Fixing bell dents in transformers?

[Blair]

I got a few chokes the other day, and they were damaged in shipping.

Bondo, or a skin of epoxy?

With Bondo, you usually want a few small holes to get adhesion. I would think a skin of epoxy will stick fine and sand easily.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Blair

[nyazzip]

if you can get the bells off, you could likely bash most of the dents out from the inside, using various hardwood dowels/bits and a mallet...and using a wooden table or a wood post in a vice as an "anvil"...a square or wedge shaped piece for a corner dent, etc

[highflyin9]

If they're a standard size, you could buy replacements on the cheap. Most transformer builders offer them for around a dollar a piece. I've got extras from Transcendar, Edcor and ElectraPrint in the past.

Bells can almost always be removed, although some are harder than others.

[Blair]

Hi guys,

I have already pulled the bells and wood blocked the dents out, but that isn't perfect. I was just looking at options to smooth out the rippled dents left from hammering.

Thanks!

Blair

[Tubeamp]

Hi Blair,

You can use a grinder wheel....it 'd flatten the rippled dents away, although you need to be careful with that power tool.

[TerrySmith]

Bump the dents out as best as possible and paint with wrinkle finish or hammertone finish. Either one works great hiding blemishes.

[nyazzip]

i dunno about those chokes, but some transformers seem to run close to their thermal limit...and slathering on a layer of some non-conductive filler might ramp up those overheating issues even more...
not very likely, but still maybe something to consider
i suppose bondo might work, but it seems to contract over time, especially where it is thick. how about fiberglass sheet and resin, then sand smooth?

[Shannon Parks]

Bump the dents out as best as possible and paint with wrinkle finish or hammertone finish. Either one works great hiding blemishes.

This is the method I use, and it works pretty well.

Shannon

[Blair]

Thanks guys!

I managed to get most of it all out with a broom handle and a cutoff of soft maple. The one on the far left is the worst one. I can live with the small crease on the upper left edge.

It also helps that Hammond uses steel that is fifteen than their epoxy enamel. It let me sand the metal down pretty easy.



Now, if I just get the amp carcass, I can get busy laying this fellow out!

Blair