isnt that how you make a transistor with crazy glue ?

It would still need some smoke inside...

definition of hack job is anything that doesnt look right. then fix it to the way you like it. if it looks right then its not a hack

After years of working on this stuff, I have seen plenty of "hack jobs". The worst of all was an early 1930s cathedral radio, a real collector's item from a minor manufacturer. When I pulled the chassis, components and wiring came falling out from underneath; it was almost an indescribable mess. I gave it a high estimate, and offered to take it off the customer's hands for $50, but he declined.

For myself, it might have been worth the many hours needed for the electronic restoration...

definition of a hack job is when the radio doesnt work and you can tell that someone else worked on it. my latest for instance is a Philco 42-842. filter capacitors were replaced with radials with foot long lead wiring hanging in mid air. half the other capacitors replaced with tack soldering. the rest still paper/wax units. must have abandoned getting it to work because thats how I found it not working. thats the way I like my radios anyhow. not working. I am still dealing with intermittent loctal oscillator issues. when it is working loop antenna does not produce much by itself but adding a long wire antenna does. funny its a loop antenna into a coil/transformer. thats the next place I will be looking this weekend. the coil/transformer. intermittent troubles must have discouraged the previous owner/hack/tech. but thats what its all about, right ?

I always prefer my radios to either have been restored properly or not restored/repaired at all when I get them.