ggizzy
EMI extraordinaire
I have been slowly taking apart and diagramming an older EL34 UL PP amp from the late 50s/early 60s. I have it almost down to the chassis, with just the sockets and transformers remaining to be pulled.
The amp has been sitting unused for around seven years and was filthy with dirt and dust when I picked it up. There is a bit of rust in spots on the outside of the chassis and I am wondering how to go about filling them without repainting the whole chassis. I would hate to lose the lettering and other identifiers of the amp.
The good news is that underneath the chassis looks fine.
The transformers are coming all the way out anyways. But after soak testing the transformers though, I will know more definatively. Everything on both transformers below the chassis looks great too. The rust on the transformers is only on the silver bell topside. The laminations are protected by some sort of cardboard and plastic material. The amp was top of the line back in the day and the components inside are all top notch and this thing is built like a tank!
I read over several threads about restoring/deep cleaning and so I'm thinking -
-Cleaning with the water/ammonia solution. (I've only cleaned with isopropyl 91%)
-wire brushing the transformer bells, being very careful to tape and seal off the rest so no slivers get in the housing. (Laminations are covered very well)
-using the black shoe stuff. Or I could try the above but then spraying them with primer and repainting with a similar gloss silver. I'd like to keep the original paint color on top, but that is purely cosmetic and if the shoe black works and will protect it better, I have no qualms.
The chassis rust concerns me more- I am open to any and all suggestions, no matter how lengthy they may be. I could follow the above on those spots as well? Maybe with a wax coat on top to prefent further rust?
I have a pair of these amps and will be thoroughly enjoy restoring both to proper condition. Thanks for any help.
The amp has been sitting unused for around seven years and was filthy with dirt and dust when I picked it up. There is a bit of rust in spots on the outside of the chassis and I am wondering how to go about filling them without repainting the whole chassis. I would hate to lose the lettering and other identifiers of the amp.
The good news is that underneath the chassis looks fine.
The transformers are coming all the way out anyways. But after soak testing the transformers though, I will know more definatively. Everything on both transformers below the chassis looks great too. The rust on the transformers is only on the silver bell topside. The laminations are protected by some sort of cardboard and plastic material. The amp was top of the line back in the day and the components inside are all top notch and this thing is built like a tank!
I read over several threads about restoring/deep cleaning and so I'm thinking -
-Cleaning with the water/ammonia solution. (I've only cleaned with isopropyl 91%)
-wire brushing the transformer bells, being very careful to tape and seal off the rest so no slivers get in the housing. (Laminations are covered very well)
-using the black shoe stuff. Or I could try the above but then spraying them with primer and repainting with a similar gloss silver. I'd like to keep the original paint color on top, but that is purely cosmetic and if the shoe black works and will protect it better, I have no qualms.
The chassis rust concerns me more- I am open to any and all suggestions, no matter how lengthy they may be. I could follow the above on those spots as well? Maybe with a wax coat on top to prefent further rust?
I have a pair of these amps and will be thoroughly enjoy restoring both to proper condition. Thanks for any help.
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