Restoring an old radio

           You have just got a tube radio from grandma or saw it at an estate sale for a good price. These little radios take you back to a time before TVs, computers, video games, cds and many more things. This was when shows where broadcast on a radio not TV. This will show you how to restore your radio back to the age of radio!

Step 1 Into your radio

    
               You must UNPLUG your radio and unscrew the back of your radio. Then take a look at the inside of your radio. The thing that may look weird is the tubes. Next you'll notice wrapped wire, wire going around the cabinet or something like that this is the antenna. Or possibly a small flashlight bulb. Now DON’T TOUCH ANYTHING unless you are aware of what you are doing or 120 volts could KILL YOU or HURT YOU. Don't do anything unless the instructabls says to.

Comments

[onemoroni1]

This is good, I have read others and want to get my hands on an old radio and restore it. I could kick myself, years ago I had old units.

[russ_hensel]

Electrolytics that dry out can sometimes be saved. The process is called reforming. Basically you apply a lower than normal voltage and then gradually increase it as the leakage goes down ( over a period of minutes to hours ) These links may help:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolytic_capacitor

http://ampgarage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11772&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=&sid=57f12f80fdda9fb92fef8f3f7dcc3bbe

http://www.vcomp.co.uk/tech_tips/reform_caps/reform_caps.htm

Electrolytics that are not reformed a prone to failing in a nasty way.