rusty transformers a good thing

[jamme61]

just read this article says rust is good on the transformers?
http://www.mercurymagnetics.com/pages/n ... mernik.pdf

I read in one of the weber books that its not good - something about eddy currents from the rust causing excessive heat. Who to believe?

[Reeltarded]

I don't really get the fear that is MM transformer company. I use anything else and I don't read anything they say. They don't have ny new information, just folk stories about shit you hear.

[matt h]

(deleted)

[Reeltarded]

Without anything more than experience I will agree that everything sounds best in it's deepest inefficiency, and then it blows the eff up.

[Leo_Gnardo]

I
They tout rust as an excellent insulator--and I'm left wondering if that's the reason, that's the real reason, that the rusty transformers "didn't run as hot"-- internally, maybe they did. Though with rust being a better insulator, that'd also imply, they wouldn't cool as well.

There's no properly described methodology and there's so much non-science in this article that... honestly, I don't trust their observations, let alone their explanations. They didn't connect a load to the transformers, yet talk about them drawing current?

MM? Weber? Touting rusty transformers? Look out world, soon they will be trying to sell them to us, and at a boosted price no doubt. "Look kids, authentic rust, only 150% extra!"

Real word on rust: leave it alone. Don't try to scrub it off with sandpaper or wire-wheel or whatever. If you must do something, lacquer just to hold it in place so it won't be shedding all over. Mostly, leave it alone and don't worry. And whatever you do, refuse to pay extra for "authentic collector item rust."

[cbass]

Watch out for tone sucking. Glad to see I'm not missing anything by letting my VG subscription run out

[Stevem]

When I get a amp in with rust on any of the transformers I wipe them off with some wax and grease remover and then touch up the rust with automotive rust to primer converter and once that cures apply a new coat of black gloss enamel paint.

[Blackburn]

It's not the first (Or last) thing MM has claimed that seems like outright fallacy. I really like their bit about that ugly ass power cable they sell because it has better tone. And apparently, the Faraday shield around a PT has no effect. Guess who claims that. Yeah, no joke.

[vibratoking]

I tried that rust converter stuff even though it sounded to good to be true. I thought maybe some chemist was on to something. It turned the non-rusted portions into a tacky rusted mess. Never again...

[Stevem]

Well there are many different brands of the stuff and when you only use it on rust and not good metal then all is well!

[Phil_S]

I'm no expert on this, so I probably shouldn't comment. But I can't help myself! If you've got the kind of rust in that article, I don't see where a light wire brushing and a vacuum cleaner assist to remove some of the surface rust is a problem, particularly if you don't want it flaking off. I don't think you want to put elbow grease into it and polish it. If it really bothers you, mask any parts you want as-is and spray it with transformer varnish. That should contain the rust and isn't likely to do any harm.

By transformer varnish, I mean something like Sprayon S00600 http://www.zoro.com/i/G2665853/?utm_sou ... oCAjTw_wcB , which is a high-temp varnish meant for transformers. You do not want to use ordinary "low temp" consumer grade products.

[ToneMerc]

I'm no expert on this, so I probably shouldn't comment. But I can't help myself! If you've got the kind of rust in that article, I don't see where a light wire brushing and a vacuum cleaner assist to remove some of the surface rust is a problem, particularly if you don't want it flaking off. I don't think you want to put elbow grease into it and polish it. If it really bothers you, mask any parts you want as-is and spray it with transformer varnish. That should contain the rust and isn't likely to do any harm.

By transformer varnish, I mean something like Sprayon S00600 http://www.zoro.com/i/G2665853/?utm_sou ... oCAjTw_wcB , which is a high-temp varnish meant for transformers. You do not want to use ordinary "low temp" consumer grade products.

Mercury makes a decent enough transformer so that they don't have to resort to all the marketing fluff, but I guess some of it is to catch the fisherman verses the fish.

Phil, S00600 is the electric insulating varnish I use, it's dielectric strength is 2200 VPM. I usually will spray the paper wound open frame transformers with a thin coat and if I'm inclined the vintage one's with rust if its real bad. I never put too much thought into the rust, one way or the other.

TM

[matt h]

(deleted)

[Reeltarded]

Larry mentioned Ospho ^^ I think...

I use that in tiny amounts with detail brushes on all kinds of lil bits. If you don't bathe the transformer it might work pretty good. It kept me rolling in pre galvanized euro cars for 30 years too. lol

[Phil_S]

...And those conductive, magnetic, abrasive babies, working their way in, say, into your speaker's voice coil in a combo amp, or in a head shell...

A good reason to encapsulate them somehow. Varnish.

I have used a few recycled transformers with light exterior rust and without treatment. Just a little wipe down to get the powdery stuff. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. Heavy, flaky rust, probably wouldn't use it.