Welcome Guest! Be sure you know and follow the Phorum Rules before posting. Thank you and Enjoy! (January 12) x

Thread Closed
Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Electrolytic cap question
#1

One part of my radio collection I really love are the memories I have of getting them, especially the first ones I got when I was a teenager. Recently I pulled a 1937 Detrola model 137 out of hiding in my attic. I remember getting this set at a Fall fleamarket way back in 1981 for 15 bucks. I remember being really excited about this find as at the time it was the second oldest radio I had gotten. i played around with it for awhile, but not yet really knowing alot about electronics, I never did get it to play. Fast forward 32 years and I have rediscovered it and have decided that it was time to fix that.
It's an early AC/DC set and there is not a lot of room under the chassis. I would like to restuff the original electrolytic cans not only to preserve the look, but for space issues as well. So after pulling the cans off the chassis, I discovered that there is still liquid in them. I've restuffed electrolytic cans before but they have always been dried out. My question is, Is the liquid in the cans toxic or hazardous? What is it made of anyway? Any one have any input? Thanks!
Kevin
#2

I believe it is a boric acid solution. Toxic only in large quantities. Also used in ant poisons {it works} and as an antiseptic. Use normal precautions--safety goggles and thin painters gloves.
#3

It's borax based, maybe a boric acid solution, I don't know for sure. I use to have some that I salvaged from a bad cap and stored in a jar, the cap had a dead short so was useless even though it wasn't dried out. If I find it again maybe I will get the liquid analyzed. No it isn't particularly toxic, not to humans and higher animals anyway, but it does kill insects and it does kill mold. The reason it's effective in killing ants is that they can't taste it, so it will mix right into sugar, peanut butter, or other things they like, which, being the community spirited insects they are, will tell the other ants about it and then take some back to the nest.
Regards
Arran




Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)
[-]
Recent Posts
Philco model 60
Plus I forgot that I have a spare complete Philco FC speaker, that would work perfectly, now that I don’t need it. Got i...Radios1340 — 05:36 PM
Philco model 60
Duh! I guess I can’t read an ohm meter today. I took the oscillator coil out and will take some readings tomorrow.Radios1340 — 05:30 PM
An attempt to remove the Field Coil from a G speaker
Well, I killed the coil. Tried to get to the end of that oxidated spot, but while holding the coil in hand, i let it sl...morzh — 05:27 PM
91H Code 126 Restore
It does not require taking apart. Find an opening, any gap that would lead inside, where the resistive element and the ...morzh — 04:59 PM
Philco 70 antenna lead
I agree. From the ones I've worked on its always been that green corrosion that causes the coils to open.Jim Dutridge — 04:34 PM
91H Code 126 Restore
Well I'm making good progress. All the bakelite blocks have been recapped.  I found that using a heat gun and skinny ...RealRider — 02:35 PM
Philco model 60
>>and found that the field coil is bad. Should be 1140 ohms, tests at 1.1k ohms. You have one stringent crit...morzh — 02:07 PM
Philco model 60
Yes I was there. I got some real bargains there. Plus a Zenith 7G605 clipper that I have been trying to find for a fair ...Radios1340 — 01:46 PM
A Marconi model 86
I have a Stromberg, one of the early ones, seems early 30s. This is what I call a back breaker. None of the early Philc...morzh — 08:28 PM
A Marconi model 86
A backbreaker.....PaulPaul Philco322 — 08:12 PM

[-]
Who's Online
There are currently 3301 online users. [Complete List]
» 1 Member(s) | 3300 Guest(s)
Avatar

>