Asbestos and Antique Radios
Caution! Some radios use sheets of friable asbestos under or above the chassis. Breathing asbestos fibers can cause various lung diseases such as asbestosis and lung cancer. Never use compressed air near asbestos. Compressed air will cause the asbestos to become airborne. If your radio contains asbestos, remove it using the following precautions.
- Pick a suitable well ventilated area to remove the asbestos (outdoors works)
- Wear a dust mask or respirator approved for protection from asbestos fibers. These are available at most home improvement stores.
- Wet the asbestos down using a spray bottle to keep the fibers from becoming airborne. Gently pry out the staples that hold the asbestos in. Pry up the edge of the asbestos and wet the material again. Your radio cabinet can stand a little water for a short period of time.
- With the asbestos fully wetted, remove it from the cabinet and place it in a plastic bag. Seal the asbestos in the bag and double bag it. Since asbestos is a hazardous material, contact your city or county waste disposal department for proper disposal procedures.
Removing the asbestos from your radio is the first choice. However, if you do not want to remove the asbestos, you can encapsulate the hazardous material. The purpose of encapsulating the asbestos is to prevent any possibility of the fibers becoming airborne. You can seal the asbestos using several coats of paint or varnish.
©1998 Stan Watkins