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Originally Posted by jshorva65
What I typically do is add some safety features and as much preventive recapping as my clients are willing to pay for, which tends to vary somewhat. For items in my private collection, I add safety devices and perform needed repairs first, then recap as preventive maintenance as time permits.
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John,
I have to disagree with you on both counts, except the safety issues. When I get a request for restoration on any piece of equipment, the first thing I tell the owner is that I will only do a "restoration", complete replacement of all caps, resistors that are more than 20% out of tolerance, and any piece that looks or smells like it has been over stressed. I won't do a "just make it play" repair, yes it is more expensive, but I really don't want to see the piece again. I can count on one hand the number of sets that have come back to be worked on again, and they are usually due to owner "issues", or because I didn't follow my own rules and decided to cut corners and leave a part in that "seemed" to be good. This is especially important with my customers who are dealers and are selling the set to the general public.
The items in my own collection get a full restoration when I have the set opened up the first time, again I don't want to go back into the set again.
As John F. pointed out there are many other parts in the set that can look, smell, or feel OK when you are doing the original work, but can and probably will fail at some point due to age and other issues that can't be controlled, i.e. #1 failure after the fact = tubes.
BTW, I have done a few restorations where everything except the transformers, coils, tube sockets, and parts unique to the set were replaced. Was it worth it? I really don't know, but the customer was happy (except maybe for the dent in his wallet) and I like to believe he has a set that works as good as new and it will continue to work that way for another 50-60 years.
Chuck