On Jun 2, 8:09*pm, "SX-25" wrote:
Mark,

Dry rot and the effects of time and environment can take their toll without
any way of
turning back. However, my wife whose college degree is in home economics,
suggests two
products usually carried at fabric stores (Jo-Ann, Hancock etc). She also
says fraying and
wear of cloth are two different problems in that fraying generally happens
on the edge of
cloth. Her suggestion is to get something called "spray sizing" and try
applying it to the cloth wire to
preserve or revitalize the fibers. (Obviously disconnect power...sigh...I
feel stupid having to
say that because I know everyone knows better but I am a victim of
"contemporary correctness" I guess).
To retard or stop fraying get a product called "Fraychek." Also sold at
fabric stores.
Good luck.

WA9VLK *

My $0.02 to add to Mark's comments is that the cloth outer serving as
well as the cotton woven over each conductor is usually covering a
rubber insulation on the copper wires. The rubber is intended to
provide a continuous seal and insulating spacing between the copper
and cotton, and since the rubber is usually well perished and
crumbling by now, it no longer is able to do it's intended job. IMHO,
it is folly to use perished cloth covered cord where a wrong flex can
easily cause strands of copper to push through the cotton and contact
each other or an external conductor [such as the user] with attendent
risk of fire, or, should a liquid be spilled on the fabric it could
easly come in contact with the copper condictors through the cracking
of the ancient rubber, again posing a shock and/or fire risk.
Personally, I always replace all the primary wiring with new,
approved, wire and add a fuse on transformer sets.

Neil S.