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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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23rd Jan 2020, 2:40 am | #1 |
Nonode
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Tintinara, South Australia, Australia
Posts: 2,339
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Shielding material other than pcb
Rather than hijack Wendys post about the poor quality pcb material she was using for screening, I use tin that is recovered from 4L cooking oil containers.
At least one brand Downunder comes in comes in tins roughly 5" square and about a foot high, with completely smooth sides, rounded corners and a single joining seam in one side. Yes, a little bit of messing about cleaning them, but easily done with a bit of dishwashing detergent and hot water (before you cut it up ). Bit of flux and a hot iron does the job easy enough. |
23rd Jan 2020, 2:48 am | #2 |
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Mareeba, North Queensland, Australia
Posts: 2,704
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Re: Shielding material other than pcb
Another thing using steel tins is that steel cans screen magnetically as well as electrostatically. Its very easy to bend into shape and can be cut with industrial scissors rather than a clunking great pair of tinsnips. If one is really fussy and doesnt like the pictures and ink on the can, it's easilly obtainable from hobby stores that cater for model aircraft and model steam.
Joe |
23rd Jan 2020, 2:51 am | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Oxfordshire, UK.
Posts: 4,934
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Re: Shielding material other than pcb
A friend of mine, who passed on long ago, was a wonderful tin smith. Long before the days of diecast boxes, I suspect that any self-respecting radio technician regarded the ability to make a neat tin box as a basic skill!
B
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23rd Jan 2020, 12:20 pm | #4 |
Nonode
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Tintinara, South Australia, Australia
Posts: 2,339
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Re: Shielding material other than pcb
I used to be able to do it a loooooong time ago, but then we got spoiled for choice and could buy them of the shelf.
Of course the wheel has turned full circle and you can't just walk into a shop and get them of the shelf anymore, but I don't know if I could make them now (and yes I know you can get them off the 'net). |
23rd Jan 2020, 1:44 pm | #5 | |
Octode
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Yorkshire, England.
Posts: 1,301
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Re: Shielding material other than pcb
Quote:
God bless you Mr Topp, you were brilliant!
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23rd Jan 2020, 5:51 pm | #6 |
Nonode
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 2,105
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Re: Shielding material other than pcb
Indian restaurants get their oil in 20 litre cylindrical cans. One by us always has a few empties standing out the back - I think thy are quite pleased if one blows away in the wind
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23rd Jan 2020, 6:00 pm | #7 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 13,998
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Re: Shielding material other than pcb
In the past, I built a 'naughty' shortwave transmitter into a pair of gallon-size Castrol GTX oil-cans. The metal was rather flimsy so I used some wooden battens to reinforce the area round the modulation-transformer.
And I have to mention the Heath "Cantenna" RF dummy-load built into a paint-can. One 'screening material' worthy of mention is the self-adhesive copper strip used by modelmakers who want to 'fake' stained-glass windows. Something similar is available from garden-centres, where it's sold as 'copper slug-barrier' [apparently the mucilaginous molluscs dislike crawling across copper]. If you want a ventilated screened enclosure [for exampe to house a valve PA stage or a VFO] then places like Halfords and B&Q sell perforated-stainless-steel mesh sheets. |
23rd Jan 2020, 6:34 pm | #8 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: London, UK.
Posts: 3,687
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Re: Shielding material other than pcb
I use Heinz baked bean tins. Cut with the MrsBungle’s kitchen scissors. They solder really easy.
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24th Jan 2020, 12:19 am | #9 |
Nonode
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Tintinara, South Australia, Australia
Posts: 2,339
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Re: Shielding material other than pcb
You must have different cans than us, ours all have ridges up the sides which make them a nightmare for bending plus they have that horrible white plasticky lining.
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24th Jan 2020, 9:27 am | #10 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: London, UK.
Posts: 3,687
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Re: Shielding material other than pcb
I keep the ridges.
The plastic lining isn’t on the outside If I want it to look good I use brass shim but that’s rarely a requirement. |
24th Jan 2020, 11:37 am | #11 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Bognor Regis, West Sussex, UK.
Posts: 2,296
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Re: Shielding material other than pcb
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24th Jan 2020, 12:36 pm | #12 |
Heptode
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Marlborough, Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 915
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Re: Shielding material other than pcb
Use classic biscuit or sweet tins ! Roomy and you get to eat the contents first. Beware the modern abomination of plastic ones.
Ken |
26th Jan 2020, 10:35 am | #13 |
Heptode
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Olympia, Washington, USA.
Posts: 664
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Re: Shielding material other than pcb
I have used inverted baking pans as chassis ( and shields),and salvaged copper window screen for shielding.
In a pinch, one can make shielding from the protectors used on screen or storm doors. (I had to make a replacement HV cage for a TV set out of the storm door protector. Worked fine.) I have even seen a magazine article on 1/4" screen mesh being made into a chassis! |
26th Jan 2020, 2:28 pm | #14 | |
Guest
Posts: n/a
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Re: Shielding material other than pcb
Quote:
For class work brass shim is brilliant (in both senses of the word), not too expensive either. Last edited by Guest; 26th Jan 2020 at 2:29 pm. Reason: Added brass |
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30th Jan 2020, 6:01 pm | #15 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: London, UK.
Posts: 3,496
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Re: Shielding material other than pcb
I love brass shim . I bought some antique stuff , beautiful , the other day
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Al |
13th Feb 2020, 8:27 pm | #16 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Bristol, UK.
Posts: 900
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Re: Shielding material other than pcb
I used my Dad's old pipe tobacco tins as project boxes - they were great! Still got some Golden Virginia boxes somewhere (from when I used to smoke). I have used all sorts of time for shielding in radios - works a treat!
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