Help with Columbia reproducer!!

[flashpanblue]

I have a Columbia Q reproducer that I need to repair. According to Hazelcorn's Book it is a #5 D-1 style with aluminum stylus bar. I found where I can buy the rubber diaphragm, but how do you replace the wax ring that holds the mica in??
thanks
Pete

[gramophoneshane]

I've never done a Columbia reproducer, but I have replaced the wax seal on an Edison recorder, which I assume is basically the same?
I'm not sure if this is the right way to do it, but it's what I did & it worked.
I started by melting some bees wax in a long string on a thick piece of glass. When it hardened. I then cut a strip of wax a little bit wider than the original appeared to be, and lifted it off the glass with the razor blade.
Then I just laid the strip of wax on the mica & pressed the wax into the edge as best I could.
Next I heated up the soldering iron & dragged the tip along the wax to melt it & form a proper seal.
With the soldering iron, I actually let it heat up, then I switched it off & allowed it to cool down. I just kept testing it on the wax remaining on the glass, to ensure it wasn't too hot & burned the wax. If the wax doesn't smoke or discolour, then you should be right to go.
Once it had cooled, I passed over the wax quickly once again with iron to even out the wax the best I could, then once cooled again, I dragged the tip of a stanley blade along the wax to give it a smooth & even finish being careful not to scratch along the mica.
Lastly, I used a cotton bud dampened with turpentine to wash any excess wax off the mica.

[flashpanblue]

Hello,
Thanks Gramophoneshane for you detailed reply. I think your method should work out just fine! I even have a chunk of Bee's Wax sitting in my shop.
Pete