Making a new back for a 'Little Maestro'

[Yorkie]

Well done David and what a splendid job you've made of this. I'm sure that you could make a small fortune from making DAC90 and 90a backs as these always seem to have issues.

Regards

Rob

Thanks for your kind words of encouragement Rob!

Yes, the ubiquitous DAC90As and indeed, several other commonplace AC/DC radios that come to mind such as the little Murphy U198 - one of my favourites, seem to suffer damage due to heat from the mains dropper. Occasionally the damage is in the area where a metal heat shields is fitted to the back, so not only does a gaping hole appear, the heat shield drops off too.

As to 'making a small fortune' I've no doubt that there is money to be made from such activities for anyone so inclined, but not a lot. Really, I posted the info to encourage others to have a go. Light DIY routers are cheap enough, as are the materials, and the skills needed are just basic woodworking skills. But it's a time consuming activity and when you do it for yourself, your time is free, but once we step over the line and treat it as a commercial activity, it stops being a hobby.

If I do get time to make jigs for other backs, I may at some point consider making a few of each to take to a future Golborne Swapmeet. However, there is a few hours of work to make a jig, the materials, the time to produce each back, and frankly, I doubt that the 'market price' that most would be prepared to pay for a plain unpainted back would make the effort worthwhile.

I'd reiterate to anyone contemplating making any backs, that ordinary hardboard isn't much use - it's too soft and 'fluffy' - it really must be 'oil tempered' hardboard. As I said in an earlier post, B&Q sell it - not much more expensive than plain hardboard. It might not be obvious when you look at it if you don't know what it looks like, but if you turn it over, it should have 'Oil Tempered' printed across it at the factory. It's far superior for any jobs where hardboard is called for, as not only does it cut, plane, drill and sand better, it's also harder than ordinary hardboard, and is waterproof.