Tips and Jottings

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 27, 17 January 1930, Page 27

Tips and Jottings

_ A ‘Simple Storage System. HILE many experimenters. us@ _ Classified boxes and sets of draws ers to stoge their nuts, screws, and tere minals, comparatively few have any convenient system of storage for large parts. Every experimenter sooner or later accumulates quite a collection of such objects as filament resistances, fixed resisters, valve sockets, plug-in coils, and the like, which are generally pushed into a large drawer and jumbled about indiscriminately. : A much better plan is to obtain a number of cardboard boxes measuring about 12in, long (open boot boxes serve excelleutly), and to lay them side by side under the largest table in the room. One box can be kept for filament resistances, another for valve sockets, the’ third for coil sockets; a fourth (the largest box available) for plug-in coils, and so on. More delicate components, such as variable condensers (the plates of which are very easily bent), are better kept on shelves side by side. Valves are best kept in eggstands, into which they fit excellently. If a nest of small drawers is available (excel lent little sets can be obtained at any toolship) it is best. used for fixed cone densers, grid leaks, pnd ‘small components which are frequently needed for interchange purposes. Re-Sensitising Crystals. RYSTALS may usually be re-sensie tised by giving them a bath in a saturated solution of alum. The crystal should be placed in this solution and left for from 10 to 20 minutes. Now lift out with a pair of tweezers (on no account: using your fingers) and- put to dry in some cool, dry position. When. completely dry the erystal will have turned dull where previously it was bright. This is no deterrent, as it is only athin layer of alum which hag now covered the crystal surface. The crystal can now be used and will be found to be re-sensitised.