kolster-br: ; K-20

Hi Folks,

I have a Kolster K-20 with a metal casting wheel on the tuning capacitor shaft. It's about 3 inches diameter to receive the dial cord and a tensioning spring. In this case the wheel has some fractures, but is still whole.

I'm wondering if I should apply a sealer or adhesive to this to help stabilize the metal before I attempt to apply the dial cord. Do you have a suggestion for such a material? The fractures are very fine, so a sealer would have to be low viscosity. I also hoped to perform this without dismantling the capacitor shaft. I'm not sure that dismantling is possible, but it would certainly take a lot of time and care.

 

Thanks for the help,

Bob Heimbueger

To thank the Author because you find the post helpful or well done.

Pot metal oxidizes at the grain boundaries in some alloys, and there's not much that can be done about it.  An adhesive might add a little strength, but it would have to be one that cures with no volumetric change, which eliminates anything in a solvent. Some epoxies or cynoacrylates might work, but I've never seen anyone report on using such materials, so you would be experimenting.  It's easier to do nothing.  That also leaves the option to do something in the future, if necessary.

To thank the Author because you find the post helpful or well done.