Hallicrafters SX-101a - Restoration Questions
 

Is there a good way to touch up the black wrinkle finish on the dial
bezel? Otherwise I need to strip and have it powdercoated....major
surgery for a chip here and there.

The glass encased calibrator crystal had the envelope broken in
shipping. Is this repairable, as its not a vacumm is it? If not, where
could I find a replacement?

Wow, is this thing built! I am getting ready to do the paper caps and
there are lots of them in really tight places. Will check through
resistors when I do this also. Filter can runs cool, might be OK. Any
other items that are known issues?

Oh, main tuning dial broke in shipping also. Most people pack well,
this one didn't. I glued it to get me going, but I really would like
to find one. This is the later model with knobs that look like those
on the SX-115 and HT-32B. Anybody have one, or know where I might
look. Did all the searches already. I am beginning to think you need
to buy a radio just for the knob.

Thanks,
Dan

geojunkie wrote:
Is there a good way to touch up the black wrinkle finish on the dial
bezel? Otherwise I need to strip and have it powdercoated....major
surgery for a chip here and there.

Harley-Davidson black wrinkle touch-up.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

On Mon, 22 Dec 2003 23:37:11 UTC, (geojunkie) wrote:

Is there a good way to touch up the black wrinkle finish on the dial
bezel? Otherwise I need to strip and have it powdercoated....major
surgery for a chip here and there.

The glass encased calibrator crystal had the envelope broken in
shipping. Is this repairable, as its not a vacumm is it? If not, where
could I find a replacement?

I don't have the answers. I do own an SX-101A though, have had it
for 30 years.


Wow, is this thing built! I am getting ready to do the paper caps and
there are lots of them in really tight places. Will check through
resistors when I do this also. Filter can runs cool, might be OK. Any
other items that are known issues?

Oh, main tuning dial broke in shipping also. Most people pack well,
this one didn't. I glued it to get me going, but I really would like
to find one. This is the later model with knobs that look like those
on the SX-115 and HT-32B. Anybody have one, or know where I might
look. Did all the searches already. I am beginning to think you need
to buy a radio just for the knob.

Dial? You mean the main tuning knob, not the glass. You probably
won't find a "knob" for it. You'd be better off fixing it under a
microscope and filling in the cracks, like making a scratch model
ship.


Thanks,
Dan

good luck.

de ah6gi/4


--

"You'd be better off fixing it under a microscope and filling in the
cracks, like making a scratch model ship."

That is what I figured. What is the best material to use to match in
the look and color of the old knob? I searched for black epoxies last
weekend at the usual places with no luck. I was going to fill in the
outer cracks and holes where no "chips" could be found and then
reinforce the inside well, as it broke where the speed tuning handle
mounted (poor packing).

Dan

On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 11:41:55 UTC, (geojunkie) wrote:

"You'd be better off fixing it under a microscope and filling in the
cracks, like making a scratch model ship."

That is what I figured. What is the best material to use to match in
the look and color of the old knob? I searched for black epoxies last
weekend at the usual places with no luck. I was going to fill in the
outer cracks and holes where no "chips" could be found and then
reinforce the inside well, as it broke where the speed tuning handle
mounted (poor packing).

Dan

I don't have a clue. I'd ask some scratch-builders. If the knob is
all there and only cracked or chipped, then you have a good start.

I've heard that some car model builders will fill in the joints but
they paint over the filling. I don't know how you can get a good
match. I've seen a dark grey epoxy but not a black. I'd guess
that you can experiment with pigments.

I'm not certain that Hallicrafters put a handle on the SX-101A.
I've seen pictures of this but mine came without a handle.

The other possibility is that you might be able to cast an entirely
new knob. There are "hobby" molding materials, Fimo, Sculpy, that
set up hard. If you used your old knob as a master and made a mold,
it might be possible to make a knob.

de ah6gi/4

Pep Boys has some nice wrinkle finish paint. I bake the item at about 180
deg for 20 mins to ensure an even wrinkle finish. Air drying does NOT
work at all, for me. The paint smell isn't bad in the oven and simply run
the oven up to 400 deg for a few minutes to "clean" it out... hi!! The
only problem you may have is the texture of the wrinkle. Hallicrafters
and most military items had a very fine wrinkle finish. This is a
function of the paint mix, how much paint and the curing temp. (I'm
told). I have found that doing the entire item is the best way to ensure
a uniform finish. Looking at my '101, it appears that you'd have to
remove or mask the logo and fill in the cursor line with new white paint,
after the fact. Should work out fine!! Good luck with your project.

What part of the knob is broken? I might have something in my knob box.

geojunkie wrote:

Is there a good way to touch up the black wrinkle finish on the dial
bezel? Otherwise I need to strip and have it powdercoated....major
surgery for a chip here and there.

The glass encased calibrator crystal had the envelope broken in
shipping. Is this repairable, as its not a vacumm is it? If not, where
could I find a replacement?

Wow, is this thing built! I am getting ready to do the paper caps and
there are lots of them in really tight places. Will check through
resistors when I do this also. Filter can runs cool, might be OK. Any
other items that are known issues?

Oh, main tuning dial broke in shipping also. Most people pack well,
this one didn't. I glued it to get me going, but I really would like
to find one. This is the later model with knobs that look like those
on the SX-115 and HT-32B. Anybody have one, or know where I might
look. Did all the searches already. I am beginning to think you need
to buy a radio just for the knob.

Thanks,
Dan