cleaning methods

[yotems]

say you snag a seasoned old silver faced dust collector.. aside from obviously deoxit cleaning pots and switches, how do you clean the circuit boards and topology? faceplate & knobs?

 

[Awesomeaudio]

There are many here who have different methods.
For me, I used compressed air or dry nitrogen (I have nitro at my disposal so I use it) to blow the internals out with the help of a 1" soft painters brush to agitate with. I have also used contact cleaner on the boards and they come up nice.
As for the jewelry side of things.
Start with the gently gently approach.
Remove all knobs, switches and faceplate and soak in a warm soapy bath (dishwashing liquid). Clean with a soft bristled brush.
Sometimes you get ones that are gummed up yellow from disgusting smokers residue and for this I bring out the metal polish.
I've had excellent results with Brasso.
Not sure if you have that over there.
It's kind on the screen print and really revives the silver.
I'm a simple guy.

 

[OMGCat!]

There's been a bunch of threads on this but my method is very similar to the one above. For faceplate finishing I'll typically use a nice quick detail wax as it's less likely to get stuck in the crevices and turn white.
The best thing about wax is it really brings out the shine and helps keep fingerprints off as well.

If it's totally filled with dried soda or whatever then I'll wash the boards in the sink. I haven't found any other way to do a proper cleaning job on those truely nasty units.

 

[catrafter]

Bob (wlhd1610) clued me in on using a magic eraser for Marantz face plate cleaning.

Tom

 

[Eastham]

For me, quick blow job with the air compressor, then a thick painters brush for the more caked on crud, for seriously stubborn crap I take the whole unit apart, remove the transformer and give it a blast with a hose and some anti bacterial cleaner then a few days to dry out. As for faceplates and knobs, I remove the face plate, wash with some Fairy liquid and a sponge or a microfiber, if it's got some stuck on crap or tarnishing I use a scotch brite pad and gently wipe with the grain of the brushed aluminium paying careful attention to the lettering, after I give it a polish with some car polish. Knobs, I just fill a tub with warm sudsy water, fairy liquid and a soft bristle tooth brush to get in any crevasses.

 

[thomo57]

Bob (wlhd1610) clued me in on using a magic eraser for Marantz face plate cleaning.

Tom

I can vouch for that.
I recently had some knobs etc that wouldn't come clean.
Whipped out the magic eraser and viola they shone up beautifully

 

[leftfielder]

This has absolutely nothing to do w/ inside of the device. What I use to clean the outside of all my gear is called Sprayway. HD used to sell it by the can but now only by the case so I got mine off e-bay for $4.89 for a large aerosol can. I called Audio Classics where I got my Adcom amp which came slippery clean and really done up nice. They use this stuff because it contains no ammonia and is great on both plastic and metal.... Lew
No affiliation w/ Audio Classics just a customer.

 

[KingBubba]

I, and many others, just use plain old Windex. I also use low water isopropyl alcohol and a Qtip. It is important to avoid your tuner cap fins with both liquid and canned air. DrAudio made up a great thread on how to clean the tuner cap. A great thread.

 

[Love Vintage]

This has absolutely nothing to do w/ inside of the device. What I use to clean the outside of all my gear is called Sprayway. HD used to sell it by the can but now only by the case so I got mine off e-bay for $4.89 for a large aerosol can. I called Audio Classics where I got my Adcom amp which came slippery clean and really done up nice. They use this stuff because it contains no ammonia and is great on both plastic and metal.... Lew
No affiliation w/ Audio Classics just a customer.

Is this the window cleaner, stainless steel cleaner, etc? They have several cleaners,
Thanks

 

[yotems]

I, and many others, just use plain old Windex. I also use low water isopropyl alcohol and a Qtip. It is important to avoid your tuner cap fins with both liquid and canned air. DrAudio made up a great thread on how to clean the tuner cap. A great thread.

searched that name and found nothing. can you point me to the thread?

 

[gort69]

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/how-to-clean-a-tuner-analog.144163/

 

[Goldie99]

Surprised nobody has suggested this one yet - http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/tutorial-deep-cleaning-an-amplifier.258899/

 

[ramzilla]

Is this the window cleaner, stainless steel cleaner, etc? They have several cleaners,
Thanks

Me too?