Heathkit HW-100 - Restored!

Latest radio restoration project: A Heathkit HW-100, which required quite a bit of work to get going, but now able to receive and transmit fine. It was basically a pile of broken parts when I received it. The scariest part of this one, was the "key" on the power cable adapter was broken, so you could plug any voltage into any place -- a potentially fatal mistake!! Fixed that with a spare connector I happened to have on hand. Other fixes: electrolytics (bad); many, many tubes (tested and many failed, some missing); lubed all the pots; fixed a broken solder connector in the finals cage (also two 6146's rattling around unsecured!!). This one was fun -- these Heathkits are actually a lot of fun to fix (I imagine, they were also a blast to build). A couple of loose ends left on this one: knob replacement on the LOAD control (about $15 on eBay); needs a new dial indicator (cracked, so it hangs up) -- also on eBay. Ah, also put in new bands for the plate and load controls. Fixed this up to sell for the Boy Scouts so leaving those easy fixes to the next operator, now that this one is able to receive and transmit fine! I'd highly recommend the HW-100 (and HW-101) for fixer-upper kind of projects (I'm sure I will do that again just for fun...).

[@tomdonahoe3539]

Thankyou for posting this. Got one of these at an estate sale as a fix up project.

[@workingtheworld68]

Built this rig and power supply over the summer of 1968 at the age of 12. Had a few mistakes that the local club helped me clear up and used it for 3 years until I saved up for a used TR-4. Thanks for posting and great job on the renovation.

[@ai6yr500]

Yes, they are very nice radios... Just picked up a SB-100 (nearly identical design but more features) and got it on the air, too.

[@jeffgarrett4533]

Great Job OM and this rig is my favorite Heathkit the HW-100 was revolutionary it was affordable a rugged solid great radio I still have mine and it still surprises me with reliable performance. I use it out in the garage shop. 73 DE KE4EZ

[@deanhutsell3144]

Nice work, Ben!

[@jeffgarrett4533]

Great job thanks OM 73

[@brianaharden8446]

This is a really stupid question so I apologise in advance, but with the power supply for these do you still need to plug it in somewhere or is it portable in that sense?

[@davidkay3739]

You have to plug in the power supply . There is no battery .