[ARC5] BC-AN-229 Follies, part 2

[Tim Des]

ON *Sat Nov 15 17:53:26 EST 2014, Ken wrote:*
*>....*
*>*I have used Niel's method with several Heathkit crystal-filter cans and
have
>never (yet) had a problem.

>I cannot imagine that this method would NOT work with those "bath-tub"
>caps.

>After all, they were soldered together when they were made, and I can see
>nothing wrong with using the same method to take them apart....

Ken, good point. After you said it, the thought appeared on my
retrospectroscope.

On *Sat Nov 15 19:26:49 EST 2014, Robert wrote:*
*>...*
*>*The problem with the propane torch is that if the can is oil-filled, you
>will quickly have a fire on your hands.

This is very essential to know for me as mostly a beginner. "Experientia
Docet",
(Experience Teaches) was the name of the Confederate Medical Journal.

>I use a 200 watt American Beauty with a chisel tip just under 3/4" dia.

My 200 watt iron looks like and has similar dimensions to the American
Beauty
described on there web site.

>But on
>the ones I have done, I remove the top, not the bottom.  Then when the can
>has cooled, invert it to dump out the oil and then leave it inverted for a
>few hours to let the remainder of the oil drip out.  Then I use a 40 watt
>Weller and a Pace desoldering handpiece to remove the individual
capacitors.
>I'm afraid that if I heated and removed the bottom with capacitors still
>attached, the heat would ruin the feedthroughs and seals.  Plus, if the
unit has
>one side of the capacitor grounded, the ground lead is captured by the lip
>of the top and you wouldn't be able to smoothly lift off the bottom from
the
>can because the other end of the capacitor(s) is still attached to the
can.
>Removing the top first, there are no wires to deal with during the messy
>hot part of the job.
>
>Two more comments - it's much easier if you remove the cans from the radio
>first, although I did do two without doing that.  And put the vise holding
>the can in a shallow rectangular (cake) pan, especially if you have a
wooden
>work bench.

Robert, this is very valuable detailed information. After the holidays, I
would really like
to put together a FAQ based on the 13 years of posts by others to ARC5. I
do not know
much about websites, but maybe some type of Wiki site would fit this plan
such that
others could add to, correct or update the information.

Tim Desiato  WA8LHB