I want to re-cap an old tube type shortwave radio. I dont mind using plastic coated caps to replace the old paper-wax ones in the circuit. (Meaning the smallish ones, such as .05 .02 .001, etc.)
However, it seems that no one sells the multi-part electrolytic capacitors anymore. Particularly the ones on aluminum containers that were mounted on the chassis. Those used to be very common on all old TVs, radios, and other stuff. Normally, they came with 2, 3, or 4, caps inside one container. (I never saw more than 4). Something like 50mf
450v 30mf 300v 10mf 150v was common. And not only the aluminum chassis mounted ones, but many of the old (American Five) sets (5 tubes) had a wax coated multi-part electrolytic capacitor, which went below the chassis and was mounted by a strap around the cap body, and had a black wire (GND), and a different color wire for each internal cap.I like to restore this stuff to look original, as well as having to consider that some of these devices dont have much spare space under the chassis, to add individual caps.
I have checked both real stores and online vendors and no one seems to sell these multi-part electrolytic capacitors anymore. Yes, I did run across a few "OLD STOCK" caps, but I would assume that they deteriorate almost as much as those inside a circuit, from aging. So, I'll avoid them.
Does anyone know of any source for the multi-part electrolytic capacitors which are still made to fit these vintage tube devices?
One other thing. I am not finding any 50-50 or 60-40 lead tin rosin core solder anymore. At least not in the stores. I do not plan to serve anyone dinner on the underside of a chassis, so I'm not worried about getting lead poisoning. But apparently the government must think we eat off of our electronics and have banned the old lead based solder.
Since I will be removing old caps, soldered with lead-tin solder, shouldn't I be using lead-tin solder to replace the parts? Or will the new solder (whatever it's made of), mix properly with the old lead based stuff? (I dont want to create some sort of dialectric corrosion issues). [Even with a desoldering bulb and wicking, not 100% of the lead is ever removed]. Not to mention that I have heard that some (or all) of these new solders require a lot more heat, which can damage the components while soldering.
I have not worked on tube equipment in years, and I am looking forward to this project. But things sure have changed since the time I played around with these radios years ago (1960s - 70s). I gave up my electronics hobby when semiconductors took over, because they are just not as much fun to work on and too difficult to repair. Maybe working on some tube equipment will make me feel young again. :)