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Old 24th May 2021, 10:27 pm   #1
shadoman
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Default Rexine for Hacker Herald VHF case.

Hi
I need some Red Rexine or equivalent to finish a hacker vhf herald. Im not sure where to get some.Can someone tell me where to get some
Thanks
Terry
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Old 25th May 2021, 11:31 am   #2
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Default Re: Rexine for Hacker Herald VHF case.

Or equivalent? There are firms on-line selling leather in all sorts of colours and thicknesses. It's more robust than rexine and would take your herald rather up-market!

I've a blue-grey Sovereign in the to do pile and the rexine is hard to find, so I've been wondering.

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Old 25th May 2021, 12:53 pm   #3
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Default Re: Rexine for Hacker Herald VHF case.

Try searching on 'leatherette' and you might find something suitable. Certainly penty of colours and finishes to choose from.

Alan
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Old 25th May 2021, 3:51 pm   #4
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Default Re: Rexine for Hacker Herald VHF case.

Not wishing to pollute the thread... but I have the other half of the problem.

A Sovereign I where the thin foam plastic under said rexine has turned to dust.

Anyone aware of a (reasonably priced) source of a suitable replacement?
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Old 25th May 2021, 5:15 pm   #5
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Default Re: Rexine for Hacker Herald VHF case.

Take a look at book binding suppliers, very good selection of cloth backed materials.
 
Old 25th May 2021, 6:05 pm   #6
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Default Re: Rexine for Hacker Herald VHF case.

For the foam, this is the best stuff I've found: https://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/product/1562/scrim-foam

Regarding the Rexine, I'm not sure that's what Hacker used originally. In terms of quality, it's much better than the Rexine that you find on Roberts radios from the same era. Hacker described it as "leathercloth" in their brochures. But then, "Rexine" is a trademark that gets used generically, and means different things to different people.

I reckon Ratchford are your best bet: https://ratchford.co.uk/product-cate.../leathercloth/

I don't know if they still do, but about 10-11 years back they sent me a small sample pack. Comparing it to the stuff Hacker used, it's not as thick, and doesn't feel as strong, but it looks pretty good.

While I've successfully re-foamed Hackers, I've yet to build up the courage (and find the time!) to try to re-cover one with new material. I'm sure it'll be pretty easy until you get to the corners With that in mind, I suspect that thinner material will be easier.
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Old 25th May 2021, 6:12 pm   #7
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Default Re: Rexine for Hacker Herald VHF case.

On a couple of Hacker restorations i have been able to carefully peel back the Rexine, remove the dusty residue of the foam and reattach the Rexine with contact adhesive to the cabinet after giving it a good tidy up.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nanozeugma View Post
Not wishing to pollute the thread... but I have the other half of the problem.

A Sovereign I where the thin foam plastic under said rexine has turned to dust.

Anyone aware of a (reasonably priced) source of a suitable replacement?
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Old 26th May 2021, 2:50 pm   #8
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Default Re: Rexine for Hacker Herald VHF case.

Quote:
Originally Posted by mhennessy View Post
For the foam, this is the best stuff I've found: https://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/product/1562/scrim-foam

Regarding the Rexine, I'm not sure that's what Hacker used originally. In terms of quality, it's much better than the Rexine that you find on Roberts radios from the same era. Hacker described it as "leathercloth" in their brochures. But then, "Rexine" is a trademark that gets used generically, and means different things to different people.

I reckon Ratchford are your best bet: https://ratchford.co.uk/product-cate.../leathercloth/

I don't know if they still do, but about 10-11 years back they sent me a small sample pack. Comparing it to the stuff Hacker used, it's not as thick, and doesn't feel as strong, but it looks pretty good.

While I've successfully re-foamed Hackers, I've yet to build up the courage (and find the time!) to try to re-cover one with new material. I'm sure it'll be pretty easy until you get to the corners With that in mind, I suspect that thinner material will be easier.
Thanks for the link to the foam supplier, all looked good until it came to delivery charges... Material £4.60, Delivery (standard) £9.60! I wonder how on earch they can justify that outrageous sum?
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Old 26th May 2021, 2:59 pm   #9
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Default Re: Rexine for Hacker Herald VHF case.

For foam try local car trimmers or furniture reupholsters.
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Old 26th May 2021, 3:21 pm   #10
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Default Re: Rexine for Hacker Herald VHF case.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nanozeugma View Post
Thanks for the link to the foam supplier, all looked good until it came to delivery charges... Material £4.60, Delivery (standard) £9.60! I wonder how on earch they can justify that outrageous sum?
When I ordered mine, it came on a roll - it's 54" wide, and I assume they didn't want to fold it up in case it got creased, etc.

Checking the invoice, delivery was £9.60, but that was back in 2010, so at least it's not gone up over the last 11 years. Nor has the product price, incidently. I think that's pretty good given all that's happened in the world since then

Personally, I didn't think it was unreasonable given that a courier was needed to get the roll to me, and paying that got me a life-time supply of foam for my Hacker collection. And you have to put some sort of value on your time - given that it takes several hours to re-foam a set, I'm not going to worry about a tenner for materials delivery.

I agree that it probably seems steep if you only have one or two sets to do. But supposing I offer to send you a small patch - sufficient to do a couple of sets - I'd have to buy an A4 envelope and walk to the post office to send it as a large letter at £1.29. I'd want a fiver for that at least, but that wouldn't even pay me minimum wage to cover my time. Offer me a tenner and I'll think about it

I went to Woolies after a recommendation from a friend that builds cars. That was after months of trying my luck in various markets and local shops (all gone now, sadly) and finding foam that was too thick (6mm was the thinnest I could find, and my VHF Herald looks rather "bloated" as a result!) or already crumbling after years of sitting around.

They are a relatively small company, so probably don't have framework agreements with couriers like RS and Farnell do. Personally, I was happy to support a small UK company rather than swell the profits of eBay and Amazon.

No connection with the company, apart from this one purchase back in 2010.
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Old 26th May 2021, 4:24 pm   #11
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Default Re: Rexine for Hacker Herald VHF case.

Cheap foam backed ironing board covers work well too. I've restuffed quite a few Hackers now, always hours of fun to be had trying to unstick 50 year old Evostik.

Andrew
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Old 28th May 2021, 12:22 pm   #12
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Default Re: Rexine for Hacker Herald VHF case.

I have obtained Rexine from Retrospecialist.co.uk, always received a good service.
John
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Old 28th May 2021, 5:53 pm   #13
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Default Re: Rexine for Hacker Herald VHF case.

for the foam replacement i used laminate flooring underlay its the very thin version,about 1mm thick and is a sort of polystyrene type of thing,ive used it and it works well
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Old 3rd Jun 2021, 2:01 pm   #14
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Default Re: Rexine for Hacker Herald VHF case.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Viscount View Post
for the foam replacement i used laminate flooring underlay its the very thin version,about 1mm thick and is a sort of polystyrene type of thing,ive used it and it works well
Thank you for that, my daughter has just had a floor laminate boarded, she may even have some of the underlay left over. I hadn't considered that to be honest, as it didn't suggest itself as being sufficiently "squidgy" if you know what I mean.
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Old 4th Jun 2021, 12:39 pm   #15
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Default Re: Rexine for Hacker Herald VHF case.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nanozeugma View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Viscount View Post
for the foam replacement i used laminate flooring underlay its the very thin version,about 1mm thick and is a sort of polystyrene type of thing,ive used it and it works well
Thank you for that, my daughter has just had a floor laminate boarded, she may even have some of the underlay left over. I hadn't considered that to be honest, as it didn't suggest itself as being sufficiently "squidgy" if you know what I mean.
ive used it on a hacker cabinet with great success,as i said previously its the very thin stuff(you prob know what i mean,)easy to cut to size,it is slightly less soft to the touch than the original but still looks great ,i have some here should you need it
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