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Fender Tweeds and asbestos

Michael Minnis

Active member
Joined
Feb 12, 2004
Messages
1,597
Hey, guys. Just wondering if anyone worries about having old tweed amps with the asbestos back panel? I've done some research online. Many say as long as it's untouched it's not a problem. Those of you with tweeds, do you not worry about it? Thanks.
 

mingus

Active member
Joined
Apr 3, 2006
Messages
4,243
Hey, guys. Just wondering if anyone worries about having old tweed amps with the asbestos back panel? I've done some research online. Many say as long as it's untouched it's not a problem. Those of you with tweeds, do you not worry about it? Thanks.

I don't worry about it.
 

Brown Recluse

Active member
Joined
Aug 11, 2006
Messages
1,108
I wouldn't worry about it either. If you are really concerned about it, you could clear coat it with something to encapsulate the asbestos fibers.
 

B Ingram

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Joined
Jan 3, 2016
Messages
730
... Just wondering if anyone worries about having old tweed amps with the asbestos back panel? I've done some research online. ...

Then your research probably also said asbestos is dangerous if you create dust, release fibers from the material. In other words, don't cause it to be airborne.

In a Fender amp, the asbestos sheeting is chassis-enclosed. You're not installing it or handling it, so unlikely to ever do something which would release fibers/dust. I never worried about it when I had old tweeds, but I did respect it & never messed with it.
 

jrock1

Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2004
Messages
438
I clear-coated all of mine with some spray I can't remember the name of at the moment.
 

66SuperTremMKIV

New member
Joined
Oct 4, 2015
Messages
405
I simply took the back panel off all mine and wrapped / taped them and stored away. Play at home so backless is no problem.
 

Xpensive Wino

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Joined
Nov 3, 2012
Messages
6,079
You should all send your tweeds to me for proper asbestos mitigation. :spabout
 

PaulD

Active member
Joined
Jun 25, 2007
Messages
673
I simply took the back panel off all mine and wrapped / taped them and stored away. Play at home so backless is no problem.

Good advice. I appreciate it.

Hardly good advice when there is both mains AC voltage and high voltage DC present inside the chassis. When using it without the back on it is only a matter of time before somebody inadvertently comes in to contact with that and gets a shock regardless of how careful you might think you are being. There are lethal voltages present there even when the amplifier is switched off and unplugged from the mains, the back panel is there for a very good reason!

As others have said there is only any hazard if the asbestos is damaged or disturbed and fibres are released so the best option if it is intact is to leave well alone. If you want to coat it then PVA is a good way of sealing it and it dries clear so will not affect originality. If you really feel you must remove the panel then make sure it is replaced with some sort of after-market panel that prevents access to the inside of the chassis.
 

el84ster

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 10, 2001
Messages
1,420
Here’s a little different perspective form someone who lost two decades to some heavy metal Poisoning ...stuff can mess you up and when it does, you’d give anything to go back in time.
I’m not saying the asbestos panels definitely will, but it’s good to be careful.

Some considerations:
If you have kids, maybe not a good idea. Have you noticed how the baffle and back panel
Can get flapping when you’ve got the amp cranked? Are you sure microscopic fibers aren’t being released into the air when that’s happening?

And as far as playing without the back panel, that sound will be different, worse.

I’d replace the back panel and keep the original as safely away as possible.
 

agogetr

Active member
Joined
Jan 22, 2019
Messages
451
Hardly good advice when there is both mains AC voltage and high voltage DC present inside the chassis. When using it without the back on it is only a matter of time before somebody inadvertently comes in to contact with that and gets a shock regardless of how careful you might think you are being. There are lethal voltages present there even when the amplifier is switched off and unplugged from the mains, the back panel is there for a very good reason!

As others have said there is only any hazard if the asbestos is damaged or disturbed and fibres are released so the best option if it is intact is to leave well alone. If you want to coat it then PVA is a good way of sealing it and it dries clear so will not affect originality. If you really feel you must remove the panel then make sure it is replaced with some sort of after-market panel that prevents access to the inside of the chassis.
i have seen where it looked like the amp tubes were baking the asbestos, even the wood around it. this cant be healthy? and a clearcoat i hope would not be ill affected by the heat of the tubes. and wouldnt a tinfoil type of tape just help bake the asbestos even more? im thinking about just pulling all the asbestos out of my amps. maybe find some other material to replace it. i really dont think amp value would change much. although i usualy pass on amps converted to 3 prong plugs! because i know theres a good chance other things were tampered with.
 

PaulD

Active member
Joined
Jun 25, 2007
Messages
673
i have seen where it looked like the amp tubes were baking the asbestos, even the wood around it. this cant be healthy? and a clearcoat i hope would not be ill affected by the heat of the tubes. and wouldnt a tinfoil type of tape just help bake the asbestos even more? im thinking about just pulling all the asbestos out of my amps. maybe find some other material to replace it. i really dont think amp value would change much. although i usualy pass on amps converted to 3 prong plugs! because i know theres a good chance other things were tampered with.

Asbestos is a heat resistant material (that is what it is designed to do). Exposure of asbestos to the heat levels present in a guitar amplifier will not cause any hazard in itself, over a long period of time the asbestos may show signs of discolouration or scorching but that is not a hazard. The hazard is when the asbestos is cut, damaged or abraded resulting in the release of microscopic fibres, exposure to heat does not cause the release of fibres. Pulling the asbestos out of your amps is probably the worst thing you could do as any attempt to remove it will almost certainly result in the release of fibres, if it is intact the best and safest option is to leave well alone.

The point I was making was that someone was suggesting it was a good idea to simply remove the back panel and operate the amp without it. That is a ludicrous suggestion as the potential for electric shock would far outweigh any hazard that might result from the asbestos. You say that you pass on amps that have been converted to 3 prong plugs, using an amplifier that has not been (correctly) converted to a 3 prong plug with a safety ground also presents a far greater hazard than the asbestos ever could.
 

agogetr

Active member
Joined
Jan 22, 2019
Messages
451
Asbestos is a heat resistant material (that is what it is designed to do). Exposure of asbestos to the heat levels present in a guitar amplifier will not cause any hazard in itself, over a long period of time the asbestos may show signs of discolouration or scorching but that is not a hazard. The hazard is when the asbestos is cut, damaged or abraded resulting in the release of microscopic fibres, exposure to heat does not cause the release of fibres. Pulling the asbestos out of your amps is probably the worst thing you could do as any attempt to remove it will almost certainly result in the release of fibres, if it is intact the best and safest option is to leave well alone.

The point I was making was that someone was suggesting it was a good idea to simply remove the back panel and operate the amp without it. That is a ludicrous suggestion as the potential for electric shock would far outweigh any hazard that might result from the asbestos. You say that you pass on amps that have been converted to 3 prong plugs, using an amplifier that has not been (correctly) converted to a 3 prong plug with a safety ground also presents a far greater hazard than the asbestos ever could.
couldnt be that great of a hazard ive been runnin my 57 bassman 2 pronger 46 years with no problems.
living in a room with 75 old fender amps that have asbestos may not be best left alone, wouldnt it be the thing to just not breathe it or get any on your body when removing it? when i remove it from houses they give me yellow hasmat rated bags to place it in. eazy peazy
 

agogetr

Active member
Joined
Jan 22, 2019
Messages
451
Here’s a little different perspective form someone who lost two decades to some heavy metal Poisoning ...stuff can mess you up and when it does, you’d give anything to go back in time.
I’m not saying the asbestos panels definitely will, but it’s good to be careful.

Some considerations:
If you have kids, maybe not a good idea. Have you noticed how the baffle and back panel
Can get flapping when you’ve got the amp cranked? Are you sure microscopic fibers aren’t being released into the air when that’s happening?

And as far as playing without the back panel, that sound will be different, worse.

I’d replace the back panel and keep the original as safely away as possible.
valid points. and remember some of these amps are coming up on being 70 years old. how long will the asbestos stay completely intact? 100 years? not going to gamble the heirs health on it.
 
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