Re: Twiddlesticks

On 6/18/2025 1:04 PM, Cursitor Doom wrote:

Gentlemen,
 Many of us are familiar with the all-too-common problem of reciever
re-alignment. Dealing the vintage radios with fragile ferite cores in
their IF stages is unavoidable and can prove to be a major PITA. The
cores are brittle and eager to shatter at anything much above mm/mg
torque levels. The key is to use a tool which is not only non-metallic
but also a perfect fit for the slot it must engage with in the top of
the core. Given the range of sizes one encounters in this concern,
it's often necessary to 'roll your own' tool. Well I have a suggestion
to make. Wood makes the best tool for this job and opinions vary as to
which particular wood is ideally suited to this task. Lemon and orange
are often cited. But they're expensive and hard to source typically.
However, I've found a marvellous alternative: yellow heart. I don't
know what the technical name is for this wood, but that's what it's
informally called. It's cheaper and more readily obtainable than
orange or lemon and AFAIC, *better* than either with it's incredibly
fine grain and viceral hardness. It files and sands readily and when
dipped in cellulose sealer, will not fray in use.
Just thought I'd share that with you guys.
 CD.

In my high school days working in a TV repair shop,
we called them diddle sticks.  Still available on ebay
and other sites. Google gc 8454.  They're plastic, assorted
sizes, and they last forever if not abused.
Ed