05-28-2008, 01:17 AM
Im no "expert" on anything in life! Except interior housepainting these days!! (hee hee)! I however can share my past experiences where I have used silicone-adhesives successfully in the past 20 yrs on vintage radio electronics related issues. The "clear" type silicones have never-ever been a bad choice for me in loop-type antenna repairs. My sets still work just as I repaired them many yrs ago, " many orig ant-loops" saved , and still located where I placed them, on old cardboard type rear radio panels or etc. to hold them in place. Just worked for me for over 20 yrs or so, so I thought sharing my experiences could be considered as a "option" only.
As far as using silicone type adhehives to seal vintage Philco tone-controls,etc, wouldnt be a good choice at all from the get-go.
The black silicone sealants do work well on simple spkr-cone repairs also.
I would never even think about "re-stuffing" orig bakelight style- condensers, paper tube condensers, or etc metal metal-type condenser enclosures in any radio period,"from AK to Zenith ...A-Z"... especially using silicone, "hotglue" or anything to just to try to save "originality"! What a waste of time!! I have never had bad results using silicone adhesives when used properly in applications on vintage radios.
I have over 50 vintage radios here in stock, using clear silicone adhesives to re-attach the "loop style" antennas, & I will put my vintage receivers sets up to a DX contest! (hee hee)
Dont let silicone adhesives become a "threat" in your vintage radio restorations at all!! Just dont use it to seal "tone controls",.. vintage bakelight caps etc!! For simply using to "re-attach" a good vintage loop-antenna back in place, "git-r-done"!! No remorse whatsoever!! Im not a "purist" when it comes to re-stuffing-caps, etc,... I prefer new ( well marked) chassis parts mounted to new terminal-strips, as opposed to re-using the orig bakelight, or metal type condenser housings! Thats just me, and I certainly dont expect for all to agree w/ me at all !! I just share on these pages what works well for me in my repair-shop. It kinda comes down too: "whatever blows up your shorts" on opinions? Reckon? Im always open to better-suggestions also, but I wont be "re-stuffing" any old capacitors! That way, just as Ron suggested, leaves all new components ( we all add these days) will be installed in easy "view" for the next tech 75- 100 yrs from now when all us discussing this issue here are long-gone. Me "no-scare" using silicones properly!!
As far as using silicone type adhehives to seal vintage Philco tone-controls,etc, wouldnt be a good choice at all from the get-go.
The black silicone sealants do work well on simple spkr-cone repairs also.
I would never even think about "re-stuffing" orig bakelight style- condensers, paper tube condensers, or etc metal metal-type condenser enclosures in any radio period,"from AK to Zenith ...A-Z"... especially using silicone, "hotglue" or anything to just to try to save "originality"! What a waste of time!! I have never had bad results using silicone adhesives when used properly in applications on vintage radios.
I have over 50 vintage radios here in stock, using clear silicone adhesives to re-attach the "loop style" antennas, & I will put my vintage receivers sets up to a DX contest! (hee hee)
Dont let silicone adhesives become a "threat" in your vintage radio restorations at all!! Just dont use it to seal "tone controls",.. vintage bakelight caps etc!! For simply using to "re-attach" a good vintage loop-antenna back in place, "git-r-done"!! No remorse whatsoever!! Im not a "purist" when it comes to re-stuffing-caps, etc,... I prefer new ( well marked) chassis parts mounted to new terminal-strips, as opposed to re-using the orig bakelight, or metal type condenser housings! Thats just me, and I certainly dont expect for all to agree w/ me at all !! I just share on these pages what works well for me in my repair-shop. It kinda comes down too: "whatever blows up your shorts" on opinions? Reckon? Im always open to better-suggestions also, but I wont be "re-stuffing" any old capacitors! That way, just as Ron suggested, leaves all new components ( we all add these days) will be installed in easy "view" for the next tech 75- 100 yrs from now when all us discussing this issue here are long-gone. Me "no-scare" using silicones properly!!
