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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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Old 25th Jan 2018, 9:02 pm   #1
kellys_eye
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Default Alternative sources

I had a requirement for aluminium sheet to make a front panel for some test equipment I'm fabricating but had some choices to make.

1. was the purchase of a cut-to-size piece at £11
2. was a plain panel of approximate dimensions for £7

but strolling through Homebase today I spotted a 'plasterers hawk' - of all things! On sale for only £4.50 and it was large enough to make TWO panels that I required.

Finding such items for 'rescheduling' is always pleasant - a feeling of one-upmanship on the 'proper' means of sourcing.

What have you found as suitable alternatives for hardware?
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Old 30th Jan 2018, 1:32 pm   #2
mike g3zii
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Default Re: Alternative sources

I found some mess tins in my local pound shop, they are aluminium
7X5 X2 inches deep so far I have used them for a small amplifer, a transmitter
and quite a few 'Pantry' transmitters and a trf radio still under construction.
I went back for some more and I think I nearly cleared them out. the girl said "are you running a scout camp" I said "no I'm building radios" What!
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Old 30th Jan 2018, 7:08 pm   #3
G6Tanuki
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Default Re: Alternative sources

Someone local recently was throwing out a load of fire-doors from an office refit; apparently the current requirement is for fire-doors to be 120-minute rated and nobody knew what the old ones were rated-to so they had to go.

I snaffled some of the brushed aluminium finger-plates and kick-plates.
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Old 30th Jan 2018, 7:23 pm   #4
evingar
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Default Re: Alternative sources

Look out for demolition of old aluminium and glass conservatories.
The aluminium channelling is great a general engineering material and for use as heat spreaders / sinking.
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Old 30th Jan 2018, 11:02 pm   #5
dseymo1
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Default Re: Alternative sources

An old caravan yields as much sheet aluminium as you could reasonably want, albeit rather thin gauge.
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Old 31st Jan 2018, 12:45 am   #6
Refugee
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Default Re: Alternative sources

I made a work bench out of discarded doors. They had square glass panes in some of them but as uprights with the glass removed they made test equipment shelving.
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Old 31st Jan 2018, 7:33 am   #7
John M0GLN
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Default Re: Alternative sources

I also use various sources for aluminium if I can, one thing to remember though if it's anodised it probably won't conduct, I puzzled for a for minutes as to why the measured voltage between the +400V HT rail and the chassis I made was 0V.

John
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Old 31st Jan 2018, 9:20 am   #8
Nickthedentist
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Default Re: Alternative sources

Quote:
Originally Posted by G6Tanuki View Post
I snaffled some of the brushed aluminium finger-plates and kick-plates.
Even bought new from Screwfix and the like, these are reasonably economical sources of thin aluminium sheet.
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Old 31st Jan 2018, 10:56 am   #9
lesmw0sec
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Default Re: Alternative sources

B&Q overflow water pipe makes excellent feeder line spreaders for a doublet.
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Old 31st Jan 2018, 12:42 pm   #10
Boater Sam
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Default Re: Alternative sources

Is that hose and doublet?

Off cuts of plastic pipe in various sizes makes great snug fitting inserts into capacitor cans when they are cut to re-stuff so the clamp still grips, even if you have to slit them and remove a bit to get them inside.
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