Asbestos in a Zenith C845? Other dangers?

[Mark W.]

asbestoes is only dangerous if inhaled and only if it's in a dust like form. I have hard sheets of asbestoes I used to shield things during heat treatment.

The problem comes from inhaling a BUNCH of the fibers which are a fish hook shape and after many many many years they work their way through the lungs to irritate the Plura covering the lungs this then can lead to a type of cancer. But the tiny amount of expose to this you might get cleaning up a Radio or TV wouldn't be a problem.

My dad used to bitch about how they removed the solid asbestoes insulation from schools and such since in that form the asbestoes was pretty much harmless. But once torn all apart and spread all over the place the risk increased greatly.

I have never heard of a single teacher that has had either form of asbestoes caused cancer.

MY dad who worked in the heating and HVAC industry died from Mesothelioma the worst form of asbestoes caused cancer in 2003 his exposure was to bags of powdered asbestoes he mixed with his hands into cement to be smeared onto steam pipes. His exposure ended in about 1964.

The only other person I know of who has contracted a form of asbestoes cancer is the mechanic who worked on the rigs at my dads sheet metal shop his exposure was from 30+ years of doing brake jobs before the industry finally let people know that was a risk.

if you want to know more just google it there's 1/2 million pages of stuff on asbestoes cancer. Much of it alarmest.

I won't go into the major companies involved in asbestoes removal being connected with the mob.




OH and by the way to the best of my limited knowledge asbestoes does not cause you to get sick it either causes one of the two forms of cancer or doesn't.

[radio63]

My opinion is that the risk from asbestos in radio cabinets is insignificant. I have worked on a number of sets that had asbestos sheets in them. I am careful to not disturb the sheets any more than I have to. But I don't sweat them being there at all. If you took the sheets, removed them, crumpled them up and inhaled the dust, that would be dangerous. But to just casually come in contact with them occasionally while servicing an old set is overreacting as far as I'm concerned.

Just be prudent. Don't disturb the asbestos any more than you have to, work in a well ventilated area, wash you hands afterward, and utilize the same caution you would while repairng or restoring the set you are working on. If you are interested in tossing the set, why don't you offer it here on these forums and I'm sure someone would take it off your hands. You are not putting anyone at risk with this hobby unless you want to stick your hand into a live B+ circuit while the power is applied. Then all bets are off. Good luck.

Gilbert

[drh4683]

What you described is not asbestos. That little square is just a black foam pad. Its placed as an isolation/dampener to prevent vibration between the chassis and cabinet, as the C845 is a "hi fi" radio and puts out the sound. the bottom of the chassis has a metal plate cover which can vibrate with excessive bass. This pad prevents that. Actually, Im surprized it still flexible. Most of the time those dry out rock hard.

Generally, asbestos is found in the top of the cabinet on the old radios above the audio output tube. Usually a sheet, very thin, about 1/16" and very fiberous, and whitish/grey in color. Sometimes, it can be corrugated sheet too.

Since it was brought up, I to had an asbestos fear as a kid, but then realized it is not hazardous if its non-friable. So if you dont go crazy shreading it and breathing it, its fine. It is however the best dang insulator ever and is chemically resistant to practically everything. Johns Mannville was a major manufacturer of asbestos related products, if not all of it. They were based in Waukegan, IL as was the processing plant. peices of asbestos wash up on the beachs in Waukegan and Zion and down to the Oak street Beach in Chicago all the time. Supposedly alot of asbestos debris made its way into lake michigan from JM. Thats another story.....

Asbestos is a natural element. Ive heard the ingorant old saying "If its from the Earth, it can't hurt you"........I think not!