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Old 21st Oct 2021, 3:33 pm   #1
BrianAllen
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Default You ruined my day Hermes. Now Seeking Bakelite Wizard.

I was really looking forward to receiving the Sangamo Weston S68 Three Range Voltmeter recently offered for sale on here and was absolutely shattered when I unwrapped the parcel. A large crack to the corner of the lid and a chip out of the opposite corner.

This vintage meter has survived 60 years plus with no damage and along come Hermes and they have smashed the lid in a few days; thank you Hermes.

I will try and get a replacement lid (bit of a dreamer aren't I)!!

Anyway, repairs will be carried out, so can anyone give me some good tips for repairing cracks and chips to Bakelite please.

Regards, Brian, still absolutely fuming.
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Old 21st Oct 2021, 3:43 pm   #2
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Default Re: You ruined my day Hermes. Now Seeking Bakelite Wizard.

I doubt that the courier firm involved are any worse than the others, it is a competitive market largely driven by price and not by quality.

Sorry to hear of hear of your loss and best of luck with repairs.
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Old 21st Oct 2021, 3:46 pm   #3
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Default Re: You ruined my day Hermes. Now Seeking Bakelite Wizard.

I'm not sure you can only blame Hermes, it looks like it was packed too tightly in the cardboard box with no thought for the inevitable bangs in transit.

Some folk just don't know how to pack things!

Andy
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Old 21st Oct 2021, 3:48 pm   #4
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Default Re: You ruined my day Hermes. Now Seeking Bakelite Wizard.

Having experienced this phenomena myself you have my sympathies for what they are worth, however, there are numerous threads on this forum regarding bakelite repairs. Well worth a read through as without them I would never have attempted the repair of my thoroughly smashed up Ultra 930 set. Do let us all know how you get on, best of luck.
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Old 21st Oct 2021, 3:51 pm   #5
BrianAllen
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Default Re: You ruined my day Hermes. Now Seeking Bakelite Wizard.

Thank you for your support and will look up how to repair.

Brian
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Old 21st Oct 2021, 4:04 pm   #6
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Default Re: You ruined my day Hermes. Now Seeking Bakelite Wizard.

Quote:
Originally Posted by M0FYA Andy View Post
I'm not sure you can only blame Hermes, it looks like it was packed too tightly in the cardboard box with no thought for the inevitable bangs in transit.

Some folk just don't know how to pack things!

Andy
Seconded. Unless of course it was double boxed.
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Old 21st Oct 2021, 4:17 pm   #7
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Default Re: You ruined my day Hermes. Now Seeking Bakelite Wizard.

I agree with Andy, I received a Pam radio that was only packed properly on 3 sides.

Not sure who the carrier was but certainly not their fault.
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Old 21st Oct 2021, 4:31 pm   #8
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Default Re: You ruined my day Hermes. Now Seeking Bakelite Wizard.

Embrace it. Kintsugi will give you great satisfaction and a unique instrument. The next person to own it will cherish it.
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Old 21st Oct 2021, 4:37 pm   #9
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Default Re: You ruined my day Hermes. Now Seeking Bakelite Wizard.

Good news, you have all the bits and it is recently broken, the best way to fix this is slow set (precision) Araldite.

Remove all the screwed on parts you can and practice fitting together. Mix some Araldite very well and put a small amount on one side of the crack, push the other bit in well. Tape can be used to hold the parts together but gravity is the best if you can hold the pieces in the right orientation (see practice above). Keep the surplus mixed Araldite to hand and after a few hours when it has gone quite firm you can then trim the excess from the joins using a razor blade. After another 24 hours or more all will be well.

Patience is an essential virtue here, do one join at a time.
 
Old 21st Oct 2021, 4:41 pm   #10
BrianAllen
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Default Re: You ruined my day Hermes. Now Seeking Bakelite Wizard.

Thank you all.

Brian
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Old 21st Oct 2021, 5:26 pm   #11
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Default Re: You ruined my day Hermes. Now Seeking Bakelite Wizard.

Quote:
Regards, Brian, still absolutely fuming.
I would be too, wait a bit, another advantage of slow set Araldite is that the slow process saves one from rushing a job. And it sticks better, a chap at work says "longer is stronger", I agree.
 
Old 21st Oct 2021, 5:55 pm   #12
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Default Re: You ruined my day Hermes. Now Seeking Bakelite Wizard.

Totally agree, the 14 hour (?) Araldite is the way to go for these incidents where the two parts have totally broken apart rather than just cracked. (it's in blue/black/white packaging)

As far as repairing chips goes- wait for the crack repairs to settle, then you could experiment with test mixes of appropriately coloured paint and araldite. Suggest avoid water based acrylic paint as i found this can massively extend the curing time.
Araldite is sandable, which should help.

You are dealing with fresh breaks here, so i'm optimistic the result will be 'clean' looking.
My last suggestion is leave everything aside for a day and sup a bottle of wine tonight (each to his own..!)

Dave
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Old 21st Oct 2021, 6:24 pm   #13
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Default Re: You ruined my day Hermes. Now Seeking Bakelite Wizard.

Quote:
Originally Posted by M0FYA Andy View Post
I'm not sure you can only blame Hermes, it looks like it was packed too tightly in the cardboard box with no thought for the inevitable bangs in transit.

Some folk just don't know how to pack things!

Andy
Exactly - bad packing not a bad courier

When I pack something up make sure Im happy dropping it 5ft on to a concrete floor

Some vendors/shippers seem to have no idea

Fred
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Old 21st Oct 2021, 6:27 pm   #14
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Default Re: You ruined my day Hermes. Now Seeking Bakelite Wizard.

My experience suggests that we have to assume the package will be thrown out of the back of the van on to concrete. If you’re lucky, the van will have stopped.

In America, it’s similar, but assume the throwing is out of the back of an aircraft. If you’re lucky, the aircraft will still be on the runway.

Martin
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Old 21st Oct 2021, 6:51 pm   #15
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Default Re: You ruined my day Hermes. Now Seeking Bakelite Wizard.

The area around the hingle is so vulnerable it would have been better if the lid had
been detached and wrapped separately.
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Old 21st Oct 2021, 7:09 pm   #16
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Default Re: You ruined my day Hermes. Now Seeking Bakelite Wizard.

In fairness I wouldn't be so quick to blame Hermes. Looking at that packaging it's wholly inadequate. It needs at least three inches of firm packing all around the item. I have packed and received many hundreds of items, many of them being fragile as in vintage radios, and have not experienced a problem sending with Hermes. Because they're cheap, I think they sometimes attract people who either can't be bothered or just don't consider how necessary it is to pack an item with adequate protection against crushing or dropping. All couriers' employees include individuals who throw stuff about, sad but true. My bee in my bonnet is inadequate packing, not this or that courier. Anyway, best of luck repairing the set.
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Old 21st Oct 2021, 8:16 pm   #17
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Default Re: You ruined my day Hermes. Now Seeking Bakelite Wizard.

Another vote for traditional Araldite.
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Old 21st Oct 2021, 9:05 pm   #18
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Default Re: You ruined my day Hermes. Now Seeking Bakelite Wizard.

Even if blame was placed upon Hermes, the packing is enadequate.
The rules are to place at least two inches of packing all around anything being sent.
As an aside, Hermes do not cover any item electrical, so even if they lost it in transit, they have no come back!
A friend of mine, a year or so ago, sent a mixing desk that he sold to the new owner.
The parcel was tracked and never got delivered.
The tracking stopped at the main hub in the Midlands and as they do not cover electrical goods, would not accept any responsibility.
Great isn't it.
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Old 21st Oct 2021, 9:26 pm   #19
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Default Re: You ruined my day Hermes. Now Seeking Bakelite Wizard.

Amazing how some of you can claim bad packaging from just
that one photo which doesn't show the complete package.

Suggest you you don't assume things you can't see.



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Old 21st Oct 2021, 9:43 pm   #20
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Default Re: You ruined my day Hermes. Now Seeking Bakelite Wizard.

When packing you have to consider what will happen to the contents of the package when dropped or thrown by someone standing on the tail lift of a truck at its full height. I was once sent a bakelite radio packed in nothing more than a black bin liner, with inevitable consequences. I have also had things arrive undamaged due only to good luck rather than good packaging.
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