#97

Still working on the SX-117 receiver.  This is probably known by many old
radio restoration experts but I tried this idea with the knobs and it came
out quite well and I thought I would pass it along.

The knobs on the SX-117 and similar series radios, all have a white
reference line running the length of the knob from panel to the front of the
knob.  On my SX-117 (probably used a lot), most of the white line has been
worn off.  What I did was to take each knob individually, put it in a small
padded vise (to hold it steady) and using blue masking tape (blue leaves no
residue), I masked off the knob areas to only show this straight worn out
line.  I then used a bottle of "White Out" to restore the line.  White out
dries very quickly and after removing the tape, the knobs look perfect for
the most part and the white seems to stay put.

K2WH

Dale

#104

I've done something similar with old instrument knobs.  I first give
them a good soap-and-water cleaning with mechanic's hand cleaner
(Go-Jo, Goop, etc) and an old tooth brush.  Sometimes, this is all
that's needed to make the witness line visible again.  Then I use a
dental pick or large sewing needle to put a few scratches the length
of the witness line - like K2WH said, you need a way to hold the knob
secure and steady during this operation, and working under a magnifier
helps, too.  If the paint that forms the line seems to flake off or
show signs of poor adhesion I'll scratch most of it away.  

Then I use model airplane enamel to create a new witness line.  But I
don't apply the paint with a brush; instead I apply it by dipping a
flat toothpick in the paint and dragging it along the line.  On knobs
where the witness line is molded into the plastic, the enamel will
fill the indentation level to the surrounding area and look extremely
precise.  In other cases a little practice and a steady hand can
produce results that require very close examination to discern from
"stock" condition.

The preparatory step of scratching the line serves 2 purposes: it
creates a roughened surface for the paint to grab onto, and it defines
a straight "channel" that the paint flows into with a straight,
well-defined edge.

Dale  ex-WA8VTN

--- In HallicraftersRadios@..., Bill Gerhold <k2wh@o...>
wrote:

Still working on the SX-117 receiver.  . . .

The knobs on the SX-117 and similar series radios, all have a white
reference line running the length of the knob . . .
. . .  most of the white line has been worn off.  
. . .  I then used a bottle of "White Out" to restore the line.  

K2WH

#105

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Further to this, I should add, that new or current bottles of “White Out”, no longer use a brush for application,

they have a triangular shapes wedge as the applicator.? Sort of looks like a very small triangular sponge.

?

K2WH

?

Show quoted text

From: HallicraftersRadios@... [mailto:HallicraftersRadios@...] On Behalf Of Dale
Sent: Saturday, May 21, 2005 10:24 PM
To: HallicraftersRadios@...
Subject: [HallicraftersRadios] Re: SX-117 Knobs

?

I've done something similar with old instrument knobs.? I first give
them a good soap-and-water cleaning with mechanic's hand cleaner
(Go-Jo, Goop, etc) and an old tooth brush.? Sometimes, this is all
that's needed to make the witness line visible again.? Then I use a
dental pick or large sewing needle to put a few scratches the length
of the witness line - like K2WH said, you need a way to hold the knob
secure and steady during this operation, and working under a magnifier
helps, too.? If the paint that forms the line seems to flake off or
show signs of poor adhesion I'll scratch most of it away.?

Then I use model airplane enamel to create a new witness line.? But I
don't apply the paint with a brush; instead I apply it by dipping a
flat toothpick in the paint and dragging it along the line.? On knobs
where the witness line is molded into the plastic, the enamel will
fill the indentation level to the surrounding area and look extremely
precise.? In other cases a little practice and a steady hand can
produce results that require very close examination to discern from
"stock" condition.

The preparatory step of scratching the line serves 2 purposes: it
creates a roughened surface for the paint to grab onto, and it defines
a straight "channel" that the paint flows into with a straight,
well-defined edge.

Dale? ex-WA8VTN

--- In HallicraftersRadios@..., Bill Gerhold
wrote:
>
> Still working on the SX-117 receiver.? . . .
>
> The knobs on the SX-117 and similar series radios, all have a white
> reference line running the length of the knob . . .
> . . .? most of the white line has been worn off.?
> . . .? I then used a bottle of "White Out" to restore the line.?
>
> K2WH

This site is dedicated to the free and open exchange of ideas, advice, technical and general information about Hallicrafters transmitters, receivers, home entertainment equipment, and all other Hallicrafters products. And more importantly, this site is dedicated to the large number of fans, cheerleaders and users of this wonderful equipment which utilized the technology of vacuum tubes.

Hallicrafters equipment was on the front lines (literally) during the early years with military communications radios. On the home front with shortwave receivers, amateur transmitters and home entertainment equipment. Truly an American company.

K2WH (Your Moderator)

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Locked SX-117 Knobs

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SX-117 Knobs