Make your own capacitors

[o***@tubes.com]

I watched some youtube videos which show how to make your own caps,
using nothing but wax paper, aluminum foil, and a suitable outer coating
such as wax, or an epoxy material. The trick is to get the proper value,
which is determined by the size and length of the windings.

Caps are often expensive these days, so this can save money, but not
only that, but modern caps dont match the appearance of those from the
original equipment. When you make your own, you can make them look just
like the originals.

I did not save the URLs from these videos, but just go to youtube and
search "make your own capacitors". You'll find plenty of them.

These home made caps are nearly identical to the originals, so they
should make your radio or other antique electronics device operate like
brand new.

Unfortunately, this is just for coupling and bypass caps, NOT
electrolytics. Electrolytics are made using chemicals which are not
easily obtained, and likely too difficult to work with. So, for
electyrolytics you'll probably have to buy modern ones, but you can
conceal them to look old if you wish, either by restuffing old aluminim
cases, or wrapping them in paper and coating them with wax.

One thing these videos did not cover, was the correct blend of bees wax
and paraffin wax, which is what was used in the old days. I am still
seeking this information. Otherwise it's trial and error to blend them
properly.

Some people will probably think this is too much work, but consider
this, In the old days, people could not go online and order from Mouser
or Ebay. In many cases had no electronics stores nearby, since only the
big cities had them. Those people had to make their own parts. Obviously
you cant make tubes at home, but you can make caps, and I am still
looking into making resistors, and even potentiometers.

[Foxs Mercantile]

Post by o***@tubes.com
I watched some youtube videos which show how to make
your own caps,
Caps are often expensive these days, so this can save
money

What dream world are you living in?
Even if you consider that your time is worth nothing, the
material costs alone will exceed what you can get quality
new parts for.

Post by o***@tubes.com
When you make your own, you can make them look just
like the originals.

Similar maybe, but not "just like."

Post by o***@tubes.com
These home made caps are nearly identical to the originals,
so they should make your radio or other antique electronics
device operate like brand new.

So will brand new capacitors.

Post by o***@tubes.com
Unfortunately, this is NOT electrolytics.
you can conceal them to look old if you wish, either by
restuffing old aluminim cases, or wrapping them in paper and
coating them with wax.

All electrolytics that I have seen, have been in drawn aluminum
cases. The axial leaded ones have a DRY cardboard tube around
them. NO WAX.

Post by o***@tubes.com
In many cases had no electronics stores nearby, since only the
big cities had them. Those people had to make their own parts.

Apparently you've never heard of mail order.

Post by o***@tubes.com
Obviously you cant make tubes at home

You just haven't found the videos yet.

[Peter Wieck]

https://hackaday.com/2014/11/21/artisanal-vacuum-tubes-hackaday-shows-you-how/

"'Nuff Said"

Other than the fact that the OP should not be allowed around anything sharper than a rubber spoon or hotter than a fresh egg.


Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

[o***@tubes.com]

Post by Peter Wieck
Other than the fact that the OP should not be allowed around anything sharper
than a rubber spoon or hotter than a fresh egg.
Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

Damnit, I thought I was rid of this narcissist tyrant, who thinks he
owns the electronics newsgroups. A guy who claims the only way to repair
a radio or other electronic device, is to replace all the caps and
resistors and whatever else, because he dont know how to troubleshoot
and locate bad components.

This is the same troll who posts his crap all over the internet, (not
just the newsgroups), and claims he's an expert with electronics. When
in fact he is only an expert in the self created grandiose fantasy world
he lives in.

This idiot almost reminds me of Donald Trump, but lacks Trump's power
and money.

This guy is best described by reading this website:
http://www.emotionalcompetency.com/tyranny.htm

This time I am setting my kill filters to remove this idiot from ALL
newsgroups, not just the one newsgroup I originally filtered.

[Foxs Mercantile]

Post by o***@tubes.com
Damnit, I thought I was rid of this narcissist tyrant

I was right, you had NO idea what Plonk meant.

Post by o***@tubes.com
A guy who claims the only way to repair a radio or other
electronic device, is to replace all the caps and resistors
and whatever else, because he dont know how to troubleshoot
and locate bad components.

Let me clue you into something there Bunky. ANY radio over 50
years or older is going to have bad capacitors.

I have better things to do with my time then replace them one
at a time then play "let's find out who's next?"

Post by o***@tubes.com
This time I am setting my kill filters to remove this idiot
from ALL newsgroups, not just the one newsgroup I originally
filtered.

Your choice, but I'd suggest you pay attention to Peter and the
others that have been doing this for the past 40-50 years.

Pull your head out of your ass, you might just learn something.

[o***@tubes.com]

Post by Peter Wieck
Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

By the way, I'm glad this idiot is not in the auto repair newsgroups.
He's have everyone replacing their engine everytime a spark plug
misfires.......

[c***@snyder.on.ca]

Post by o***@tubes.com

Post by Peter Wieck
Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

By the way, I'm glad this idiot is not in the auto repair newsgroups.
He's have everyone replacing their engine everytime a spark plug
misfires.......

There is a difference between repairin, refurbishing, and restoring
a radio. A "total restoration" involves changing all caps and
verifying all resistors. Verifying caps is hit and miss. It also
involves maintaining the original appearance - ie, "stuffing" new caps
into old cases etc.

Refurbing a radio involves replacing anything that is off-spec on a
working radio with a view to keeping it functioning properly.Original
appearance is not an issue.

Repairing a radio involves replacing components that have failed to
the point the radio is no longer functional.
This is anologous to "restoring" a car - where all parts have
matching serial numbers and date code - ie - "numbers matching" and
EVERT screw, nut, and washer matches what it left the factory with -
and every chalk and crayon mark from the assembly line is reproduced
faithfully.

"Refurbing" or "rebuilding" a car involves replacing all worn parts
with better used, OEM NOS or aftermarket parts to make it look like a
car that has been in service for a while and well maintained.

Repairing a car is making it function to a minimum standard.

[Peter Wieck]

OldSchool... you are relatively new to this NG. Some of us have been around since the 90s. If you *you* are going to challenge *me* in the art of invective, go for it!

Usenet requires the hide of a Rhinoceros, a very dry sense of humor, and the knowledge that the likes of you are a 10-for-a-dime and as ephemeral as smoke. That you are incompetent, stupid, silly, bitter and ignorant is actually neither here nor there. A sad fact, but as this NG goes, of no import other than as an occasionally amusing diversion in a macabre sort of way.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

[Foxs Mercantile]

On 10/23/2017 3:46 PM, Peter Wieck wrote:
Re: Oldschool

Post by Peter Wieck
the likes of you are a 10-for-a-dime

In the words of Freddy Blassie, "They say
these Geeks are a dime a dozen, I'm looking the
guy supplying the dimes."

[John-Del]

Post by Foxs Mercantile

Post by o***@tubes.com
Caps are often expensive these days, so this can save
money

What dream world are you living in?
Even if you consider that your time is worth nothing, the
material costs alone will exceed what you can get quality
new parts for.

You guys may be rolling (pun intended) in dough, but I just checked Digi and typical values of 630V capacitors are 0.26c each if you are forced to buy ten, and a stunning 0.37 if you buy one!!

If you restore a radio and install 20 capacitors, you may be into the radio for almost $8!

OTOH, I have a feeling that ***@fools.com is used to rolling his own...

John
Wolcott, CT

[Michael A Terrell]

Post by o***@tubes.com
I watched some youtube videos which show how to make your own caps,
using nothing but wax paper, aluminum foil, and a suitable outer
coating such as wax, or an epoxy material. The trick is to get the
proper value, which is determined by the size and length of the
windings.

Are you sure you weren't watching You Boob?

Post by o***@tubes.com
Caps are often expensive these days, so this can save money, but not
only that, but modern caps don't match the appearance of those from
the original equipment. When you make your own, you can make them
look just like the originals.

Idiocy cost a lot more than homemade garbage.

Post by o***@tubes.com
I did not save the URLs from these videos, but just go to youtube and
search "make your own capacitors". You'll find plenty of them.

I have surplus rolls of metalized Mylar from Sprague, and I wouldn't
waste my time with this stupid idea. It came from their Orlando plant,
when it closed in the early '90s. I also have a large spool of
'component lead' that they used in their film capacitors.

Post by o***@tubes.com
These home made caps are nearly identical to the originals, so they
should make your radio or other antique electronics device operate
like brand new.
Unfortunately, this is just for coupling and bypass caps, NOT
electrolytics. Electrolytics are made using chemicals which are not
easily obtained, and likely too difficult to work with. So, for
electrolytics you'll probably have to buy modern ones, but you can
conceal them to look old if you wish, either by restuffing old
aluminum cases, or wrapping them in paper and coating them with wax.

More idiocy. The chemicals aren't hard to get.

The aluminum cans are one terminal of the Electrolytic capacitor. a
paper tube isn't conductive, nor will it stand up to the chemicals.

Post by o***@tubes.com
One thing these videos did not cover, was the correct blend of bees
wax and paraffin wax, which is what was used in the old days. I am
still seeking this information. Otherwise it's trial and error to
blend them properly.
Some people will probably think this is too much work, but consider
this, In the old days, people could not go online and order from
Mouser or Ebay. In many cases had no electronics stores nearby, since
only the big cities had them. Those people had to make their own
parts. Obviously you cant make tubes at home, but you can make caps,
and I am still looking into making resistors, and even
potentiometers.

You are a tineless spork.

[Someone]

This guy is nuts!

wrote in message news:***@4ax.com...

I watched some youtube videos which show how to make your own caps,
using nothing but wax paper, aluminum foil, and a suitable outer coating
such as wax, or an epoxy material. The trick is to get the proper value,
which is determined by the size and length of the windings.

Caps are often expensive these days, so this can save money, but not
only that, but modern caps dont match the appearance of those from the
original equipment. When you make your own, you can make them look just
like the originals.

I did not save the URLs from these videos, but just go to youtube and
search "make your own capacitors". You'll find plenty of them.

These home made caps are nearly identical to the originals, so they
should make your radio or other antique electronics device operate like
brand new.

Unfortunately, this is just for coupling and bypass caps, NOT
electrolytics. Electrolytics are made using chemicals which are not
easily obtained, and likely too difficult to work with. So, for
electyrolytics you'll probably have to buy modern ones, but you can
conceal them to look old if you wish, either by restuffing old aluminim
cases, or wrapping them in paper and coating them with wax.

One thing these videos did not cover, was the correct blend of bees wax
and paraffin wax, which is what was used in the old days. I am still
seeking this information. Otherwise it's trial and error to blend them
properly.

Some people will probably think this is too much work, but consider
this, In the old days, people could not go online and order from Mouser
or Ebay. In many cases had no electronics stores nearby, since only the
big cities had them. Those people had to make their own parts. Obviously
you cant make tubes at home, but you can make caps, and I am still
looking into making resistors, and even potentiometers.

[o***@tubes.com]

Post by Someone
This guy is nuts!

I have two of them. How many do you have?

[Terry S]

Caps are NOT expensive these days. Have you actually checked? And what era caps are you trying to replicate, because caps from the 20's are very different than caps from the 30's, 40's or 50's. They changed form factors continuously. Smaller, better, cheaper.

Go ahead, make your own capacitors, and when you get really good at it, you can probably sell them for as much as 25 or 30 cents each. Make sure they are tested from -40°C to 85°C for 2000 hours. Enjoy your retirement.

Every time you post, you peg the group BS meter. I'd like to think it's all a ruse, but my gut tells me you are actually that clueless.

From the earliest of the "old days", even the smallest towns had at least one radio repair shop. It was often was a gathering place for the hobbyists and amateurs of the time. You could buy a new or used tube from the shop, or bring in your radio for repair. I'd wager that you could buy a handful of resistors or capacitors as well, once you were in good standing with the owner. No one but the fool-hardy made their own capacitors or resistors, unless just doing it for fun. So essentially no one.

These shops evolved into TV shops post-war, but the atmosphere remained the same. How do I know? I worked in one at the end of the era. Our shop was the 2nd to last to close in this mid-sized mid-western city. All the shop owners in town knew each other, traded inventory, referred each other customers, swapped parts and sometimes techs, and gathered for coffee and conversation at each others' shops. And every shop had it's "groupies", local characters and hobbyists who hung out. They might have been the guys who picked up your set for repair, or fetched sandwiches at lunch time.

When I was working there, Radio Shack was still thriving. Hobbyists went there for parts, or to any of several local surplus houses fed by the very robust local computer & military tech industry. Or we thumbed thru a well-worn mail-order catalog, stuffed a order form & check into an envelope, and waited 3 weeks. The remaining distributors in town generally frowned on selling to the public, but if you had connections, you could get your parts. I rescued many a TV from the shop basement (with my bosses OK - generally sets too old to sell out front) and re-fitted it with a rebuilt CRT from the local rebuilder. (I had a love/hate relationship with the whole convergence process) Then I might sell them via a card posted on the grocery store cork board. Pre-Craigslist.

If only I had rescued a few of the Predictas..... Who knew?

[Michael A Terrell]

Post by Terry S
Caps are NOT expensive these days. Have you actually checked? And what era caps are you trying to replicate, because caps from the 20's are very different than caps from the 30's, 40's or 50's. They changed form factors continuously. Smaller, better, cheaper.
Go ahead, make your own capacitors, and when you get really good at it, you can probably sell them for as much as 25 or 30 cents each. Make sure they are tested from -40°C to 85°C for 2000 hours. Enjoy your retirement.
Every time you post, you peg the group BS meter. I'd like to think it's all a ruse, but my gut tells me you are actually that clueless.
From the earliest of the "old days", even the smallest towns had at least one radio repair shop. It was often was a gathering place for the hobbyists and amateurs of the time. You could buy a new or used tube from the shop, or bring in your radio for repair. I'd wager that you could buy a handful of resistors or capacitors as well, once you were in good standing with the owner. No one but the fool-hardy made their own capacitors or resistors, unless just doing it for fun. So essentially no one.
These shops evolved into TV shops post-war, but the atmosphere remained the same. How do I know? I worked in one at the end of the era. Our shop was the 2nd to last to close in this mid-sized mid-western city. All the shop owners in town knew each other, traded inventory, referred each other customers, swapped parts and sometimes techs, and gathered for coffee and conversation at each others' shops. And every shop had it's "groupies", local characters and hobbyists who hung out. They might have been the guys who picked up your set for repair, or fetched sandwiches at lunch time.
When I was working there, Radio Shack was still thriving. Hobbyists went there for parts, or to any of several local surplus houses fed by the very robust local computer & military tech industry. Or we thumbed thru a well-worn mail-order catalog, stuffed a order form & check into an envelope, and waited 3 weeks. The remaining distributors in town generally frowned on selling to the public, but if you had connections, you could get your parts. I rescued many a TV from the shop basement (with my bosses OK - generally sets too old to sell out front) and re-fitted it with a rebuilt CRT from the local rebuilder. (I had a love/hate relationship with the whole convergence process) Then I might sell them via a card posted on the grocery store cork board. Pre-Craigslist.
If only I had rescued a few of the Predictas..... Who knew?

The 'Five and Dime' stores sold radio parts when radio was a new
hobby. There were hundreds of mail order houses that sold to hobbyists,
and small shops as well.

[Frank]

Post by Terry S
Every time you post, you peg the group BS meter. I'd like to think it's
all a ruse, but my gut tells me you are actually that clueless.

He sort reminds me of JL Webb, if your memory goes that far back.

[Jim Mueller]

On Mon, 23 Oct 2017 06:21:28 -0700, Terry S wrote:

snip

Post by Terry S
From the earliest of the "old days", even the smallest towns had at
least one radio repair shop. It was often was a gathering place for the
hobbyists and amateurs of the time. You could buy a new or used tube
from the shop, or bring in your radio for repair. I'd wager that you
could buy a handful of resistors or capacitors as well, once you were in
good standing with the owner. No one but the fool-hardy made their own
capacitors or resistors, unless just doing it for fun. So essentially no
one.
These shops evolved into TV shops post-war, but the atmosphere remained
the same.

snip

These shops could be even friendlier than that. I remember when I was a
kid my dad wondered if his ohmmeter was reading correctly. So he took a
selection of resistors to the shop that fixed our TV and the tech
measured each of them for him (free). Another time I had built a
transistor radio from an article in Popular Electronics and it didn't
work very well. The tech in the shop told me how to modify the circuit
to make it work right. I followed his advice and the set worked much
better. This shop also gave us junk TVs (minus the CRT and power
transformer, probably for liability reasons) that became the beginning of
my "junk box".

BTW, the "old time" capacitors didn't use aluminum foil, they used tin
foil. Why? Because it's difficult to make a reliable connection to
aluminum but tin can be soldered. Nowadays the connection to the
aluminum plates in capacitors is made by metal spraying or vacuum
evaporation.

[C.Copperpot]

OK, I'll feed the troll. The ONLY time you would need to roll your own
is if they don't make the value/voltage you need. Which is probably
extremely rare.
Oh, maybe the professor on Gilligan's Island rolled his own to keep
that Packard Bell radio working.

This is just silly!

[Terry S]

Post by C.Copperpot
OK, I'll feed the troll. The ONLY time you would need to roll your own
is if they don't make the value/voltage you need. Which is probably
extremely rare.
Oh, maybe the professor on Gilligan's Island rolled his own to keep
that Packard Bell radio working.
This is just silly!

No, but he did roll his own batteries and used seawater as the electrolyte.

By the way, the Professors radio just sold, minus the handle, for over $300.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Packard-Bell-Vintage-AM-Radio/272880972251?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

[o***@tubes.com]

On Mon, 23 Oct 2017 15:46:06 -0700, C.Copperpot

Post by C.Copperpot
OK, I'll feed the troll. The ONLY time you would need to roll your own
is if they don't make the value/voltage you need. Which is probably
extremely rare.
Oh, maybe the professor on Gilligan's Island rolled his own to keep
that Packard Bell radio working.
This is just silly!

If you want to call someone a troll, then go to youtube and tell that to
those who posted the videos. And no one said anyone MUST roll their own,
but it is an option, and I will feel a lot more satisfaction from making
my own, than just buying them. There was a time when everything had to
be made from raw materials. The original radios were pieces of quartz
made to work as a crystal, hand would coils, and so on. There was even a
time when people cut down trees and built their homes from them. Just
because we live in a society where money can buy anything dont mean
much, except to prove you have money.

I am a survivalist, and there may come a time in my lifetime when I will
have to use these skills. Although food and shelter will come long
before electronic gadgets in importance, having a radio may be desired,
so you know what is happening around the world. If you think that
transistor pocket radio in your survival kit is there for that purpose,
think again. They claim that one nuclear blast will turn all
semiconductors into worthless pieces of junk. Since everything these
days uses semiconductors, including computers, vehicles, phones, and all
forms of communication, and our power grid, everything will stop and
cease to work.

If we survive a nuke blast (doubtful), and we want to find out what
parts of the world still exist, the only electronics that will still
work is the old tube equipment. Of course all of that will also depend
on if there is a way to get power for that radio, and if any radio
stations can still transmit (since they rely on semiconductors too).
Assuming you can still receive radio stations, and have a power source,
what are you gonna do when your tube radio blows a capacitor. Are you
gonna pretend to march down to the local Radio Shack, or pretend to go
on Amazon.com, or will you just cry and die because you are too stupid
to roll your own capacitors, or make a usable resistor. They dont need
to be pretty, they just need to work.

If you are really into survival, you also need a car or truck that still
uses points for ignition. That electronic ignition module will be trash
and so will all those on the shelves in the remains of auto parts
stores. A vehicle with points will be the only ones that will still run
(if you can get gas, because the gas station pumps are all run by
computers).

Not too long ago, we had a tornado knock out all the power for as much
as 5 days. That means no one could buy gas because the pumps would not
work, but it gets worse. The grocery stores could not sell food because
the computerized cash registers did not function, even though the
shelves had food. At that point, you either starve, or you just steal
the food, knowing that law enforcement is also crippled without their
two way radios, and possible gas for their vehicles.

We live in a society full of people who are dependent on the system, and
think their money will get them thru everything.... WRONG AGAIN!

[Foxs Mercantile]

Post by o***@tubes.com
I am a survivalist

That explains a lot.

Post by o***@tubes.com
and there may come a time in my lifetime when I will
have to use these skills.

Pitt you have NO concept of the skills you actually need.

[John-Del]

Post by o***@tubes.com
We live in a society full of people who are dependent on the system, and
think their money will get them thru everything.... WRONG AGAIN!

Can't speak for the whole group, but Jeff and I already have a plan. We're going to your house, kick the crap out of you and take all your shit (make sure you squirrel away some coffee and porn please).

John
Wolcott, CT

[Foxs Mercantile]

Post by John-Del

Post by o***@tubes.com
We live in a society full of people who are dependent on the system, and
think their money will get them thru everything.... WRONG AGAIN!

Can't speak for the whole group, but Jeff and I already have a plan.
We're going to your house, kick the crap out of you and take all your
shit (make sure you squirrel away some coffee and porn please).
John
Wolcott, CT

Some survivalist....
The first rule of prepping: NEVER EVER tell anyone you're doing it.
The second rule: After the "shit hits the fan" NEVER show any
indication that you have anything.

[Someone]

Here is one that complains about a slow dial-up connection that takes him a
long time to download data. So how is it that he can watch YouTube videos?
It must take him all night just to download a few minutes.

wrote in message news:***@4ax.com...

On Mon, 23 Oct 2017 15:46:06 -0700, C.Copperpot

Post by C.Copperpot
OK, I'll feed the troll. The ONLY time you would need to roll your own
is if they don't make the value/voltage you need. Which is probably
extremely rare.
Oh, maybe the professor on Gilligan's Island rolled his own to keep
that Packard Bell radio working.
This is just silly!

If you want to call someone a troll, then go to youtube and tell that to
those who posted the videos. And no one said anyone MUST roll their own,
but it is an option, and I will feel a lot more satisfaction from making
my own, than just buying them. There was a time when everything had to
be made from raw materials. The original radios were pieces of quartz
made to work as a crystal, hand would coils, and so on. There was even a
time when people cut down trees and built their homes from them. Just
because we live in a society where money can buy anything dont mean
much, except to prove you have money.

I am a survivalist, and there may come a time in my lifetime when I will
have to use these skills. Although food and shelter will come long
before electronic gadgets in importance, having a radio may be desired,
so you know what is happening around the world. If you think that
transistor pocket radio in your survival kit is there for that purpose,
think again. They claim that one nuclear blast will turn all
semiconductors into worthless pieces of junk. Since everything these
days uses semiconductors, including computers, vehicles, phones, and all
forms of communication, and our power grid, everything will stop and
cease to work.

If we survive a nuke blast (doubtful), and we want to find out what
parts of the world still exist, the only electronics that will still
work is the old tube equipment. Of course all of that will also depend
on if there is a way to get power for that radio, and if any radio
stations can still transmit (since they rely on semiconductors too).
Assuming you can still receive radio stations, and have a power source,
what are you gonna do when your tube radio blows a capacitor. Are you
gonna pretend to march down to the local Radio Shack, or pretend to go
on Amazon.com, or will you just cry and die because you are too stupid
to roll your own capacitors, or make a usable resistor. They dont need
to be pretty, they just need to work.

If you are really into survival, you also need a car or truck that still
uses points for ignition. That electronic ignition module will be trash
and so will all those on the shelves in the remains of auto parts
stores. A vehicle with points will be the only ones that will still run
(if you can get gas, because the gas station pumps are all run by
computers).

Not too long ago, we had a tornado knock out all the power for as much
as 5 days. That means no one could buy gas because the pumps would not
work, but it gets worse. The grocery stores could not sell food because
the computerized cash registers did not function, even though the
shelves had food. At that point, you either starve, or you just steal
the food, knowing that law enforcement is also crippled without their
two way radios, and possible gas for their vehicles.

We live in a society full of people who are dependent on the system, and
think their money will get them thru everything.... WRONG AGAIN!

[o***@tubes.com]

Post by Someone
Here is one that complains about a slow dial-up connection that takes him a
long time to download data. So how is it that he can watch YouTube videos?
It must take him all night just to download a few minutes.

Have you ever been to a public library?

Once you answer "NO", I'll reply
"I didn't think so".....

I thought I'd take care of that all at the same time....

[Frank]

Post by o***@tubes.com
The original radios were pieces of quartz
made to work as a crystal, hand would coils, and so on.

You do realize that, despite being solid state, the quartz crystal
detector will work just as well after an EMP event as before?

Post by o***@tubes.com
They claim that one nuclear blast will turn all
semiconductors into worthless pieces of junk. Since everything these
days uses semiconductors, including computers, vehicles, phones, and all
forms of communication, and our power grid, everything will stop and
cease to work.

If "they" say so, it must be true!! Why would anyone be FOOLISH enough
to believe responsible scientists who say EMP doesn't work that way?

Post by o***@tubes.com
Assuming you can still receive radio stations, and have a power source,
what are you gonna do when your tube radio blows a capacitor.

In my radios, I've replaced the unreliable paper caps with highly
reliable plastic film caps. Lots of caps over lots of years. NEVER had
a plastic film cap fail. The tubes will fail first.

Post by o***@tubes.com
Are you
gonna pretend to march down to the local Radio Shack, or pretend to go
on Amazon.com, or will you just cry and die because you are too stupid
to roll your own capacitors, or make a usable resistor. They dont need
to be pretty, they just need to work.

Tough choice. Roll some crappy homemade caps or CRY AND DIE!!!!!
Thankfully, I already have fistfuls of really nice plastic film caps.
Each one should be worth at least a can of peaches in the apocalyptic
future.

Post by o***@tubes.com
If you are really into survival, you also need a car or truck that still
uses points for ignition. That electronic ignition module will be trash
and so will all those on the shelves in the remains of auto parts
stores. A vehicle with points will be the only ones that will still run
(if you can get gas, because the gas station pumps are all run by
computers).

You'd think SMART PEOPLE would have noticed all the modern cars disabled
after every lightning storm to realize just HOW VULNERABLE electronic
ignition is to EMP.

Well, some people never catch on.

Post by o***@tubes.com
Not too long ago, we had a tornado knock out all the power for as much
as 5 days. That means no one could buy gas because the pumps would not
work, but it gets worse. The grocery stores could not sell food because
the computerized cash registers did not function, even though the
shelves had food. At that point, you either starve, or you just steal
the food, knowing that law enforcement is also crippled without their
two way radios, and possible gas for their vehicles.

The company I work for is partially responsible. You see, we might lose
power after storms and -- get this -- we bring in GENERATORS to keep the
place going. Big generators, the kind inside tractor trailers.

Oh, and my sister lost power for over a week after the Florida hurricane,
but the local gas station and stores were up and running as soon as the
roads were cleared, 'cause they had GENERATORS. Imagine that.

Sorry if we've hogged all the generator power.

Post by o***@tubes.com
We live in a society full of people who are dependent on the system, and
think their money will get them thru everything.... WRONG AGAIN!

That's right. You can't beat an Iron Skull full of PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS
for getting you through a tough scrape.

[Peter Wieck]

Micturating up a braided convenience, are we?

Dealing with invincible ignorance is a bit like nailing Jell-O. Of limited utility and with dubious results.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

[Frank]

Post by Peter Wieck
Micturating up a braided convenience, are we?

I hope oldschool NEVER changes and keeps posting. Playing with trolls is
one of the great joys of Usenet. Without that, we could just as well
slink off to one of the moderated groups.

Post by Peter Wieck
Dealing with invincible ignorance is a bit like nailing Jell-O. Of
limited utility and with dubious results.
Peter Wieck Melrose Park, PA

So is hitting a ball with a stick. Yet, people seem to enjoy it.

[John-Del]

Post by Frank

Post by Peter Wieck
Micturating up a braided convenience, are we?

I hope oldschool NEVER changes and keeps posting. Playing with trolls is
one of the great joys of Usenet. Without that, we could just as well
slink off to one of the moderated groups.

Post by Peter Wieck
Dealing with invincible ignorance is a bit like nailing Jell-O. Of
limited utility and with dubious results.
Peter Wieck Melrose Park, PA

So is hitting a ball with a stick. Yet, people seem to enjoy it.

Love it. L*O*V*E it!. I turned 60 this year and am still playing competitive softball in an industrial league with 25 year-olds. I also play hardball in an over 38 baseball league.

I had to work in the family business as a kid so never got to play little league, HS, or college ball. Started playing softball when I was just under 40. Hooked ever since.

John
Wolcott, CT

[Terry S]

When the zombie apocalypse hits, and it will, home made capacitors will be the last item on my survival supply list.

I'm stocking up on boatanchors, because they make great projectiles for my trebuchet.

Aim for the head.

Terry

[Peter Wieck]

Post by Terry S
When the zombie apocalypse hits, and it will, home made capacitors will be the last item on my survival supply list.
I'm stocking up on boatanchors, because they make great projectiles for my trebuchet.
Aim for the head.
Terry

The least vulnerable part of OS, as it happens.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

[Foxs Mercantile]

Post by Peter Wieck

Post by Terry S
Aim for the head.
Terry

The least vulnerable part of OS, as it happens.

Don't aim for his head. Shit spatters.

[Jim Mueller]

On Mon, 23 Oct 2017 20:12:07 -0500, oldschool wrote:

snip

Post by o***@tubes.com
The original radios were pieces of quartz
made to work as a crystal

Some survivalist, doesn't even know the right material to use! And he
doesn't know that there were radios in use before crystal sets came along.

rest snipped

[Terry S]

I was wondering if anyone would catch that. Good luck making a detector from quartz.

OLDSHIT, it's galena crystal that was used as a detector diode. Sometimes other metallic minerals, but not quartz.

Your Ignorance Quotient is amazing.

Post by Jim Mueller
snip

Post by o***@tubes.com
The original radios were pieces of quartz
made to work as a crystal

Some survivalist, doesn't even know the right material to use! And he
doesn't know that there were radios in use before crystal sets came along.
rest snipped
--
To get my real email address, replace wrongname with eggmen.
Then replace nospam with expressmail. Lastly, replace com with dk.

[Peter Wieck]

Not to forget razor blades.

Loading Image...

AKA: Foxhole Radio - something every survivalist should know.

And, of course, the FM Crystal Radio.

Loading Image...

Even though I am fairly adept at invective, even vituperation, and try to practice without the use of vulgarity - it is still a bit troubling taking on an unarmed and otherwise powerless individual.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

[Foxs Mercantile]

Post by Peter Wieck
it is still a bit troubling taking on an unarmed
and otherwise powerless individual.

As the old saying goes, "I refuse to have a battle
of wits with an unarmed person."

[John-Del]

Post by Foxs Mercantile

Post by Peter Wieck
it is still a bit troubling taking on an unarmed
and otherwise powerless individual.

As the old saying goes, "I refuse to have a battle
of wits with an unarmed person."

One of my favorites is the advice to not argue with idiots: they'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

John
Wolcott, CT

[Foxs Mercantile]

Post by John-Del
One of my favorites is the advice to not argue with

Like playing chess with a pigeon...

They'll knock over all the pieces, shit all over the
board and then strut around like they won.

[Peter Wieck]

Well... I am sure that OldSchool feels he is, in fact, a wit.

And, after all, he is half right.

With apologies to, in no particular order:

William Shakespeare, Winston Churchill, Sam Clemens. Oscar Wilde, and many others.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

[John-Del]

Post by Peter Wieck
Even though I am fairly adept at invective, even vituperation, and try to practice without the use of vulgarity - it is still a bit troubling taking on an unarmed and otherwise powerless individual.
Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

Goddarnit Peter, you use your tongue prettier than a twenty dollar whore! (with apologies to Slim Pickins)

John
Wolcott, CT

[Peter Wieck]

Post by John-Del
Goddarnit Peter, you use your tongue prettier than a twenty dollar whore!

Thank you! Back when the regular goods were $3, that is high praise indeed.

There is a simple explanation:

Neither of my parents spoke English as a first language (Gaelic & German).
My father was a translator with four fluent and five additional read/write languages. He was always running around the house "Looking for a word".
I did not have a television until I got married (at 30). But, I did grow up with over 5,000 books in the house at any given time.

Add Catholic single-sex Prep-School/Ivy League into that mix, and complete corruption was inevitable.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

[h***@gmail.com]

Post by C.Copperpot
OK, I'll feed the troll. The ONLY time you would need to roll your own
is if they don't make the value/voltage you need. Which is probably
extremely rare.
Oh, maybe the professor on Gilligan's Island rolled his own to keep
that Packard Bell radio working.

when I was young, I once rolled up two pieces of foil and paper,
and might have even tried measuring the capacitance. It is a fun
experiment, which I would suggest to anyone interested.

But I agree with many hear, that it isn't practical for
restoring old radios.

As far as I know, it is considered reasonable to replace
old capacitors with modern ones. Sometimes the old ones
will be kept above the chassis, with the modern ones,
in actual use, below.

[John-Del]

Post by h***@gmail.com
As far as I know, it is considered reasonable to replace
old capacitors with modern ones.

Go one step further and eliminate all doubt. The only prudent way of making a vintage tube radio safe and reliable is to replace *every* capacitor except for the micas, check every resistor and change as needed, and replace any or all wires that have frayed, cracked, or crumbling insulation.

When that's done, then start working on it to see if anything else is wrong. A capacitor may initially check within tolerance for value and leakage but any capacitor that begins the leakage death spiral will destroy tubes and valuable transformers of all types. This happens within months, weeks, days, hours, or even minutes of passing an instrument test.

Anyone who tells you otherwise is a total ass-hat and fool.

John
Wolcott, CT

[Foxs Mercantile]

Preach it brother!

Post by John-Del
Go one step further and eliminate all doubt. The only prudent way of making a vintage tube radio safe and reliable is to replace *every* capacitor except for the micas, check every resistor and change as needed, and replace any or all wires that have frayed, cracked, or crumbling insulation.
When that's done, then start working on it to see if anything else is wrong. A capacitor may initially check within tolerance for value and leakage but any capacitor that begins the leakage death spiral will destroy tubes and valuable transformers of all types. This happens within months, weeks, days, hours, or even minutes of passing an instrument test.
Anyone who tells you otherwise is a total ass-hat and fool.
John
Wolcott, CT