All,
Is it possible to help old cloth-covered power cords keep their
flexiblity? Is there anything that can be applied to rejuvenate the
cotton covering to prevent fraying?
rgds,
Mark S.

"nc183d" wrote in message
...
All,
Is it possible to help old cloth-covered power cords keep their
flexiblity? Is there anything that can be applied to rejuvenate the
cotton covering to prevent fraying?
rgds,
Mark S.


I can only add a source for new, replacement cloth covered cord:

http://www.radiodaze.com/power.htm

There are others.
Paul P.

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

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.

nc183d wrote:
All,
Is it possible to help old cloth-covered power cords keep their
flexiblity? Is there anything that can be applied to rejuvenate the
cotton covering to prevent fraying?
rgds,

I have actually not seen the cloth coverings degrade over the years other
than from mechanical abrasion. You can try washing them in Woolite (no joke!)
to get them nice and clean, and then just treating them carefully.

Abrasion will kill them very quickly, and once they start to fray they will
just get worse and worse. A little clear lacquer on damaged parts can keep
the damage from spreading.

A lot of those cords were made with natural rubber insulation and then an
outer cloth jacket. The cloth usually outlives the internal insulation
which becomes hard and crumbly. When this happens, the cord MUST be replaced.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

If the cord is in a condition that causes you to ask this question, then it
must be replaced. Safety and reliability are always the number one goal of
any radio work. Generally, all cords should be replaced, especially those
that are that old. Cloth-covered reproduction power cord is available.


"nc183d" wrote in message
...
All,
Is it possible to help old cloth-covered power cords keep their
flexiblity? Is there anything that can be applied to rejuvenate the
cotton covering to prevent fraying?
rgds,
Mark S.

Aren't we being a little melodramatic? Cloth covering that is worn or
discolored
does not always indicate a break down of the inner insulation. Roll back the
cloth a little and take a look. If the rubber is defective it will be
evident by
flexing it. Let's not always fall on the sword and over-analyze.


If the cord is in a condition that causes you to ask this question, then
it must be replaced. Safety and reliability are always the number one
goal of any radio work. Generally, all cords should be replaced,
especially those that are that old. Cloth-covered reproduction power
cord is available.

I will maintain that any electrical cord on anything, that is as old as
we're talking about here, should be replaced. We "shotgun" capacitors.
Same thing - part of a restoration.

Of course if you're just talking about a cosmetic restoration (in a museum
or on a shelf, never to be plugged in) then of course that's a different
story.


"Denton" wrote in message
m...
Aren't we being a little melodramatic? Cloth covering that is worn or
discolored
does not always indicate a break down of the inner insulation. Roll back
the
cloth a little and take a look. If the rubber is defective it will be
evident by
flexing it. Let's not always fall on the sword and over-analyze.


If the cord is in a condition that causes you to ask this question, then
it must be replaced. Safety and reliability are always the number one
goal of any radio work. Generally, all cords should be replaced,
especially those that are that old. Cloth-covered reproduction power
cord is available.