How do know whether an old agitator is Phenolic, Polypropylene or Bakelite? What are the advantages/disadvantages of each?
Bueller? anyone?
Bueller?
Bueller? anyone?
Bueller?
POD 10.10.08. Big Beautiful Black 'Tators
- Thread starter bajaespuma
- Start date
Brittle versus bouncy/flexy
Though I'm sure there are others, Bakelite is a phenolic plastic. Phenolics were phased out in favor of newer, more flexible plastics because if their brittle nature (anyone remember the Zenith ad where two identical radios were pulled off the table by their cords, sending them crashing to the floor--the Bakelite radio shattering, and the polypropylene radio bouncing?).
As such, if you have a Bakelite agitator, it will be very hard and brittle. Rapping (gently) on it will be like rapping on sturdy wood; it will knock but not provide bounce. Polypropylene (e.g., the PowerFin agitators in Maytags) is very flexible. If you had an agitator with detached fins, they would be easily flexed; if you rapped on it, there would be a very subdued sound and a fair amount of bounce back at you.
There is also the issue of wear--polypropylene agitators tend to retain their lustre, and Bakelite ones tend to turn dull and attain a very matte finish with age.
Of course, you can always try dropping the agitator for the definitive test ;-)
Though I'm sure there are others, Bakelite is a phenolic plastic. Phenolics were phased out in favor of newer, more flexible plastics because if their brittle nature (anyone remember the Zenith ad where two identical radios were pulled off the table by their cords, sending them crashing to the floor--the Bakelite radio shattering, and the polypropylene radio bouncing?).
As such, if you have a Bakelite agitator, it will be very hard and brittle. Rapping (gently) on it will be like rapping on sturdy wood; it will knock but not provide bounce. Polypropylene (e.g., the PowerFin agitators in Maytags) is very flexible. If you had an agitator with detached fins, they would be easily flexed; if you rapped on it, there would be a very subdued sound and a fair amount of bounce back at you.
There is also the issue of wear--polypropylene agitators tend to retain their lustre, and Bakelite ones tend to turn dull and attain a very matte finish with age.
Of course, you can always try dropping the agitator for the definitive test ;-)
Likewise, color
Correct me if I'm wrong, guys, but I've only seen Bakelite in brown, black, and red configurations (or the funky marble-ized black-red agitators of the old Whirlpool ilk)...so if your agitator is cream, or bright blue, or white, it's probably not Bakelite.
Correct me if I'm wrong, guys, but I've only seen Bakelite in brown, black, and red configurations (or the funky marble-ized black-red agitators of the old Whirlpool ilk)...so if your agitator is cream, or bright blue, or white, it's probably not Bakelite.
At least for Whirlpool / Kenmore, the bakelite agitators have the hexagon drive lug provision in the top neck only. I do not believe they were ever made for the later splined agitator shafts, as they were too brittle.
When the first Polypropylene agitator was introduced (I think it was the Roto-Flex in 1965 but I am not certain) it was made from the beginning out of 'propylene for it's flexibility. Using that material allowed the elimiation of the drive lug.
You can pick-out a polypropylene agitator by the small round hole on top of the agitator, vs. the big hex hole that can be seen in the POD. These agitators are more flexible than the bakelites, and can take more abuse from heavy or bulky items such as tennis shoes. I have never come across a broken propylene agitator, though I have seen fins broken on a few bakelites.
At WP, I bellieve all of the gold, pale blue, and white agitators of the late 60s forward were Polypropylene. WP had a drive-block black Surgilator and a Super Roto-Swirl available as replacement parts until at least the mid 90s, and I believe Gemline/Supco until much more recently. It would be fascinating to find a NOS piece and see what it is made out of, etc.
When the first Polypropylene agitator was introduced (I think it was the Roto-Flex in 1965 but I am not certain) it was made from the beginning out of 'propylene for it's flexibility. Using that material allowed the elimiation of the drive lug.
You can pick-out a polypropylene agitator by the small round hole on top of the agitator, vs. the big hex hole that can be seen in the POD. These agitators are more flexible than the bakelites, and can take more abuse from heavy or bulky items such as tennis shoes. I have never come across a broken propylene agitator, though I have seen fins broken on a few bakelites.
At WP, I bellieve all of the gold, pale blue, and white agitators of the late 60s forward were Polypropylene. WP had a drive-block black Surgilator and a Super Roto-Swirl available as replacement parts until at least the mid 90s, and I believe Gemline/Supco until much more recently. It would be fascinating to find a NOS piece and see what it is made out of, etc.
Nate and Jeff
Thank you for the posted answers; makes sense. A follow-up question though for everybody(I have to stop watching debates), what's the deal with these GE solid tub activators? Most are black and I presume bakelite because they're kind of dull and look like most of the GE activators we had, but in the threads, some of you have these same activators and they're polypropylene shiny. Is it just wear and tear? Here's shiny(I think this is Robert's machine):
Thank you for the posted answers; makes sense. A follow-up question though for everybody(I have to stop watching debates), what's the deal with these GE solid tub activators? Most are black and I presume bakelite because they're kind of dull and look like most of the GE activators we had, but in the threads, some of you have these same activators and they're polypropylene shiny. Is it just wear and tear? Here's shiny(I think this is Robert's machine):
...and here's dull:
gyrafoam
Well-known member
I treated the bakelite Activator in my old solid-tub FF with clear spray enamel and it now looks like new.
Steve's approach is awesome
Ken, Steve's approach is one way to restore shine to Bakelite; I think Jon (jetcone) said that he had figured out a way to buff them back to shininess, being careful to not overheat and burn them.
Those GE Activators are Bakelite. That showroom-new sheen is due to not being used, or not being used much ;-) (I know, I lose my breath when I say that too). You can spot the cues described above in your second pic--large drive-block opening, and the dull appearance. Polypropylene can become scummy, but not intrinsically dull like that.
Ken, Steve's approach is one way to restore shine to Bakelite; I think Jon (jetcone) said that he had figured out a way to buff them back to shininess, being careful to not overheat and burn them.
Those GE Activators are Bakelite. That showroom-new sheen is due to not being used, or not being used much ;-) (I know, I lose my breath when I say that too). You can spot the cues described above in your second pic--large drive-block opening, and the dull appearance. Polypropylene can become scummy, but not intrinsically dull like that.
Well, I take back what I said about polypropylene not breaki
Found this on Craigslist this morning--jeebus! What do people do to these things?
Found this on Craigslist this morning--jeebus! What do people do to these things?
bpetersxx
Well-known member
Looks like somebody tried to wash rocks in it
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