Diddlesticks...

[AE1PT]

Diddlesticks, wands, alignment tools--once found everywhere seem to be as hard to find as a crank for a Model T...

The last of them I had twisted out last night on a stubborn slug. Poor little thing, I must have had it for 20 years. Now all this boatanchor gear lying about and nothing to adjust it with. No problem, I will just order a couple new sets online!

Right. Running through regular suppliers no dice. Finally I remembered that most of the ones I had at my shop 30 years ago were GC Electronics. Bingo! A lifetime supply is on its way to me.

Funny. I literally had a drawer full of these once. Even RS does not keep them in the store--and the ones they have are the ESG material that breaks when you look at them...

All the stuff for older practice is getting nearer to the unobtainable pile. I was really appalled this year in looking at just how many components and values of them--such as capacitors--are simply no longer to be found. Time marches on I guess...:-|

[NQ6U]

Parts suppliers used to give those things away much like businesses do with ballpoint pens. Now, people give you a blank stare when you ask for one. I think it's a matter of outlook; these days, the attitude seems to be "Realignment? Why bother? Just toss it out and buy a new one."

BTW, without resulting to Google, how many of you know what "GC" stands for?

General Cement

[XE1/N5AL]

I tried to buy an alignment tool at a Radio Shack many moons ago. They cost 69 cents, if I remember correctly. Anyway, as the clerk was about to ring up my mighty, sub-dollar purchase, another customer walked into the store to buy a color TV. The clerk dropped me like a hot potato and left me standing dumb-founded at the register: a dollar in one hand and the alignment tool in the other. Apparently, there was a lot of competition among the store salesmen and my guy didn't want to lose the commission from making a high-dollar sale.

[kb2vxa]

Diddle sticks are still around, trouble is there's very little left to diddle. Before you say it, THAT requires a different kind of diddle stick.

[WØTKX]

Parts Express has them too, direct, or via Amazon. When I get sticky slugs, sometimes it helps to heat the coil and form with a hair dryer or heat gun at a low setting. A little silicone spray for the really stubborn ones as well, but then you have to clean the mess.

[W2NAP]

i used to have a boat load of them... not sure where they ended up. but they aint around here anymore...

[NQ6U]

Parts Express has them too, direct, or via Amazon. When I get sticky slugs, sometimes it helps to heat the coil and form with a hair dryer or heat gun at a low setting. A little silicone spray for the really stubborn ones as well, but then you have to clean the mess.

Speaking of silicone spray, does anyone here know a source of a plastic-safe silicone lubricating oil that doesn't contain any petroleum products? The binary encoder that controls the VFO on my IC-736 is a bit sticky. The part is now unobtainable from any source other than a parts rig and the general consensus of the Yahoo group for that radio is that the best way to fix it is to use a an alcohol-based cleaner to dislodge any crud, then apply a very small amount of pure, low viscosity silicone oil. I've done the cleaning part, which helped quite a bit all by itself but, unfortunately, have come up empty in my search for the correct lubricant. Everything I've found online so far either has a petroleum based propellent/solvent or is only available in quantities of five gallons or more.

[K7SGJ]

Speaking of silicone spray, does anyone here know a source of a plastic-safe silicone lubricating oil that doesn't contain any petroleum products? The binary encoder that controls the VFO on my IC-736 is a bit sticky. The part is now unobtainable from any source other than a parts rig and the general consensus of the Yahoo group for that radio is that the best way to fix it is to use a an alcohol-based cleaner to dislodge any crud, then apply a very small amount of pure, low viscosity silicone oil. I've done the cleaning part, which helped quite a bit all by itself but, unfortunately, have come up empty in my search for the correct lubricant. Everything I've found online so far either has a petroleum based propellent/solvent or is only available in quantities of five gallons or more.

This is what I use for certain type clock parts and plastic parts affected petroleum products. I got it from a local copier sales/repair shop awhile back. If you can't find small quantities anywhere, and you want to try this, let me know and I'll find a small container of some kind and send you some. You may want to look up that unpronounceable ingredient on the bottle to insure it will work for your application. I generally apply it with a syringe and small needle that I get from the local feed store or vet supply.

IMG_2636.jpg

[NQ6U]

That's exactly the stuff I'm looking for. Someone is selling a pint bottle on eBay for $18 including shipping, that might be the way to go. Sure, I only need a single drop so it would be a lifetime supply but, hey, I've spent that much for lunch (although not recently).

[KC9ECI]

k-Tran tools?