Ampeg B100R transformer buzz

[DeltaDelta]

I have read most everything posted here regarding this amp and have convinced myself it is the right amp for my needs (practice and bedroom playing).I haven't played in years so I would like to start again with something decent.Plus it's easy on the eyes!
I found a used one up for sale (made in China) so I met the seller to check it out.
As soon as we plugged it in we heard a loud buzz: upon closer inspection we realised the source was the transformer.
The seller apologised profusely and agreed to have it repaired and get back to me.
As soon as he did he called back and I inquired on the nature of the repairs carried out:
he told me the tech said it was a manufacturing defect and he solved it by dipping the transformer into "wax", thus blocking the vibrations (I still have to see the amp again so I don't know to what extent this has worked).
My question(s) to you is: has anyone ever heard of this procedure?Is it common or acceptable practice?Has anyone else had this problem?

 

[BassmanPaul]

Walk away from this sale. Dipping a transformer into a wax bath hasn’t been done since the Twenties or even earlier.

 

[DeltaDelta]

Thanks for your reply Paul.
Just being curious here, what are the downsides to this procedure?

 

[beans-on-toast]

The noise could be due to vibrating wires withing the transformer. I feel that using a wax can be a temporary fix. The transformer is going to get hot, the wax is going to drip out and make a mess everywhere, it is then going to start making noise again.

Wax is used on smaller coils such as pickups. Maybe something is being lost in the translationand a different product was used.

Years ago transformers were potted in a heavy tar. Wax and tar are in the same family, they have different melting points. A potting tar can withstand high temperaturers. Potting stabilizes the windings and aids in heat transfer. Today modern materials are usually used for potting. Transformers are sometimes dipped, coated, or vacuum impregnated with an “insulating varnish”, various products are used, to seal and stabilize the coils.

If they used the correct product, the transformer may be fine now. If they didn’t, the problem will reappear.

 

[DeltaDelta]

The noise could be due to vibrating wires withing the transformer. I feel that using a wax can be a temporary fix. The transformer is going to get hot, the wax is going to drip out and make a mess everywhere, it is then going to start making noise again.

Wax is used on smaller coils such as pickups. Maybe something is being lost in the translationand a different product was used.

Years ago transformers were potted in a heavy tar. Wax and tar are in the same family, they have different melting points. A potting tar can withstand high temperaturers. Potting stabilizes the windings and aids in heat transfer. Today modern materials are usually used for potting. Transformers are sometimes dipped, coated, or vacuum impregnated with an “insulating varnish”, various products are used, to seal and stabilize the coils.

If they used the correct product, the transformer may be fine now. If they didn’t, the problem will reappear.

Beans, thank you for taking the time to write this all down, I really appreciate it.Your post is very insightful and it's good to learn new notions.
Even though I don't know much about these things I must admit I did have a gut feeling that it was sort of a band-aid solution, hence my question here.
As far as the term used by the seller, it literally translates to "wax" but you're right, who knows what they actually used...that's all the information I was able to obtain so far.