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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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13th Apr 2006, 3:08 pm | #1 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Burghfield, Reading, Berkshire, UK,
Posts: 1,055
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Cleaning up old screw heads
Hi all
Very often, the screws in old sets are covered in a film of rust and/or dirt of some sort. There are some restorers who advocate replacing screws and nuts as a matter of course but is it really necessary (or desirable)? I always try to clean up the original screws. To do that I use a piece of hardwood about 1.5" x 12" x 1/4" in which are drilled a number of groups of clearance holes for 0, 2,4 & 6BA screws, leaving about 5" at one end as a handle. The rusty screws are then inserted into the wood and then, holding the wood in one hand, scrubbed with a wire brush (steel or brass depending on the size/condition of the screws). Nuts are a little more difficult and require threading onot screws. This is a trick I learnt from restorers of mechanical music instruments but it is equally applicable to our hobby. Hopefully, I'm not teaching everbody to suck eggs! Cheers Brian |