Cleaning a rusty transformer

From: Russ Blakeman <rhblake_at_bbtel.com>
Date: Tue Sep 22 11:17:15 1998

sethm_at_loomcom.com wrote:

> Howdy folks,
>
> I'm finally getting ready to tackle my Imsai 8080 restoration. There's
> actually very little involved except cleaning, and bringing up the
> power supply. EXCEPT: The PS transformer is very badly rusted. Oddly,
> the paper wrapping looks fairly OK, it's just the metal core which is
> covered in a lovely, crusty layer of rust.
>
> Is there a way to recover this transformer and bring it back to life?
> It could be replaced by a modern equivalent, but I'd much rather save
> the original -if possible-.
>
> By the way, the recent discussions about using a light bulb in series
> with the power supply has helped tremendously -- I had no idea where
> I was going to find a Variac; at least, not a cheap one.
>

Steel wool ( the plain stuff without soap), wire brush (as Sam mentioned),
fine emery cloth, a number of things. Then mask where you don't want the
paint, hit it with a light coat or two of primer, wipe that after it's
totally dry, and hit it with a gloss black (or whatever color it was). If
the metal is badly pitted and you want that gone, use either filling primer
that you sand before the finish coat, or use body putty (not Bondo, a red
paste for filling minor flaws in a tube - one part).sand and wipe it off and
do the finish coat.Pull the masking tape before it's totally dry but at
least surface dry so the solvents don't leave the tape's adhesive behind.
Received on Tue Sep 22 1998 - 11:17:15 BST