Lynn wrote:
"Smokey" wrote in message
m...
Hello fellow glow worms...

Does anyone know of a source for very thin mica suitable for my rebuilding
trimmer pads? I've been using clear plastic but results have been
unremarkable and think if I am going to do this I should do it right.

I'm looking for some that might be arounf 0.003-inches in thickness +/- .

I'm sure this is not the best answer to the problem, but when I've
needed
a particular padder/trimmer rebuilt, I looked to other old padders/trimmers
for "new" micas. Often
the junkbox has old padders (higher capacity ones had lots of mica
dielectric sheets).
You can "make" smaller capacity trimmers by removing plates (and their
mica) from
larger capacity ones if other problems exist (like broken ceramic body)
But I'm pretty sure you may already know all this.

Old Chief Lynn.. W7LTQ


I too have repaired/ modified them by scrounging insulation and parts
from other trimmers. I have considered replacing some with Teflon. The
dielectric constant is not the same but you may be able to compensate
for this using thinner material. I have used PTFE in a couple of
screen bypass caps where the mica had broken and it worked well. I
actually got an increase in the amount of capacitance even though the
dielectric constant for teflon is less than mica. I have also tried
getting mica out of an old toaster, this didnt work as all the pieces
I found were so perforated as to make them useless.

Jimmie

Try your local hardware store. Ask for a replacement
"mica window" for a wood stove. Peel and cut to
thickness. EPA does not regulate mica, it is harmless.

Pete

Mica is harmless, but the mining operations are not. Mica is almost
always found interspersed with asbestos.

-Chuck

Tio Pedro wrote:
Try your local hardware store. Ask for a replacement
"mica window" for a wood stove. Peel and cut to
thickness. EPA does not regulate mica, it is harmless.

Pete

you could try transistor insulating mica..
The thicker types can be split with a boxcutterknife.

"Chuck Harris" schreef in bericht
...
Mica is harmless, but the mining operations are not. Mica is almost
always found interspersed with asbestos.

-Chuck

Tio Pedro wrote:
Try your local hardware store. Ask for a replacement
"mica window" for a wood stove. Peel and cut to
thickness. EPA does not regulate mica, it is harmless.

Pete

On Sun, 29 Jun 2008, pa5tig wrote:

you could try transistor insulating mica..
The thicker types can be split with a boxcutterknife.

Are those still being made of mica? SOmething about the texture of
those I've handled recently make me wonder if they've come up
with a synthetic.

Michael VE2BVW

"Chuck Harris" schreef in bericht
...
Mica is harmless, but the mining operations are not. Mica is almost
always found interspersed with asbestos.

-Chuck

Tio Pedro wrote:
Try your local hardware store. Ask for a replacement
"mica window" for a wood stove. Peel and cut to
thickness. EPA does not regulate mica, it is harmless.

Pete

The ones i still have are made of mica.

"Michael Black" schreef in bericht
ample.org...


On Sun, 29 Jun 2008, pa5tig wrote:

you could try transistor insulating mica..
The thicker types can be split with a boxcutterknife.

Are those still being made of mica? SOmething about the texture of
those I've handled recently make me wonder if they've come up
with a synthetic.

Michael VE2BVW

"Chuck Harris" schreef in bericht
...
Mica is harmless, but the mining operations are not. Mica is almost
always found interspersed with asbestos.

-Chuck

Tio Pedro wrote:
Try your local hardware store. Ask for a replacement
"mica window" for a wood stove. Peel and cut to
thickness. EPA does not regulate mica, it is harmless.

Pete

Thanks to all who took the time to offer some TERRIFIC suggestions!

Paul, Jim, Lynn, Jimmie, Chuck, Tio, Michael and PA5TIG...I owe you all a
debt of gratitude.

73 Smokey