6 replies to this topic

[Rocco P]

I'd like to tap into the collective wisdom of the community about the rebuilding of a damaged section lip.
I have a black vacumatic whose section, made of black celluloid I assume, is damaged: there's a good chunk missing on the exterior part of the lip.

How should I go about rebuilding the lip: epoxy mixed with something which would color it black? Which products could I use? Do I need to clean the 'wound' first, by removing more material?

Thanks for any assistance.

[FarmBoy]

I'd be inclined to make a celluloid paste from a matching donor section and over time add material into the chip. This is a long and slow process. If it is celluloid add some camphor to the paste.

[Hirsch]

The section is almost certainly hard rubber, not celluloid. Best practice would be to find a replacement section, if possible. You can try some sort of repair to the lip, assuming the section is functionally intact, but IMO it would probably not be worth the effort involved.

[Rocco P]

Thanks for your input.
I have a replacement section that needs only to be very slightly turned down to be a good match, but I'd like to try a repair nonetheless. One day the supply of original parts will dwindle down to nothing

[Makas]

Hello
I would go with FarmBoy! I don't think the vac ever had a rubber section but I could be wrong. One other option is if you have a lathe just turn the lip down. It won't be perfect but it will work. I say give it a shot however you want to if you have the backup section incase it won't work or you just don't want to hold off long enough to build it up. Just an FYI I did have one of the sections burst into flames on me a when I first started to repair them so that one wasn't rubber.
Good luck

[Rocco P]

I've gathered enough black celluloid dust through the sacrifice of a blind cap from my parts bin and I've begun to rebuild the lip. Time will tell whether it'll hold or not.

[David Nishimura]

Hirsch, USA-made Vacs normally had celluloid sections, usually with a thin hard rubber liner. Many Canadian Vacs did have BHR sections.