Repair Cafe structure

[N_Cook]

Anyone a member/ knowledge of any pitfalls or tips? I'm thinking of
joining a local one as an electronic repairer. They have their own
insurance cover.
Some things like electric blankets, hair curling tongs are definite
no-nos, talking to one of the electrical/electronic repairers.

[Andy Burns]

N_Cook wrote:

> Anyone a member
Ask again in uk.d-i-y and Andrew Gabriel might reply ...

[pf...@aol.com]

I participate in the occasional radio-club related repair clinic, and give one twice a year in Kutztown, teaching basic diagnostic and repair techniques for vintage radios and electronics from the 1920s to approximately the 1990s. There are some basic rules for the protection of the clinician and the 'customer'.

a) Do not take money. Do not imply Fee-for-Service. The moment money is taken, there is an expectation of professionalism and expertise that conveys a level of liability.

b) Make it clear that you are doing this as a hobby, and that you are demonstrating technique and skills that may be useful to the customer in their future endeavors along the same hobby-related lines.

c) If parts are to be replaced, those parts *must* be obtained and supplied by the customer. Pointing to possible sources is OK, as long as you are able to point to more than one.

d) If power must be applied to an item during the process, the source must be isolated, and you must explain to the customer the reasons for it, and advise him/her why this is so.

e) Kluge repairs left in place are not acceptable, full stop. For instance, if one jumps out a damaged 'fuse resistor' to determine whether replacing it is worthwhile and the customer does not have the actual replacement - you may go as far as to suggest that the item is repairable - but not here, and not without the proper parts. Remove the jumper.

Whether or not an organization has "insurance cover', should there be an unfortunate event, the individual tech involved will remain involved whether liable for actual damages or not. And whereas most individuals are sincere and mean no harm, a fire, shock or other occurrence will change even the most gentle person.

I will teach technique, and I will show individuals how to make their own basic repairs such as re-capping, cleaning and similar. I will point them to books, manuals and sources. But in a situation where one is dealing with the *GENERAL PUBLIC*, I will take nothing for granted.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

[N_Cook]

I think I'll print-off that piece and take it with me.
If I have to assess the owner as to technical/elfin-safety competance,
I'll have a pre-prepared UK mains plug and bit of lead with very
specific posed faults, and get him to point them out.

[pf...@aol.com]

On Wednesday, September 20, 2017 at 3:40:27 AM UTC-4, N_Cook wrote:

> I think I'll print-off that piece and take it with me.
> If I have to assess the owner as to technical/elfin-safety competance,
> I'll have a pre-prepared UK mains plug and bit of lead with very
> specific posed faults, and get him to point them out.

Usually, each Christmas Season, I give a couple of restored radios to my wire's church for the silent auction. Each AA5 that crosses my bench will get:

a) A polarized line-cord so that the switched conductor is Hot. This does not mitigate against a mis-wired receptacle, but it does help some.
b) 105C electrolytic caps and 600 V film caps.
c) Wiring with crumbling insulation is replaced.
d) Controls are thoroughly cleaned and checked.
e) Lamps, if any, are replaced.
f) Dials are restrung if marginal in any way

And - this note is enclosed:

This is a transformerless radio. This means that the metal parts of the radio and chassis may be at line potential (carrying dangerous amounts of current) at any time whether the radio is in operation or not. Accordingly:
• Unplug this radio when not in use.
• Handle the radio only by the knobs and case when in use. Do not
touch the chassis or screws under the case.
• Unplug the radio before servicing or changing tubes.
• Do not use this radio in a damp location or around water.
• Do not ground the chassis of this radio.
• If attaching an external antenna, do so only to the proper
connection and use insulated wire.

[Bob Engelhardt]

From: https://repaircafe.org/

"Repair Cafés are free meeting places and they’re all about repairing
things (together). In the place where a Repair Café is located, you’ll
find tools and materials to help you make any repairs you need. On
clothes, furniture, electrical appliances, bicycles, crockery,
appliances, toys, et cetera. You’ll also find expert volunteers, with
repair skills in all kinds of fields."

[Mike Coon]

In article <opu2r...@news3.newsguy.com>, BobEng...@comcast.net
says...
>
> From: https://repaircafe.org/
>
> "Repair Cafés are free meeting places and they?re all about repairing
> things (together). In the place where a Repair Café is located, you?ll

> find tools and materials to help you make any repairs you need. On
> clothes, furniture, electrical appliances, bicycles, crockery,

> appliances, toys, et cetera. You?ll also find expert volunteers, with

> repair skills in all kinds of fields."

Looks like 90+% are in the UK.

I contacted a local one and was told that they could not take donations
of tools or material because they had no-where to store them. Maybe that
does require more resources...

Mike (UK).

[N_Cook]

This uk charity accepts tools for a number of trades
http://www.tfsr.org/support/give-tools/

[pf...@aol.com]

> I contacted a local one and was told that they could not take donations
> of tools or material because they had no-where to store them. Maybe that
> does require more resources...
>
> Mike (UK).

Writing only for myself, and writing to the vintage electronics (radio/audio) hobby, repair clinics have been offered by several radio clubs for a number of years, with members and their friends, and members of other similar organizations invited. I seem to remember that other similar clubs create similar events on occasion.

I know of no other clubs (*PLEASE DO* chime in if I am wrong!) that do what I do at Kutztown where anyone may come with any relevant item for diagnosis and suggestion. I will test tubes on a high-end tester, match tubes if necessary, and even allow hands-on use of the tools with direction. Our club is attempting directly to bring younger people into the hobby, and to encourage cross-overs from audio to radio and vice-versa. This is one means of doing so.

Warning: Irrelevant Rant

There are several types of vintage electronics buyers - and Kutztown is a concentrated universe of all types:

a) The buyer-for-resale - this individual has a very nearly encyclopedic memory of recent eBay sales for any given item, and tends to hang around people unloading their goods in order to sweep up items before they are seen by anyone else. They are very often rude, very often nasty when their (usually low-ball) offer is refused, and downright livid if told to go away. My answer to these jokers is "Come back at 1:00 pm on Saturday. If the item is still here, we can talk." Few of these people have the capacity to change a light-bulb, much less do any actual repairs or restoration.

b) Collectors for themselves - these individuals also have a good idea of what things are worth, but are looking to fill a void or upgrade what they already have. Typically, they are less concerned about operational issues and more focused on appearance as most serious collectors have some repair skills. Some focus only on operational condition as they are skilled in cosmetics. But it is a mix. These people typically are polite and patient. They understand the flies-with-honey concept.

c) Newbies/General Public/Decorators, AKA "New Money" - I lump these together as they seldom "know" what they are looking for or at, tend to dicker only half-heartedly on price, and often will buy everything in sight irrespective of condition or operation. Or will pay outrageously for something that meets a conceptual need. Newbies, I tend to educate and treat gently. Similarly, the general public. I want both back - newbies as potential converts to the hobby. The General Public as permanent sources of non-competitive 'new money' to the hobby. Decorators - well. The pros (and, for the record, most are) are very up-front. They are doing a Man-Cave, Period Den or similar concept for a client, and THIS radio or THAT item would be very NEAT in THIS application. Yes, they do speak that way. But, would I be willing to.... (remove the guts from a Philco AA5 and insert a blue-tooth speaker, colored lamp, whatever). Then they offer stupid-money to do it. Those with ethics explain that they get 10% (or more) of whatever they spend in addition to their services so price is, well, you get the picture. Generally, I do as they ask. Again, I might get them back in the future. And nothing will go to waste.

The questions I am asked at least a dozen times per meet:
a) Can you still get tubes? Yes, the easiest part of the entire process. Look behind me - there are 5,000 tubes there just for these sorts of radios.
b) What about parts? Most of the parts that fail are capacitors and resistors - look around. There are no less than five vendors for these parts here today.
c) What about cosmetic items and similar parts? He sells 8 different kinds of Zenith dial pointers, makes dial covers to order. He sells 30 different types of reproduction grille cloth. She is selling knobs, dial faces and controls. He has the capacity to print dial-faces on demand....
d) Are these things safe? At least as safe as the day they were sold. In many cases, safer. And here is how you can make them even safer....

But, circling the long way back to the point - running the repair clinics puts the concept of repair and restoration right out there for people to observe as a possibility that does not involve massive expenses and rocket-science level training or skills. Whatever reduces landfill works for me.