Welcome to Australia's only Vintage Radio and Television discussion forums. You are not logged in. Please log in below, apply for an account or retrieve your password.
Australian Vintage Radio Forums
  Home  ·  About Us  ·  Discussion Forums  ·  Glossary  ·  Outside Links  ·  Policies  ·  Services Directory  ·  Safety Warnings  ·  Tutorials

Tech Talk

Forum home - Go back to Tech talk

 Making metal inserts for knobs?
« Back · 1 · Next »
 Return to top of page · Post #: 1 · Written at 11:29:52 PM on 27 March 2018.
Tippy's Gravatar
 Location: Mount Cotton, QLD
 Member since 20 February 2018
 Member #: 2214
 Postcount: 134

Hi all, I have a few Kriesler radios from about 1956ish. The knobs have a shiny convex metal insert glued in the centre, the glue has failed and some of the inserts are missing. Has anyone figured out a way to manufacture new discs? I tried filling the centre with filler and machining them smooth and painting them gold or silver but it looks pretty ordinary. Any ideas? Thanks Smile


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 2 · Written at 7:59:15 AM on 28 March 2018.
Clive Durham's Gravatar
 Location: Grenfell, NSW
 Member since 8 July 2015
 Member #: 1771
 Postcount: 212

I would say if you made a mould and a plug you could press some out. Use hard wood for both and you might even be able to use a drill press to form them. Not sure what metal you could use, that might need some research.

Just a thought


‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
Clive

 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 3 · Written at 9:40:27 AM on 28 March 2018.
Brad's avatar
 Administrator
 Location: Naremburn, NSW
 Member since 15 November 2005
 Member #: 1
 Postcount: 7402

The steel from clock springs is best. Getting a clock spring that would provide the best dimensions is the tricky bit.


‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
A valve a day keeps the transistor away...

 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 4 · Written at 12:07:48 PM on 28 March 2018.
Ian Robertson's Gravatar
 Location: Belrose, NSW
 Member since 31 December 2015
 Member #: 1844
 Postcount: 2491

Tippy, I assume you mean the aluminium dress discs and not the knob locking springs?

If so, Clive's answer is what you want!


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 5 · Written at 12:16:12 PM on 28 March 2018.
Tippy's Gravatar
 Location: Mount Cotton, QLD
 Member since 20 February 2018
 Member #: 2214
 Postcount: 134

I was thinking of using the aluminium from a soft drink can. It's malleable and would polish well.

I have a 3/4" wad punch so can try punching it out with that then shape it using a mould or double sided tape it to a concave mould and spin it into shape using a soft tool. I was hoping someone would say "get them from ebay, here's the link..."


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 6 · Written at 12:17:29 PM on 28 March 2018.
Tippy's Gravatar
 Location: Mount Cotton, QLD
 Member since 20 February 2018
 Member #: 2214
 Postcount: 134

Hi Ian, yes the dress discs.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 7 · Written at 12:38:10 PM on 28 March 2018.
Brad's avatar
 Administrator
 Location: Naremburn, NSW
 Member since 15 November 2005
 Member #: 1
 Postcount: 7402

Hi Ian, yes the dress discs.

If that is the case then, yes, drink can aluminium would be perfect. The only hurdle that I can see is making a die to strike the correct shape.


‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
A valve a day keeps the transistor away...

 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 8 · Written at 3:55:29 PM on 28 March 2018.
Tallar Carl's avatar
 Location: Latham, ACT
 Member since 21 February 2015
 Member #: 1705
 Postcount: 2175

My email is unhidden can you send me pictures of the knobs please. I might have some.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 9 · Written at 10:06:46 PM on 28 March 2018.
STC830's Gravatar
 Location: NSW
 Member since 10 June 2010
 Member #: 681
 Postcount: 1303

The bottom of an aluminium drink can is much thicker than the wall and is also domed to resist the pressure. If you go for metal forming option with punch and die made from hardwood, this curvature should be a help.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 10 · Written at 1:29:55 AM on 29 March 2018.
Marcc's avatar
 Location: Wangaratta, VIC
 Member since 21 February 2009
 Member #: 438
 Postcount: 5401

If there is a Lathe for machining the punch could be metal & the lathe also used to form the die. I actually made dies & punches to stamp out the clip on filters used on the binoculars.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 11 · Written at 8:12:36 AM on 29 March 2018.
Tippy's Gravatar
 Location: Mount Cotton, QLD
 Member since 20 February 2018
 Member #: 2214
 Postcount: 134

Thanks Tallar Carl, I have emailed the photos.

Thank you STC830, that's a good suggestion.

Alas Marcc, I no longer have a metal turning lathe. Would have been a easy job if I did.


 
« Back · 1 · Next »
 You need to be a member to post comments on this forum.

Sign In

Username:
Password:
 Keep me logged in.
Do not tick box on a computer with public access.