Chassis holder???

[Benny]

Every time I go to work on a radio, I pull the chassis out of the cabinet, pull the tubes, then flip it over, and start grabbing different shaped objects to rest it on at different angles to proceed with recapping, and other servicing.

Has anyone come up with a home brew clamping system, to hold the chassis, and rotate it for servicing? I know there are commercial units for working on circuit boards. It seems like someone would have already come up with a good design. I don't want to re-invent the wheel, if it is already invented.

Thanks,
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Benny WB5TYZ / HL9KH

[Dale Saukerson]

Some of us temporarily bolt L-brackets to the bolt holes in the bottom of the chassis. Here is an old thread regarding someone who manufactures a wooden rotating cradle for chassis work.

http://antiqueradios.com/forum ... highlight=
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Dale Saukerson.
Diverted by scratch building

[Benny]

Hi Dale....
Thanks for the heads up on the chassis holder...Looks like a good design. I have a ball and socket type vice I use for wood carving, and I'm thinking about building something like the Guy in Oklahome builds, and incorporate it into my carving vice. That way I have infinite adjustment, as it all rotates on a ball.

Thanks again for the info.
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Benny WB5TYZ / HL9KH

[ErikD]

Here's a jig I just made for a Philco 37-675. The chassis probably weighs over 50lbs. I usually can find a way to rest a chassis on a side while working but not this beast. There's no real way to attach screws to it unless I tap the holes on the corners but I don't have a tap and die set. Those holes aren't threaded! It's only attached to the cabinet by one tiny screw in the center rear, probably to keep it from sliding around and gravity does the rest!

I used scrap wood I had lying around so it only cost me time. Basically I cut a 20" square from plywood. Ran a diagonal and drilled two holes equally spaced from each corner with a width of the buttons protruding from the sides of the chassis then cut the diagonal. The only oops was the band selector. I had to cut out a notch for that. I think it should hold up nicely. Can you tell by the dial which position it sat in for the last 50 years

[Dale Saukerson]

I like the low tech approach. Even I could get that done.
Perhaps safety straps over the four pegs to ensure it don't rotate/slide out of the cradle ?
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Dale Saukerson.
Diverted by scratch building

[philsoldradios]

L braces usually get the job done for me.

http://antiqueradio.org/Midwes ... ssisholder

Phil Nelson

[cwmoser]

I made this stand for a TV chassis I am restoring:







It is basically x2 triangles that are bolted to the side of the chassis. Could be adapted to radios.

CW

[radiorich]

Hello Benny,
Here is the stand I made

hers a Side view



Sincerely Rich
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[gvel]

Search the ARF. Someone around here use to sell these, and it would accommodate different sized chassis.

My stands consists of Styrofoam, foam, wooden blocks/wedges and small boxes, but it works, just like yours!
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There's always next year!
WD8PHW

[dynadude]

All of these designs have their own merits.

Glad I found this thread, as I was wondering about stand design myself. Just got done with a monster RCA 813k chassis that was a real pain to deal with.

I need to build something versatile and easy to store, and it would be nice to have a built in catch pan, for all the crud and crumbles of wiring insulation and such that falls out.
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Bryan

Spacekat DesignsUnique Musical Instruments