Making repro bakelite knobs.

[inecik38]

please write me ,can I made repro bakalite knobs?

[GeorgSc]

Originally Posted by inecik38

please write me ,can I made repro bakalite knobs?

Hello inecik38,
if You think of real Bakelite, no that is impossible.
Bakelite molds need to be resistant to very high pressures,
and You need a Press and the Bakelite Resin, which You cannot
make Yourself. I learned from a German company which
manufactures replicas of W48 (Telefone) that they use
Melamin resin for this!

I would recommend to make Your replicas from some epoxy or
UP/Styrene resin . There are a lot of descriptions for such
purpose in the Internet.
Regards
Georg

[inecik38]

please write me web cites. regards

[Boom]

You might also like to look up 'Catalin' which is very similar to bakelite but I understand slightly easier to make. Part of the process involves Lactic acid or buttermilk.

[Aerodyne]

Hi Inecik38 (interesting name),

An article of mine entitled 'Making replacement control knobs' (I think) was published in Radio Bygone, Sept/Oct 2005.

Perhaps you might have access to a copy, or know someone with one. I described how to make a simple mould and cast from it using Resin.

Hope this helps.
-Tony

[GeorgSc]

Hello inecik38,
You should google for :
"homemade mould resin knobs"
The page below is excellent, but in German, maybe thr Babelfish helps:
http://www.jogis-roehrenbude.de/Formteile.htm
Beware of the "Bakalite" in this page, it should be "Bakelite".,
before You try Babelfish.
Regards
Georg

PS
David: Catalin "similar " to Bakelite is a fairy tale from the net.
And: some lactic acid is needed is like mentioning some salt
when You are asked to exlpain how to make bread.

[inecik38]

Dear friends first thanks all of you.I am a new restorer and I am from turkey.I don't understand you very well ( I don't speak english very good) and there aren't alot of material in turkey.I don't know where can I find catalin and another material. I have a question : may I make repro knobs with acrylic ( I am a dentist) regards

[inecik38]

In addition I need my knob's measurements and a picture. Blaupunkt F52WH or F52WP.

[GeorgSc]

Hello inecik38,
of course You can make use of PMMA! As a Dentist You are
used to make molds, aren't You.?
Forget about catalin, that was a material produced in the 20ties
and 30ties in USA, You cant buy or make it.
Regards
Georg

[Darren-UK]

Attached is an image of the F52WH taken from this website. It shows what the knobs look like if nothing else.

[Nickthedentist]

Originally Posted by GeorgSc

You can make use of PMMA!

= polymethylmethacrylate, commonly used to make false teeth

[GeorgSc]

Hello Nicholas,
what is the best known brand name for PMMA in UK?
Perspex, Lucite, Plexi? Something else?
Regards,
Georg

[Aerodyne]

You have a PM, Inecik.
-Tony

[Nickthedentist]

Originally Posted by GeorgSc

Hello Nicholas,
what is the best known brand name for PMMA in UK?
Perspex, Lucite, Plexi? Something else?

I'm sorry, I don't know

[inecik38]

of course I can make knobs with PMMA but there is a problem here, PMMA have two colour , pink and white I don't know How to make brown colour.

[georgesgiralt]

Hello !
Maybe you should talk to people collecting miniature replica cars.
They are used to make cars by moulding plastics using silicone mould. They are used to produce strange shape, so knobs won't surprise them. Their cars are painted so the knobs would be able to be painted also ...

[chipp1968]

I sugest you experiment by adding dark stain to the PMMA. It will depend on what is compatable with the substance . Coloured powder used to dye cement is very strong colour wise and that may be the best option .

[Aerodyne]

Pigments, both opaque and translucent, are readily available for adding to casting resins. Modelling suppliers and craft sources (such as Hobby's for instance) have these. They are mixable to create any tone or colour you wish.
-Tony

[Jacqual]

To make exact replicas of the knobs you should consider a rapid prototyping solution. This would involve first taking a silicon rubber cast from a sample knob, and then using the vacuum-casting process to cast replicas in self-coloured rigid polyurethane resin. This will give you a result indistinguishable from the original! You can usually get around 20 casts from the rubber tool. This service is generally offered by specialist bureaux and can be expensive. It is widely used in new product development.However I bet that if you approached such a bureau you would find someone willing to help! I don't know of any Bureau in Turkey but I found a list which you can look at to see if there is one local to you. Here is the link and hope this helps
http://home.att.net/~castleisland/sbcitkl.htm

[Mike Phelan]

Originally Posted by inecik38

of course I can make knobs with PMMA but there is a problem here, PMMA have two colour , pink and white I don't know How to make brown colour.

Powdered poster paint, available in many colours (in UK, that is), can be used to colour clear liquid epoxy resin. I have done this many times; black, yellow and red will get you any shade of brown you want.

You can even get a swirly or marbled effect if you mix up a lighter or darker colour and add the two resins together without too much mixing.