Help, totally trashed s.e.x top plate, where to get replacement?

[Jim R.]

Yes, all that experimenting with too much paint has left the top plate so that is is basically unrepairable from scratches, etc,, including some I put in it when trying to straighten the plate out after I accidentally dropped it.  I'd like to start from scratch, but I'm guessing BH won't sell the bare plate, so I'm wondering if anybody has an FPE file for it?

Yesterday was not my best day as I also trashed a $100 TKD pot in the process.  Ouch!

Some days it would pay to just listen to equipment instead o trying to build it...

-- Jim

[Grainger49]

I feel your pain.  There are days I would have been better off staying in bed.

If I were you I would call Eileen.

[JC]

I'll second what Grainger says:  If I were you, I would contact Eileen.  You might not be able to get the power transformer a la carte, but the plate might not be too much to hope for.

Myself, I usually drop the wood base during the finishing process!  Generally after the last clear coat has gone on!

[Jim R.]

Oh, an excuse to call Eileen -- too bad :-).

I've been lucky (so far) with the woodwork portion.  Of course I'll now have to be doubly careful with the base I'm doing for the Stereomour -- using some maple radius stock with an inlaid walnut band and the whole thing in a waterfall grain.  Still don't know if I'll use my ol' fave -- General Finishes Seal-a-Cell followed by Arm-r-Seal top coats, or hand-rubbed tung oil.  With all the projects I have on tap, it's now turning into my annual race with the weather gods to see if I can get all the woodwork/finishing work done.

-- Jim

[Doc B.]

If we have them in stock, no problem, we can sell you a replacement plate. Eileen is the keeper of inventory knowledge so the best bet is to give her a call 360-697-1936.

[Jim R.]

Doc,

Thanks, that's great news.  I'll call her tomorrow -- got a HOA board meeting tonight to put together a budget incorporating our recent reserve analysis and my head is swimming in numbers and options and I have to have this done for the meeting in a few hours.

-- Jim

[ssssly]

Could also brush it or turn it. The metal the top plates are made of is pretty workable. I did a turned top for my SEX after I put a decent scratch on it. http://www.bottlehead.com/smf/index.php/topic,922.0.html

Did it by hand and I think it came out pretty nice.

Did some experiments with brushing out scratches on the underside and found that starting with 320 grit will pretty much get rid of anything.

Going to try out a satin hammered look on my next project.

[Jim R.]

Thanks, sly, but I'm totally blind and it is just not the kind of thing I trust myself to do a nice, even job with, and I'm also pretty driven to do as nice of a job as I possibly can.

I may leave the new plate the grained aluminum with a protective clear coat, but I never really know these things until I am ready to do something and then I just do it, so I could easily decide to paint it on the day I go to work on it, but I still think the aluminum will look decent with the plyboo box and the colors I've already painted the transformers.

If I had access to a machine shop, I'd almost consider making a plate of copper plate, but I also want to get this done before the next century, and the copper would not work so well with the existing paint.

So, why does a blind guy care so much about how his gear looks?  Not sure I can really answer that except that is how I've always done things and I see no need to change now, and to me the final appearance is just as rewarding a proud papa experience as the sonics.

-- Jim

[Jim R.]

I talked to Eileen today and a new top plate, badge, and long overdue BH cap are on the way.  As usual, just the best group of folks to deal with!

-- Jim