The key is keeping it warm but not overdoing it with the heat. Everything left in a bare chassis can easily withstand a 140 - 150 F soak. At that temperature, the water and moisture don't stick around for very long.
When I'm in a rush, I'll leave it in for half a day, but normally I get it to the point of getting it into the oven in the afternoon so it can sit overnight. The worst thing is to get water into the power or audio xformers, so I try to avoid hitting them with too much other than overspray. The IF cans dry out fine. My oven is so well-insulated that I can take it to about 150 - 160, turn it off and leave the light on in the oven, and it's still 110 when I get up in the morning. I've been toying with the idea of sticking a 100W droplight in there to maintain a slightly-higher temp but haven't tried it yet (Easy-Bake Oven, anyone?). Oh - and I haven't lost a rig yet giving it a sink or bathtub (think NC-240-D) cleaning! The only old stuff I've lost while in my possession have cooked their power transformers due to shorting electrolytic caps! 73, Steve, W1ES/4 -----Original Message----- >From: Robert Fish <rwf...@comcast.net> >Sent: Nov 30, 2011 10:23 PM >To: Steve Wedge <w1es1...@earthlink.net> >Cc: drakelist@zerobeat.net >Subject: Re: [Drakelist] Baked Drakes > >Hey Steve, >How long and at what temp? I would worry about getting water in the IF >cans etc. Does it just bake out? ? > >Thanks, > >Bob K6GGO > >> Never leave the PTO, meter or any other plastics like that on the rig >> when baking. >> >> I always remove the PTO, meter, front panel and, of course all knobs >> and tubes. It's basically a stripped chassis when it gets its wash >> and dry. Never submerge - only wash with brushes and detergent, rinse >> thoroughly with the sink sprayer above and below, then pour distilled >> water over it. >> >> I take the rigs out to the shed before the oven for an encounter with >> an air gun. That will remove most of the water. >> >> Yes, you have to re-oil everything when you're done and on the A and B >> receivers I also recommend removing the PBT coil carriage after >> cleaning to clean the dried-out grease from the assembly. >> >> The equipment looks and smells much better and runs cooler. After 40 >> - 50 years, even a clean-looking chassis is hiding a lot of dirt. >> >> Steve Wedge, W1ES/4 >> >> "I can't complain, but sometimes I still do." >> - Joe Walsh >> >> >> > _______________________________________________ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
