damaged in transit . Good on you repairing it and saving it from burial.

paulsherwin · 24th Aug 2019, 5:55 pm

Not bad at all considering.

music-centre · 24th Aug 2019, 6:31 pm

Its come up well, poor thing certainly had a hammering - amazing the dial survived

julie_m · 24th Aug 2019, 7:01 pm

I don't think that's a bad job at all, considering. It's all part of a set's living history, anyway!

Now, if radios could talk for themselves, of the broadcasts they reproduced, and the events unfolding before them, there would surely be some fascinating material there .....

HamishBoxer · 24th Aug 2019, 7:04 pm

That is good,possibly a bit of brown stain on joints might be better still?

kestrelmusic · 24th Aug 2019, 9:23 pm

I've reassembled a badly damaged Bakelite case in the past. Good quality cyanoacrylate adhesive will do the job, but it's better to do one joint at a time and let the glue cure properly, as there are always stresses in the Bakelite which will tend to pull joints apart unless you are very lucky. I use brown dental moulding compound to fill any missing bits - it moulds nicely when it is warm, but sets hard at room temperature and is a pretty good match for the original colour.

coopzone · 25th Aug 2019, 10:08 am

Thanks for all the comments

KestrelMusic, wher do you get brown dental moulding compound from?

D.Finney · 25th Aug 2019, 12:43 pm

Good job, the repair is not noticeable.

24th Aug 2019, 5:07 pm	#1
coopzone Hexode Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Cannock, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 268	A very sad DAC 10 Just a short post showing a before and after shot of a DAC10 i am working on. It came from a well known internet auction site, sadly the packaging consisted of being wrapped up in a plastic bag. It didn’t end well! I bought it for my dad, his mom had one of these sets (my nan). I can remember it from when i was about 6 or 7 years old. So to say i was disappointed is an understatement. Anyway i negotiated a new price for what was left and all was ok from that point of view. The first photo does not show all the damage, the speaker was adrift for example because the bakelite was so badly damaged, the rear was just as bad. The good news is that i can confirm valves are a lot tougher that you think! One was loose in the back of the radio - impressive when you think these are valve bases with metal clips! Initially I was just going to scrap the chassis for spare parts and be done. But it sat on the floor awaiting burial. After a few days and i got bored it had to happen. I decided to try my hand at gluing it back together, 3-d jigsaw! time. It’s never going to win any beauty contests and it’s value must now be below the cost of the parts i used (after a full re-cap, re-wire etc). But hey i’m not doing this for the money! I don’t care what it is or is not worth - to me it’s worth every penny spent and the hours of work put in. PS. Anyone got a DAC10 case they want to get a new home for? Derek Attached Thumbnails

24th Aug 2019, 5:15 pm	#2
deliverance Heptode Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Manchester, UK. Posts: 710	Re: A very sad DAC 10 In the past I have had a few damaged in transit . Good on you repairing it and saving it from burial.

24th Aug 2019, 5:55 pm	#3
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,944	Re: A very sad DAC 10 Not bad at all considering.

24th Aug 2019, 6:31 pm	#4
music-centre Heptode Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK. Posts: 687	Re: A very sad DAC 10 Its come up well, poor thing certainly had a hammering - amazing the dial survived

24th Aug 2019, 7:01 pm	#5
julie_m Dekatron Join Date: May 2008 Location: Derby, UK. Posts: 7,735	Re: A very sad DAC 10 I don't think that's a bad job at all, considering. It's all part of a set's living history, anyway! Now, if radios could talk for themselves, of the broadcasts they reproduced, and the events unfolding before them, there would surely be some fascinating material there ..... __________________ If I have seen further than others, it is because I was standing on a pile of failed experiments.

24th Aug 2019, 7:04 pm	#6
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 8,932	Re: A very sad DAC 10 That is good,possibly a bit of brown stain on joints might be better still? __________________ G8JET BVWS Archivist and Member V.M.A.R.S

24th Aug 2019, 9:23 pm	#7
kestrelmusic Hexode Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK. Posts: 466	Re: A very sad DAC 10 I've reassembled a badly damaged Bakelite case in the past. Good quality cyanoacrylate adhesive will do the job, but it's better to do one joint at a time and let the glue cure properly, as there are always stresses in the Bakelite which will tend to pull joints apart unless you are very lucky. I use brown dental moulding compound to fill any missing bits - it moulds nicely when it is warm, but sets hard at room temperature and is a pretty good match for the original colour.

25th Aug 2019, 10:08 am	#8
coopzone Hexode Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Cannock, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 268	Re: A very sad DAC 10 Thanks for all the comments KestrelMusic, wher do you get brown dental moulding compound from?

25th Aug 2019, 12:43 pm	#9
D.Finney Pentode Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 147	Re: A very sad DAC 10 Good job, the repair is not noticeable.