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I wish I could find the pictures I have of some old caps I took apart.
When I say rotted I mean exactly that, if you unroll the foil there are areas where the aluminum has been eaten away, with gaps in the foil, there are often lumps from the crystals that have formed that leave dents on the paper insulator, I would guess it's these dents, if they get bad enough, that press through the insulator and cause shorts. I have seen several caps where the connecting leads between the foil and the lugs have corroded completely in two causing an open.
And of course I have opened some 40's caps up to find they are still wet and pristine inside, but that is the exception. I imagine the type of storage and the length of time they have been inactive plays a part.
I'm not trying to be contrary, it's an interesting project to try minimal repairs, but I think it is a gamble that they will continue to work, not a big deal since this is a hobby and if it craps out it's not a big issue.
I'm an amateur hobbyist, so it's usually easier for me to just change them and be done with it rather than wonder if that odd little problem I'm having is being caused by an old capacitor.
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