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previous: Bruce OK Suzy:When I was restorin... -- 8/25/1999 9:13 AM

Re: Any tips for cleaning old amp?

8/25/1999 5:19 PM
SpeedRacer	Re: Any tips for cleaning old amp? I like the armorall "car cleaner" for tolex. Use a toothbrush and ou can get out all that "20 years of greasy dirty fingers" crud in all the grooves.. and it doesn't leave the thing all slippery and greasy looking. (no silicon residue like the tire stuff). Can't use it on faceplates though (Hiwatt OK). It can take off paint sometimes. De-OxitD5 for pots, hands down. It rules. Never used that Zep stuff.. gotta try it! Isopropyl alcohol on a long (VCR cleaner) q-tip is great for getting that sludge out of chassis. (flux etc) If the knobs are really bad, you can take them off and put them through the dishwasher.. I used to do this with plastic & bakelite car parts for restorations. Never put a whole chassis in the dishwasher like Bruce! I think Trixie would cut off my head and mount it over the fireplace.. I'd stay away from any cleaner with bleach etc like Fantastic etc as you can discolor & possibly damage many materials this way. First rule of thumb in cleaning up old stuff is to use the weakest chemical that will do the job. Toothpaste is a great (& gentle) polish btw.

8/25/1999 5:19 PM

SpeedRacer

Re: Any tips for cleaning old amp?

I like the armorall "car cleaner" for tolex. Use a toothbrush and ou can get out all that "20 years of greasy dirty fingers" crud in all the grooves.. and it doesn't leave the thing all slippery and greasy looking. (no silicon residue like the tire stuff). Can't use it on faceplates though (Hiwatt OK). It can take off paint sometimes.

De-OxitD5 for pots, hands down. It rules. Never used that Zep stuff.. gotta try it!

Isopropyl alcohol on a long (VCR cleaner) q-tip is great for getting that sludge out of chassis. (flux etc)

If the knobs are really bad, you can take them off and put them through the dishwasher.. I used to do this with plastic & bakelite car parts for restorations. Never put a whole chassis in the dishwasher like Bruce! I think Trixie would cut off my head and mount it over the fireplace.. ;-)

I'd stay away from any cleaner with bleach etc like Fantastic etc as you can discolor & possibly damage many materials this way. First rule of thumb in cleaning up old stuff is to use the weakest chemical that will do the job. Toothpaste is a great (& gentle) polish btw.